Texas Massage Therapy Continuing Education & Renewal Requirements
CE hours: 12 hrs. The massage therapist license renews every two years.
Statewide requirements and local rules are identified separately. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Overview
CE and renewal at a glance
Licensing information reviewed 2026-08-02
- CE hours
- 12 hrs
- License renewal
- The massage therapist license renews every two years.
- CE reporting period
- The 12-hour CE requirement aligns with the two-year renewal period.
Check the requirement's scope, exceptions and reporting period. An item marked “Not confirmed” never means that no CE is required.
Before you rely on these answers
- Not confirmed: Practical / hands-on
Each item explains the issue and links its official sources. Everything else on this page is sourced as stated.
Responsible authority
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Massage Therapy Program
- AuthorityVisit the official authority
- RenewalOfficial renewal information
- StatutesOfficial statutes or rules
The authority’s current rules govern your renewal. Confirm requirements with it before you rely on a course or a date.
CE hours
- CE requirement and exceptions
A therapist completes 12 hours of qualifying continuing education during each two-year license period.
- Hour total
12
Renewal timing and fees
- Renewal cycle
The massage therapist license renews every two years.
- Renewal deadline
Renew by the license expiration date through the TDLR process; late bands and restoration rules apply after expiration.
- Renewal fees
The current published biennial renewal fee is $75. TDLR lists increasing late-fee multipliers and separate review for longer lapses.
Reporting period, first renewal and carryover
- CE reporting period
The 12-hour CE requirement aligns with the two-year renewal period.
- CarryoverConfirm details
No carryover authorization was identified in the reviewed current TDLR guidance.
- First renewal / prorationNot confirmed
The official sources reviewed do not establish this.
Required topics
- Required categoriesConfirm details
The renewal path separately requires an HHSC-approved human-trafficking prevention course; reviewed guidance does not establish whether that training counts within the 12-hour CE total. CPR and first-aid coursework may account for no more than 6 combined hours. Online or correspondence work is accepted only when the subject is not massage technique or manipulation of soft tissue.
- State-specific topicsNot confirmed
The official sources reviewed do not establish this.
- CPR / first aidConfirm details
The renewal path separately requires an HHSC-approved human-trafficking prevention course; reviewed guidance does not establish whether that training counts within the 12-hour CE total. CPR and first-aid coursework may account for no more than 6 combined hours. Online or correspondence work is accepted only when the subject is not massage technique or manipulation of soft tissue.
Online and course format
- Online and course formatConfirm details
The renewal path separately requires an HHSC-approved human-trafficking prevention course; reviewed guidance does not establish whether that training counts within the 12-hour CE total. CPR and first-aid coursework may account for no more than 6 combined hours. Online or correspondence work is accepted only when the subject is not massage technique or manipulation of soft tissue.
- Practical / hands-onNot confirmed
This has not yet been checked against the official sources, so no answer is shown.
Proof of CE, audits and record keeping
- Renewal documentation
TDLR uses random CE audits during the license term. Licensees submit certificates, diplomas, or transcripts only when selected and must retain their CE records for 5 years. Approved providers also retain attendance records for 5 years and issue completion certificates with the required course and provider details.
- Reporting and proof of CEConfirm details
Use Texas's renewal documentation requirement for the controlling licensee audit and retention statement; TDLR's provider guidance separately covers provider attendance records.
- Certificate requirementsNot confirmed
This has not yet been checked against the official sources, so no answer is shown.
- Record retentionConfirm details
Use Texas's renewal documentation requirement for the controlling licensee audit and retention statement; TDLR's provider guidance separately covers provider attendance records.
- AuditsConfirm details
Use Texas's renewal documentation requirement for the controlling licensee audit and retention statement; TDLR's provider guidance separately covers provider attendance records.
- Renewal attestationNot confirmed
The official sources reviewed do not establish this.
Approved providers and courses
- How CE is approved
TDLR defines qualifying CE, accepted providers, delivery limits, and audit expectations; the renewal requirements cover the hour requirement.
- Provider & course recognitionConfirm details
Use Texas's renewal requirements for the controlling CE rule. TDLR's provider guidance supplies provider-specific approval, attendance-record, and completion-certificate context.
- Official CE resourceConfirm details
TDLR massage therapy continuing education
Open official resource →Use the authority's current provider and course acceptance rules.
- Professional organizations' role in CENot confirmed
The official sources for this item are missing or incomplete, so no answer is shown.
Late renewal, reinstatement and inactive status
- Late renewal / reinstatement
TDLR publishes 1.5-times and 2-times fee bands for late renewal and an executive-director process for licenses expired from 18 months through three years.
- Inactive status / reactivationConfirm details
No general inactive-license pathway was established in the reviewed therapist renewal guidance; longer lapses follow the published late-renewal and executive-review process.
Who these requirements apply to
- Credential and statewide scope
A state license is generally required to provide or advertise massage therapy for compensation. This information does not determine whether a municipality-specific requirement applies to a particular address.
- Local requirements
Municipality-specific requirements were not researched here; verify the intended practice address separately.
Changes in the law
- Enacted changes / implementation
TDLR announced a new school-report access method effective August 1, 2026; this is an administrative change rather than a practitioner qualification change.
- Enacted future change: Massage school report accessConfirm details
TDLR announced a new school-report access method effective August 1, 2026; this is an administrative change rather than a practitioner qualification change.
Use the stated effective date and confirm implementation with the authority.
Authoritative sources
Sources for Texas
Each answer shows the date it was reviewed and numbers the official sources behind it. An access date records when a source was last opened; it does not change a review date.
- TDLR Massage Therapy Continuing Educationaccessed
- TDLR Renew a Massage Therapist Licenseaccessed
- TDLR Apply for a Massage Therapist Licenseaccessed
- TDLR Massage Therapy Laws and Rulesaccessed
- TDLR Massage Therapists and Establishments Penalties and Sanctionsaccessed
- TDLR Massage Therapy Continuing Education Provider Approvalaccessed
- TDLR School Report Access Change Effective August 1, 2026accessed