How to Become a Massage Therapist in Pennsylvania

Who can apply

• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• You must complete at least 600 hours of in-class massage therapy education approved by the board. Online courses and webinars do not count.
• You must pass the MBLEx.
• You must hold hands-on adult CPR certification valid for at least 6 months after you apply (online CPR is not accepted).
• You must complete 3 hours of board-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting.
• You must submit criminal history checks for every state you lived in during the past 5 years.

Step by step

1. Complete a board-approved massage therapy program of at least 600 in-class hours.
2. Apply to FSMTB and pass the MBLEx.
3. Take hands-on adult CPR from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross or another board-approved provider.
4. Complete 3 hours of board-approved child abuse recognition and reporting training (Act 31).
5. Get a criminal history record check from the state police (or similar agency) of each state you lived in during the past 5 years, dated within 6 months of applying.
6. Apply for Massage Therapist Licensure by Examination on PALS (pals.pa.gov) and pay the $100 application fee.
7. Have your school send your official transcript directly to the board. Submit any missing documents within 6 months, or the application is denied.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Pennsylvania requires at least 600 contact hours of in-class postsecondary massage therapy instruction approved by the board, at a regionally accredited college or university, a Pennsylvania licensed private school, or an equivalent. It must include 175 hours of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and pathology, 250 hours of massage therapy including hygiene, 25 hours of professional ethics, and 150 hours of related courses. Contact hours must be in the physical presence of an instructor; no webinars or online courses are accepted.

Exam: Pennsylvania uses the MBLEx from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards for initial licensure. You apply to FSMTB directly and pay FSMTB's fee in addition to the board's application fee. The MBLEx is a computer-based test of 100 multiple-choice questions in 110 minutes; the FSMTB application fee is $265, and FSMTB does not limit retakes, but you must reapply and pay again each time.

What it costs in Pennsylvania

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

How long it takes

If your application is incomplete, the board notifies you within 8 weeks; you then have 6 months from signing the application to supply missing documents.

Keeping your license

Renewal: All licenses expire January 31 of odd-numbered years; the biennial renewal fee is $175. You need 24 hours of continuing education, at least 16 of them contact hours, including at least 4 hours of professional ethics (49 Pa. Code 20.32) and 2 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting. Your CPR must stay current. If you are first licensed partway through a two-year cycle, you are exempt from CE for that cycle except the 2 child abuse hours.

Good to know in Pennsylvania

Temporary practice permit: Within six months after finishing your massage program, you can apply for a temporary practice permit ($65) if you meet every requirement except the exam. You cannot get one if you have already taken the MBLEx, whether you passed or failed.

Background checks from other states: If you lived outside Pennsylvania, a Pennsylvania State Police check alone is not enough. You need a state-level check from the state where you live, plus state checks or an FBI summary for the other states. An FBI report is not accepted for your state of residence.

Licensed in another state: You can apply by reciprocity through PALS. Under Act 41 of 2019, the board can also endorse licensees from other states with substantially equivalent requirements who are active and in good standing. People who have practiced at least 2 of the last 5 years with an active license may get Act 41 consideration case by case.

Disclose your record: You must explain and document any charge or conviction for a misdemeanor or felony, any prior license discipline or denial, and any surrendered license.

Reactivating an expired or inactive license: You can reactivate an inactive or expired license within 5 years of its expiration by applying, paying the current renewal fee, showing the previous period's CE and current CPR, and signing an affidavit of nonpractice in Pennsylvania. After more than 5 years, you must also show current competence: continuous active practice in another jurisdiction during the past 5 years, or a passing score on an approved licensure exam (49 Pa. Code 20.31(g), (j)).

Older national exam results: NCBTMB stopped offering its licensing exams in 2014. If you previously passed the NCETM or NCETMB, ask NCBTMB to release your results to the Pennsylvania board.

Sources

• PA Department of State - Massage Therapist Licensure Snapshot
• PA State Board of Massage Therapy - Frequently Asked Questions (12/2022)
• 49 Pa. Code 20.21 - Application for temporary practice permit, initial licensure and licensure by reciprocity
• 49 Pa. Code 20.3 - Fees
• PA State Board of Massage Therapy
• FSMTB - MBLEx Candidate Handbook 2026
• 49 Pa. Code 20.31 - Expiration, renewal and reactivation of license