How to Become a Massage Therapist in Maryland

Checked against Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners, Maryland Department of Health · Verified 2026-10-17

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: Under COMAR 10.65.07.02: $150 application fee, $275 state (jurisprudence) examination fee, and $200 license fee, all nonrefundable except the jurisprudence exam fee in limited cases. Application, exam and initial license fees must be paid by certified check or money order (or through the online portal).
Licensed by: Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners, Maryland Department of Health

Take the free MBLEx practice test →

Who can apply

You must be at least 18 years old and of good moral character.
You must graduate from a massage program of at least 750 contact hours that is Board-approved, endorsed by COMTA (or an equivalent body), and institutionally accredited.
You must pass a Board-approved national exam: the MBLEx, an NCBTMB exam, or the NCCAOM exam.
You must pass the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination with a score of at least 75%.
You must complete a state and national (FBI) fingerprint criminal history records check.
You must hold current CPR certification at the Basic Life Support (BLS) level or higher.

Step by step

Graduate from a Board-approved massage therapy program of at least 750 contact hours.
Pass the MBLEx (from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards), an NCBTMB exam, or the NCCAOM exam before you apply.
Get fingerprinted for the state and FBI criminal history records check, and get CPR (BLS level) certified.
Apply through the Board's Massage Online Portal with your transcript, national score report, CPR card, fingerprint receipt and 2x2 passport photo, and pay the application fee. Have your school send official sealed transcripts and the testing agency send your score report directly to the Board.
Once your file is complete, the Board emails you instructions to take the online Maryland Jurisprudence Examination. Study Maryland's massage laws and COMAR regulations and pass with 75% or better.
After the Board approves your application, pay the initial license fee when the Board asks for it in writing.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Maryland requires a program of at least 750 contact hours (50 minutes each) from a Maryland Higher Education Commission-approved postsecondary institution, approved by the Board, endorsed by COMTA or an equivalent accreditor, and institutionally accredited. COMAR 10.65.01.07 sets the content: 100 hours anatomy, physiology and kinesiology; 200 hours massage theory; 50 hours contraindications and pathology; 30 hours ethics; 5 hours health and hygiene; 5 hours research; 175 hours supervised hands-on techniques; 50 hours clinical assessment and documentation; 35 hours professional standards and business; and 100 hours supervised clinical practicum. CPR is included but does not count toward the 750 hours. Under a 2026 law (effective July 1, 2026), graduates of out-of-state programs with fewer than 750 hours can make up the difference with Board-approved program hours, approved CE hours, or 1,000 licensed hands-on hours in the past 2 years.

Exam: You need two exams. First, pass a Board-approved national exam (MBLEx, NCBTMB or NCCAOM) before applying; the score must be sent directly to the Board. Then pass the Board's online Maryland Jurisprudence Examination on Maryland massage law and regulations with at least 75%. If you fail it twice, each retake requires a new registration form and fee, with a 30-day wait after the last failure.

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

What it costs in Maryland

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

Application fee$150
State jurisprudence examination fee$275
Initial license fee$200
MBLEx, NCBTMB or NCCAOM national exam$
Fingerprint criminal history records check$
CPR (BLS) certification$
Massage program tuition$

Estimated total in Maryland$625Plus 4 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

MBLEx, NCBTMB or NCCAOM national exam fee, paid to the testing organization.
Fingerprinting and state/FBI criminal history records check fees.
CPR certification at the BLS level.
Jurisprudence exam retake: COMAR lists a $300 reexamination fee, while the Board's exam page lists $250 after two failed attempts.
Massage program tuition varies by school.
Biennial renewal: $250.

Pay in Maryland

Maryland adds a local income tax on top of the state rate, so look up the local rate for your area before you budget.

Keeping your license

Renewal: Licenses are valid for up to 2 years and renew online through the Board's portal. The current cycle's deadline is October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Renewal costs $250 ($200 extra within 30 days after expiration; $475 to reinstate after that). You need 24 continuing education hours in the previous 24 months: 3 in ethics or jurisprudence, 3 in communicable disease (including HIV/AIDS), 2 in diversity, cultural competency or implicit bias, and 16 in massage-related courses, plus a current CPR certificate. If your first license was issued less than 12 months before a renewal, you are exempt from CE that cycle but must still renew. A one-hour implicit bias course is mandatory at first renewal.

Good to know in Maryland

RMP registration closed: Maryland has not issued new Registered Massage Practitioner (RMP) registrations since October 1, 2024; new applicants must qualify as Licensed Massage Therapists (LMT). A 2026 law (Chapter 191, effective July 1, 2026) lets existing RMPs keep practicing beyond October 31, 2026. RMPs can convert to an LMT license for a $100 fee under rules effective August 18, 2025.

Licensed in another state: The Board may waive requirements for someone licensed, certified or registered in another state if they pay the application fee and show equivalent education, an equivalent exam passed when first licensed, and good moral character. You must still have license verification sent directly to the Board.

Foreign-trained applicants: Transcripts from schools outside the U.S. must be reviewed by a Board-approved credential evaluation agency at your expense, with an original English translation. The Board does not act on the application until it gets a full favorable report.

Holds on licenses: The Board cannot issue a license until it receives your criminal history report. If you have a tax lien or child support hold, the Board cannot issue or renew a license until it gets official clearance.

Fewer than 750 hours: If your program had fewer than 750 contact hours, the Board's Option 2 lets you qualify with one of: at least 10 years of continuous licensure or registration in good standing; at least 1,000 hours of hands-on experience in the past 2 years; program plus continuing education hours totaling at least 750; or program hours, continuing education and licensed hands-on work totaling 750. All applications are reviewed case by case; contact the Board about acceptable documentation.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners, Maryland Department of Health before you apply.