How to Become a Massage Therapist in Alaska

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must complete at least 625 hours of in-class supervised instruction and clinical work at an approved massage school, or a board-approved apprenticeship.
• You must pass the MBLEx (or an NCBTMB national certification exam taken before February 1, 2015).
• You must hold a current CPR certification.
• You must have at least two hours of bloodborne pathogens and universal precautions training in the two years before you apply.
• You must be fingerprinted for a state and FBI criminal background check.
• You must have a U.S. Social Security number on file, or an approved exemption.

Step by step

1. Complete at least 625 hours at an approved massage school (hands-on practical application can be no more than 20 percent of the program).
2. Pass the MBLEx and have the result sent directly to the division.
3. Get CPR certified and complete at least two hours of bloodborne pathogens training.
4. Fill out the Massage Therapist License by Examination application (form 08-4659) and pay $565 ($200 application, $290 license, $75 fingerprint processing).
5. Mail one FD-258 fingerprint card to the Board of Massage Therapists in Juneau.
6. Have your school send your official transcript directly to the division.
7. The division issues your license once the file is complete.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: At least 625 hours of in-class supervised instruction and clinical work from an approved massage school, with the practical application (hands-on clinical) portion no more than 20 percent of the program. In-class instruction can be in a physical classroom or online distance education. An approved school is authorized by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (or a similar agency in another state) or accredited by a nationally recognized agency. A board-approved apprenticeship meeting COMTA and ELAP standards is an alternative.

Exam: Pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. NCBTMB national certification exams count only if taken before February 1, 2015. The MBLEx is a 100-question, computer-adaptive test with 110 minutes, given at Pearson VUE centers and reported as pass or fail; the application fee is $265 and you must reapply and pay again to retake it.

What it costs in Alaska

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Keeping your license

Renewal: All licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years, whatever the issue date (licenses issued within 90 days of that date run to the next cycle). The renewal fee is $290. Each two-year period you need at least 16 continuing education credits, two of them in ethics, plus current CPR. A hands-on CPR course can count for two credits, and attending a board meeting can count for three. You must resubmit fingerprints at least once every six years. Keep CE records four years. A license lapsed three years or more cannot be reinstated.

Good to know in Alaska

Licensed in another state: You can apply by credentials if you hold a current license in a state with requirements substantially equal to or greater than Alaska's, or a certification from a board-approved entity. You still need fingerprints, current CPR and the fees, and must have no unresolved complaints.

Criminal history: A conviction or plea for a crime involving moral turpitude can block licensure unless the board finds it does not affect your ability to practice safely. A "yes" answer to a fitness question is not an automatic denial; send an explanation and court records.

Application deadlines: Documents older than 12 months are considered stale and must be resent. An application with no activity for 12 months is abandoned and the application fee is not refunded.

Sources

• Alaska Board of Massage Therapists
• Massage Therapist License by Examination Application, form 08-4659 (Rev. 10/15/2025)
• Alaska Massage Therapists Statutes, AS 08.61
• 12 AAC 79.100 - Application for licensure by examination (Cornell LII)
• 12 AAC 79.140 - Education requirements (Cornell LII)
• 12 AAC 79.200 - License renewal (Cornell LII)
• 12 AAC 79.210 - Continuing education requirements (Cornell LII)
• 12 AAC 02.396 - Massage therapist fees (Cornell LII)
• FSMTB - MBLEx Candidate Handbook 2026