Apply for a Massage License

Licensure Requirements for a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)

To qualify for licensure as a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

Option 1: Education-Based Qualification

Successfully complete a massage therapy program with at least 750 contact hours.
The program must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Curriculum approved by the Board.
2. Endorsement by COMTA (or an equivalent entity).
3. Accreditation by an institutional agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

*Out-of-state applicants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Option 2: Alternative Qualification for Applicants with Less Than 750 Contact Hours

Applicants with less than 750 contact hours may still qualify if they meet one of the following conditions:

Active Licensure: Maintain continuous licensure or registration in good standing for at least 10 years prior to applying.
Experience: Provide evidence of at least 1,000 hours of hands-on experience within the past 2 years. *All applications, including out-of-state applicants, are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. **Contact the Board to discuss acceptable documentation.
Education and Continuing Education: Massage program hours and continuing education courses totaling a minimum of 750 hours.
Education and Licensed Hands-on Work Experience: Demonstrate completion of a combination of contact program hours, continuing education hours, and licensed hands-on work experience totaling 750 hours.

Application Link: Massage Online Portal

Notice to Applicants Who Attended Foreign Schools

Students who attended foreign schools are advised that it is solely their responsibility to ensure that all transcripts are in a format acceptable to the Board. Transcripts from foreign schools must be independently reviewed and investigated at the expense of the applicant. Such transcripts must also have an original English translation from an accredited member of the American Translators Association or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Only original transcripts and translations are acceptable. Copies or certified copies will not be accepted.

Transcripts will only be accepted from massage schools that are approved or accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE). Refer to the Board's Massage website for a list of USDE accrediting agencies. Additionally, schools located outside of the United States must undergo a strict comprehensive review and scrutiny through a professional, private contract commission. The Board-approved commissions to determine the eligibility and competency of such school(s) is listed in the chart at the bottom of this page.

In many instances, fraudulent information has been detected in applications, particularly from transcripts purportedly derived from foreign schools and institutions. Accordingly, the following procedures apply to any foreign school:

No action will be taken on the application until the Board receives a full report from one of the Board-approved commissions. Applicants are advised that such reviews take several weeks to several months to complete.
Applicants are advised that the Board will not process the application further until a full favorable report is submitted by the authorized agency. The Board retains the discretion to approve or reject any application upon review of the report and documentation.
All foreign transcripts, letters and documents must be presented to the contract investigating company in original form and must also have an original English translation from an accredited member of the American Translators Association. No other translations are acceptable. The applicant bears all costs of any translations or certifications.
Applicants who attended foreign schools are advised that very few foreign schools or institutions have qualified as meeting Maryland’s standards. Accordingly, applicants should seriously consider and weigh the costs of this comprehensive review and fees with the probable chances of non-acceptance of the foreign school.
Affected applicants are advised that acceptance of an application and non-refundable fees does not in any manner insure, promise or guarantee that the application will be approved, and certification or registration will be granted.
The Board does not interface with the credential evaluation agency.
Applicants are solely responsible to make all arrangements with agencies for evaluation of transcripts/academic records, including payment of any applicable fees. Applicants may contact:

APPROVED CREDENTIAL EVALUATION AGENCIES

A2Z Evaluations, LLC 216 F Street, #29 Davis, CA 95616 Phone: 530-400-9266 A2Z Evaluations, LLC	Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. 8875 Hidden River Parkway, Suite 110 Tampa, FL 33637 Phone: 813-374-2020 [email protected]	Center for Applied Research, Evaluation and Education, Inc. P.O. Box 18358 Anaheim, CA 92817 Phone: 714-237-9272 [email protected]
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. 101 W. Pleasant St., Suite 200 Milwaukee, WI 53212-3963 Phone: 414-289-3400	Educational Perspectives, nfp PO Box A3462 Chicago, IL 60690-3462 Phone: 312-421-9300 [email protected]	Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. 2480 Hilborn Rd, Suite 106 Fairfield, CA 94534 Phone: 707-759-2866 [email protected]
Evaluation Service, Inc. 333 W. North Avenue, #284 Chicago, IL 60610 Phone: 1-847-477-8569 [email protected]	Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. 105 West Vandalia Street, Suite 120 Edwardsville, IL 62025 Phone: +1-618-656-5291	Foundation for International Services, Inc. 505 – 5th Avenue South, Suite 101 Edmonds, WA 98020 Phone: 425-248-2255 [email protected]
Global Credential Evaluators, Inc. 3515-B Longmire Drive PMB 323 College Station, TX 77845 Phone: 800-707-0979 International: 301-421-4581 [email protected]	Global Services Associates, Inc. 409 North Pacific Coast Highway, #393 Redondo Beach, CA 90277, USA Telephone & Fax: +1-310-828-5709 [email protected]	International Academic Credential Evaluators, Inc. PO Box 2465 Denton, TX 76202-2465 Phone: 940-383-7498 [email protected]
International Commission on Healthcare Professionals (ICHP) 3600 Market Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA +1 (215) 222 – 8454 Website: www.cgfns.org/	International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. 3600 Market Street, Suite 450 Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 Phone: +1-215-243-5858 [email protected]	International Education Evaluations, Inc. Phone: 704-772-0109 Member since May 2018
International Education Research Foundation, Inc. Post Office Box 3665 Culver City, CA 90231-3665 Phone: 310.258.9451 [email protected].	Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. International Education Consultants 7101 SW 102 Avenue Miami, FL 33173 Phone: [email protected]	SpanTran: The Evaluation Company 450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 804 New York, NY 10123 Phone: 646-475-2570 [email protected]
Transcript Research 9540 Garland Road Suite 381, Box 383, Dallas, TX 75218 Phone: 214-810-1124 [email protected]	World Education Services, Inc. P. O. Box 5087 Bowling Green Station New York, NY 10274-5087 Phone: 212-966-6311	World Educational Credential Evaluators P. O. Box 341468 Tampa, Florida 33694 – 1468 Telephone: (813) 962-6506

MILITARY VETERANS’ PRIORITY
ACTIVE-DUTY Military, Recently Discharged Military Veterans & Spouses
Pursuant to the Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013, military veterans discharged within one (1) year of application for licensing or registration qualify for expedited processing of applications and review of equivalency requests for military training. The Board will expedite the review and processing of applications of any military schools or courses submitted as qualifying equivalents for required licensing/registration educational standards. The Board extends these privileges to active-duty military, including reservists called to active duty for training or deployment. These provisions also apply to spouses of active duty and qualifying veterans.
This Board stands ready to assist all qualified military veterans in any way possible to meet the Act’s provisions. Should any Act provisions be further amended (or as further information becomes available) information will be posted on this website.

Approved Accrediting Agencies
A massage school must be accredited and in good standing by one or more of the following recognized accrediting agencies at the time of your graduation; if your transcript does not meet this requirement the application will not be accepted by the Board.
Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies Approved by U.S. Dept. of Education

Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies Approved by U.S. Dept. of Education

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Commission on Technical & Career Institutions
North Central Association of Colleges & Schools, the Higher Learning Commission
North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Board of Trustees
Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges & Universities, Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Western Association of Schools & Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges & Universities
Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community & Jr. Colleges
Western Association of Schools & Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools