How to Become a Massage Therapist in Illinois

Checked against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation · Verified 2026-10-17

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: $175 non-refundable application fee.
Licensed by: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation

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Who can apply

You must be at least 18 years old and of good moral character.
You must complete an approved massage therapy program of at least 600 clock hours.
You must pass the MBLEx (or, for endorsement, the MBLEx or an NCBTMB exam).
You must submit fingerprints for an Illinois State Police and FBI background check.
If you apply on or after January 1, 2026, you must complete a Department-approved abnormal skin growth (melanoma) course.
A conviction for prostitution, rape, sexual misconduct, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, battery against a patient, or any crime requiring sex offender registration is a permanent bar to an Illinois massage license.

Step by step

Complete an approved massage therapy program of at least 600 supervised clock hours.
Pass the MBLEx from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and have your score sent to Illinois.
Get fingerprinted through the Illinois State Police or an approved vendor within 60 days before you apply.
Complete the Department-approved abnormal skin growth course (IDFPR approves Impact Melanoma's free online "Skinny on Skin" course).
Apply online in IDFPR's CORE system and pay the $175 application fee. Include your Social Security number or ITIN, and upload your transcript or ED-MT education form, your skin growth certificate and a copy of a current government photo ID (such as a driver's license, State ID card or passport).
Watch your email of record for IDFPR messages until your license is issued.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Illinois requires at least 600 clock hours (or the equivalent in credit hours) of supervised classroom and hands-on instruction from a program meeting 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.20, or a substantially similar program in another state. "Supervised" means the supervisor is physically on site and immediately available. The curriculum must cover anatomy, physiology, pathology and kinesiology; massage theory, technique and practice; and contraindications, ethics, draping, documentation and business. If you are short on hours, IDFPR may require more coursework before licensure.

Exam: New applicants who are not licensed in any other state must pass the MBLEx, given by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Endorsement applicants may show a passing MBLEx or NCBTMB exam record sent directly from FSMTB or NCBTMB. Illinois has no separate state exam.

Practice for the MBLEx free — anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, ethics and client assessment →

What it costs in Illinois

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

Application fee (non-refundable)$175
MBLEx exam (FSMTB)$
Fingerprint background check$
Massage program tuition$

Estimated total in Illinois$175Plus 3 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

MBLEx exam fee paid to FSMTB.
Fingerprint background check fee charged by the Illinois State Police and the fingerprint vendor.
Massage program tuition varies by school.
Renewal: $87.50 per year, paid every two years.

Keeping your license

Renewal: All licenses expire December 31 of each even-numbered year, no matter when issued. Renewal costs $87.50 per year of the cycle. Except for your first renewal, you need continuing education every two years: the Act now requires 25 hours, including 1 hour of domestic violence and sexual assault awareness from an approved provider (IDFPR says the extra hour applies starting with the 2026 renewal), and the current rules require at least 2 hours of ethics. Licensees who were licensed before January 1, 2026 must also complete an approved abnormal skin growth course with their first renewal or restoration on or after that date.

Good to know in Illinois

License by endorsement: If you are licensed and practicing in another state, apply by endorsement with proof of training, a license certification from your original and current states, your MBLEx or NCBTMB exam record, and fingerprints. If your training hours are short, IDFPR may require more coursework.

Permanent bars (updated August 7, 2026): Since Public Act 104-796 took effect on August 7, 2026, IDFPR must revoke without a hearing the license of anyone convicted of a sexual-assault-related offense, including prostitution, rape, sexual misconduct, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or battery against a patient. Anyone convicted of these offenses or required to register as a sex offender cannot receive or keep an Illinois massage license.

Show ID to clients: You must display your license with its number visible wherever you work, and on a client's request show your license plus a photo employer badge or photo government ID.

Application time limit: An application stays active for three years from the date IDFPR receives it.

Students and tips: Students in an approved program may practice massage only if they do not present themselves as licensed and receive no pay, including tips.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation before you apply.