Ohio Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 503 authorizes township massage-establishment regulation. Address-specific permit, fee, inspection, background, and operating rules must be checked separately.

• Official application
• Official renewal information
• Official statutes or rules

Local business, facility, zoning, and professional rules may apply in addition to statewide requirements. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before acting.

Credential

Licensed Massage Therapist

Credential requirement

A State Medical Board license is generally required statewide, while local massage-establishment permits may also apply.

Minimum education

600 hours

Approved education

Applicants complete at least 600 hours in a compliant massage-therapy program. Rule 4731-1-15 addresses school standing, distance-education limits, and evaluated therapeutic-massage instruction.

Examination

Current Board rule identifies MBLEx for the standard application path.

MBLEx relationship

MBLEx is the national examination identified by current Board rule.

Application

Submit the Medical Board application, $150 fee, education and examination records, completed criminal-record checks, and required disclosures.

Application fees

Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.19 lists a $150 application fee.

Background check or fingerprinting

Applicants complete the criminal-record checks required by the Medical Board process.

Reciprocity or endorsement

Out-of-state occupational-license recognition is processed under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4796 and Board-specific requirements.

Additional requirements

Applicants must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and satisfy all current education, examination, criminal-record, and disclosure requirements.

Cycle

The massage therapist license renews every two years.

Deadline model

Renew through the State Medical Board by the license expiration; nonrenewal results in suspension and later reinstatement or restoration requirements.

Fees

The current statutory renewal fee is $100. Reinstatement within two years is $125 and restoration after two years is $150, plus applicable record-check requirements.

Continuing education

Ohio Revised Code 4731.155 authorizes, but does not require, the State Medical Board to adopt CE rules for limited-branch licenses. No current massage-specific CE mandate was confirmed in the August 2, 2026 review of Chapter 4731-1; former Rule 4731-1-24 and its historical hour requirement are absent from the current chapter index. Hours remain unresolved pending direct Board confirmation.

Required subjects

No current massage-specific CE subject allocation was confirmed in the reviewed chapter; statutory authority to adopt CE rules is not itself a subject requirement.

Documentation

Section 4731.155 conditionally authorizes certification and random documentation sampling only if the Board adopts CE rules. No current massage-specific CE documentation mandate was confirmed; retain renewal records and follow direct Board instruction.

Carryover

Carryover could not be assessed because the current massage-specific CE requirement remains unresolved. This record does not infer that carryover is applicable or prohibited.

Late renewal

A nonrenewed license is suspended. Ohio publishes $125 reinstatement within two years and $150 restoration after two years, with required record checks.

Inactive license

The reviewed statute addresses suspension, reinstatement, and restoration; confirm any inactive status directly with the Board.

Scope of practice

Current Chapter 4731-1 governs massage techniques applied to soft tissue and applicable referral conditions.

Protected titles

Ohio protects licensed massage therapist and LMT title use.

Restrictions

Massage therapists may not diagnose; services requiring an authorized referral must satisfy that condition, and services reserved to another profession remain outside scope.

Municipal or local requirements

Townships may require massage-establishment permits, fees, inspections, and background-related controls. Chapter 503 publishes a $250 application and $125 annual permit framework.

Establishments and other regulated activities

Massage establishments may be locally permitted. Ohio also enacted the Interstate Massage Compact, but privileges depend on implementation and participating-state conditions.

Practitioner notes

Obtain direct Board confirmation of CE and check address-specific local establishment rules before acting.

• Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.15 · accessed 2026-07-25
• Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.19 · accessed 2026-07-25
• Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4731-1-12 · accessed 2026-07-25
• Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4731-1 · accessed 2026-08-02
• Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.155 — Rules regarding continuing education · accessed 2026-08-02
• Register of Ohio — Withdrawn 2019 Rule 4731-1-24 Proposal · accessed 2026-07-25
• Register of Ohio — 2019 Common Sense Initiative Review of Proposed Rule 4731-1-24 · accessed 2026-07-25
• Register of Ohio — Hearing Summary for Withdrawal of Proposed Rule 4731-1-24 · accessed 2026-07-25
• Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4731-1-15 · accessed 2026-07-25
• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 503 · accessed 2026-07-25
• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4731 · accessed 2026-07-25
• Ohio Legislative Service Commission 2026 State Medical Board Fees · accessed 2026-07-25

Future verified changes will be listed from this Git-backed record.