How to Become a Massage Therapist in South Carolina

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must have a high school diploma or GED (or finish a board-approved program that satisfies this requirement).
• You must complete 650 hours at an approved massage therapy school, or a substantially equivalent program.
• You must pass the MBLEx (or another board-approved exam).
• You must speak English as a native language or show effective English proficiency; the board may require TOEFL or TSE scores.
• You must pass state (SLED) and national (FBI) fingerprint-based criminal records checks.

Step by step

1. Complete a 650-hour massage therapy program at an approved school.
2. Apply to FSMTB and pass the MBLEx.
3. Start the online initial application through LLR and pay the $150 fee by e-check, debit or credit card.
4. Upload a copy of your ID and Social Security card, the notarized signature/photo affidavit, the notarized lawful presence affidavit, proof of high school or GED, and proof of your legal name.
5. Have FSMTB send your MBLEx result and your school send your official transcript directly to the board.
6. Complete the SLED and FBI fingerprint background checks.
7. Check your status and upload extra documents through the LLR eservice portal. Applications are processed in the order received.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Since May 26, 2024, South Carolina requires 650 hours of massage education. The curriculum must include 250 hours of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology (with at least 40 hours of pathology), 200 hours of massage theory and practice, 85 hours of business and ethics (at least 45 hours of ethics), 15 hours of laws (at least 5 hours of South Carolina law), and 100 hours of student clinics (at least 75 hours of supervised full-body massage on the public). The board does not regulate schools; the SC Commission on Higher Education handles school approval.

Exam: You must pass the MBLEx from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (or another board-approved exam), with results sent directly to the board. South Carolina accepts National Certification Exam scores only for licensure before November 1, 2014. 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 South Carolina

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 June 30 of even-numbered years, and renewal is $75. There is no grace period: a license not renewed on time lapses immediately. Continuing education is waived for your first renewal. After that you need 12 hours of board-approved CE each two-year period, earned during that period and reported to CE Broker. Under regulations published May 22, 2026, reactivating an inactive license needs 6 CE hours per inactive year plus new fingerprint checks.

Good to know in South Carolina

First license may be short: Everyone shares the same June 30 expiration in even years, and fees are not prorated. If you are licensed partway through a cycle, you pay the full $150 and renew at the next June 30 deadline; after that, licenses run two years.

Licensed in another state: Endorsement costs $200. You need a current, unrestricted license from a state whose requirements were substantially equivalent when you were licensed, plus SLED and FBI fingerprint checks. Passing a board-approved national exam (or approved state exam) counts as equivalent education. Under the May 2026 rules, anyone licensed in another state before July 1, 2007 is treated as meeting the education and exam standards.

Lapsed licenses: If your license lapses, you cannot practice until it is reinstated ($210). A license lapsed more than one year without a reinstatement application, fee and CE proof is canceled, and you must meet all new-license requirements again, including the MBLEx.

Title and ads: Only a licensed massage therapist may use titles like massage therapist or LMT, and your license number must appear in every ad. You must display your license with a current 2x2 photo where you work, or carry your license card for outcalls.

Graduated before May 26, 2024: If you finished massage school before May 26, 2024, you may still apply with a 500-hour transcript. Continuing education hours are not accepted to make up the difference for newer graduates who are short of 650 hours.

Sources

• SC Board of Massage Therapy - FAQs
• SC Board of Massage Therapy - Fees
• SC LLR - Massage Initial Electronic Application Instructions (V.1.3, 2/29/2024)
• SC Code of Regulations Chapter 77 - Massage Therapy Board
• SC State Register Vol. 50 Issue 5 (May 22, 2026) - Final Regulations, Massage Therapy Board, Doc. No. 5400
• SC Code Title 40 Chapter 30 - Massage Therapy Practice Act
• FSMTB - MBLEx Candidate Handbook 2026