How to Become a Massage Therapist in Utah

Who can apply

• You must be 18 or older.
• You must graduate from a massage school whose curriculum meets DOPL rules (at least 600 hours), have equivalent education, or complete a massage apprenticeship of at least 1,000 supervised hours.
• You must also complete training in physical boundaries, draping, gaining consent, and taking a medical history (Utah Code 58-47b-302, effective October 1, 2025).
• You must pass the MBLEx. Apprenticeship applicants must also pass the Utah Massage Therapy Law and Rule Exam.
• You must consent to and pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check and disclose criminal history.

Step by step

1. Complete a 600-hour massage school program (or a 1,000-hour supervised apprenticeship).
2. Register with FSMTB for the MBLEx.
3. Submit the Massage Therapist application to DOPL online or on paper with the application fee and your school's Verification of Education form (transcripts are not accepted as verification).
4. Submit fingerprints for the criminal background check.
5. Once DOPL approves your education, it sends an Authorization to Test. Schedule and pass the MBLEx, and have results sent to DOPL.
6. If you trained by apprenticeship, also pass the Utah Massage Therapy Law and Rule Exam through Prov Exam.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: A massage school curriculum of at least 600 hours (Utah Admin. Code R156-47b-302): 125 hours of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology; 40 of pathology; 285 of massage theory and hands-on technique (including the five basic Swedish strokes); 35 of professional standards, ethics and business; 15 of sanitation and universal precautions including CPR and first aid; and 100 hours of clinic. The school must be registered with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection or an accrediting agency, or be a recognized school. Alternative: a massage apprenticeship of at least 1,000 hours of supervised training under a qualified massage therapy supervisor. Applicants also complete training in boundaries, draping, consent and medical history.

Exam: All massage therapist applicants, including those applying by endorsement, must pass the MBLEx from FSMTB; Utah does not accept state-level exams. DOPL also accepts NCETMB, NCETM or NESL scores only if taken before February 1, 2015. Rule R156-47b-302b requires the Utah Massage Therapy Law and Rule Examination (given by Prov Exam) for massage apprentice applicants, but DOPL's exam-information page also lists it under the Massage Therapist license, so check with DOPL whether you must take it. The MBLEx has 100 questions in 110 minutes; to retake it you reapply and pay again.

What it costs in Utah

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: Licenses expire May 31 of odd-numbered years and renew on a two-year cycle. DOPL mails a notice at least 60 days before expiration. The renewal fee is $52. DOPL's renewal page and Rule R156-47b list no continuing education requirement for massage therapists. A license expired less than 2 years can be renewed online with late fees; after 2 years you must reapply and meet current requirements, including a new background check.

Good to know in Utah

Licensed in another state: You may qualify by endorsement. Your state must email DOPL an official license verification showing the license has been held at least one year and is in good standing. You must still pass the MBLEx and a background check, and may need to meet other education or exam requirements.

Schools under 600 hours: If your program was at least 500 hours but does not meet Utah's curriculum rules, and you do not qualify by endorsement, DOPL's education form says you must complete the additional requirements.

Apprenticeship route: Instead of massage school, you can complete a massage apprenticeship of at least 1,000 hours of supervised training over a minimum of 12 months. A massage apprentice license lasts 24 months and requires a supervising massage therapist. Supervisors need at least 3,000 hours of massage practice and no discipline in the last five years.

Other license types: Utah also licenses massage assistants (300 hours of education or a massage safety permit plus an exam) and massage assistants-in-training (6-month license). The owner of a massage establishment must register it with DOPL, including a criminal background check (Utah Code 58-47b-302.2).

Sources

• Utah DOPL - Massage Therapist (Apply for a License)
• Utah DOPL - Massage Therapy Exam Information
• Utah DOPL - Massage Therapy FAQs
• Utah DOPL - Renew a License
• Utah DOPL - Fee Schedule
• Utah DOPL - Verification of Completion of Massage Therapist Education Program
• Utah Code 58-47b-302 - Qualifications for licensure (effective 10/1/2025)
• Utah Code 58-47b-303 - Term of license and renewal
• Utah Admin. Code R156-47b-302 - Massage School Curriculum Standards (Cornell LII)
• Utah Admin. Code R156-47b-302b - Examination Requirements (Cornell LII)
• FSMTB - MBLEx Candidate Handbook 2026