How do I get my massage license?

[Julie Ann]

And I don't mean my CERTIFICATE from school. I heard that their is a difference between a license and a certificate/diploma. Apparently this girl went to the city licensing office and got a massage license right there without presenting a school certificate etc. SO my question is, do you actually need to be a qualified therapist to get a LICENSE?

 

[MyThought]

Yes, there is a difference between a diploma and a license. Most states require proof that you attended a massage school with at least 500 hours (or more depending on state), perform a specified number of massages in a supervised student clinic, complete a background check, and pass the NCTMB or MBLEx licensing exam.

Requirements for getting a professional license vary by state. To find out what you need in your state, do an online search, searching for "massage therapy license requirements" and your state name.

 

[No longer participating]

You can check to see what education your state requires here: http://www.massagemag.com/Resources/massage-laws-legislation.php

Depending on the state, there may be additional requirements besides the diploma to actually be authorized to practice. Often an exam is required.
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