It’s been a while since you’ve given a professional massage, and your massage license has expired. I am not going to even ask why you left the massage profession. I have heard every reason under the sun and every single one is valid. Maybe you had kids, moved, took care of a loved one, took a different job, or hated your last massage job. It does not matter. You needed the break.
Now you’re ready to renew your license and get back into the profession. But where do you start? This blog post will guide you through the process of renewing your expired massage license, from taking the MBLEx (only if needed – calm down) to getting a job. Whether it has been a short or long hiatus, I’ve got you covered!
Before I begin, I should mention that there are fifty different states with fifty different regulations for massage. This article will be a lot of generalizations, but I intend to let you know what you should expect on this journey back to massage therapy.
Let’s take the first steps now.
When did your license expire? Was it 60 days ago, 6 years ago, or 16 years ago?
If it was within the last year or two, your license probably just be delinquent. In this case, you will most likely just need to complete any necessary continuing education and pay your renewal fee along with a late fee.
For example, if your Texas massage license has been expired less than 18 months, you just need to complete all of your Texas massage continuing education courses requirements a pay your late fees.
It is usually after three or four years that we see licenses go from delinquent status to null and void status. Null and void status is when your license has expired and you have not taken any steps to renew it for usually more than two renewal cycles. In this case, you may need to start the process from the beginning as if you are a new massage therapist.
This does not automatically mean that you will need to go back to school. And you probably do not need to take the licensing exam such as the MBLEx, or NCETMB, if you already took them years ago. Let’s dive into those two fears a little more.
The answer to this question is, unfortunately, maybe. However, it is very, very unlikely. It depends on the state that you are in and on how long it has been since your massage license expired. The most important factor is if your state has changed massage laws or regulations since you went to school.
Let’s look at a couple of examples.
For instance, maybe you went to massage school and got licensed when Texas required 300 hours. Well, now they required 500 hours. The state could make those that let their license expire return to school for 200 more hours to comply with the new laws. It does not appear they do that as of now.
Or maybe you were licensed years ago in a state without even attending massage school (grandfathered) while they were establishing massage licensing. Then you let your license expire. Chances are you are not going to be allowed to get a license again without any training. Grandfathering is often a one-time thing with a deadline.
I’ve said this many times, when you let a license expire, you are taking responsibility for needing to comply with any new requirements that happen while you are not licensed.
A lot of people do not realize that. I think if more people understood the gravity of that decision, they would keep up their renewal requirements.
Again, the answer to this question is, unfortunately, maybe. But, again, it is very, very unlikely.
If you previously took the NCETMB or MBLEx, those scores do not expire. You most likely do not need to take an exam again. Even if you let your NCBTMB certification expire, your exam scores do not expire.
Let’s talk about a few scenarios where you may need to take the MBLEx. If you have been out of the field a while, the NCETMB is no longer given.
This is the most common scenario. If you were originally licensed years ago in a state that does not require an exam and now that state has changed its requirements and requires an exam for applications, you may need to take a licensing exam.
A common state I see this issue with is Illinois or Michigan
Ohio originally had its own licensing exam given by the Ohio medical board. Now they only accept the MBLEx. If your Ohio massage license is expired and you took that old exam, you may need to take the MBLEx to get licensed again.
Louisiana is one of the few states that requires those without a current license to have completed a licensing exam within the last two years.
If you need to take the MBLEx, Massage Exam Academy is a self-paced study program I offer with study guides, MBLEx practice tests, and flashcards. I have assisted many people in the process of reactivation. I know you think it may have been too long for you to test again, but I promise that massage knowledge is still in your brain and ready to be recalled.
The first step I recommend is finding out when your massage license expired. To do that, go to your State board website and look for a link to verify or look up a license. You can usually do this by name or license number. It should let you know when your license expired and the status (delinquent, lapsed, null and void, etc).
The best way to do this is to visit your state’s massage board website. They will have all the information you need regarding what is required to renew or reactivate your expired license.
Look for terms like “renewing an expired license” or “license reactivation”. Look those pages over to see if you can find out more about the process of getting your license back in good standing.
Some states will require:
-Additional Continuing Education (CE courses)
-An explanation of why you were away from massage
-Licensing exams or Juris (laws and rules) exams or courses
-If they have enacted background checks or other requirements since you have been away, you may need to do that too
If you have any doubts or questions, contact your board office. They have dealt with delinquent or expired licenses hundreds or thousands of times.
Now that you know what you need to do to get licensed, get that done. Again, this will look different for everyone. For some of you, it may be a simple late fee and a few courses. Others may need to take the MBLEx or send in a new massage license application and get a new license number.
This is really more of a personal preference. Some people dive right back in without any additional courses or training – like riding a bike. Some people feel a little rusty and want to review the origins, insertions, and basic anatomy. There are no right or wrong answers here. Do what you need to do in order to competently and safely serve the public as a massage professional.
The good news is, that there are so many places hiring massage therapists right now. If you are wanting to get back into the industry after your license has expired, here are some tips:
-Get your resume and social media up to date
-Look for spas, massage clinics, or chains that are hiring
-Network with other massage therapists
-If you want to open your business, put together a business plan
I hope this has helped clear up some of the confusion around what it takes to renew an expired massage license. The process can seem daunting, but if you take it one step at a time, you will be back practicing massage in no time. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to your state board or local professional association for guidance.
To new beginnings!
Thank you for reading this post! In addition to writing here at Advanced Massage Techniques, I write specifically about barefoot massage at Ashiatsu.net, and write about more general massage topics at Massage & Bloggywork.
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Hello! I am so glad that I found your website. I am trying to find out the status of my expired license (it’s been a loooong time!) I went to the Board of Registration of Massage Therapy in MA but was not able to verify the status. It kept saying “no records found”. Does that mean it’s so old it doesn’t even come across the radar? Thank you for any advice that can be offered!
I went to their website and it is hard to say. There is no way to search active vs null licenses. Did you try checking by your former license number? If so, I would call the board office to inquire about your license status and the steps to get it back in good standing. Best!
I went to Intellitec College in Pueblo Colorado I never renewed my license and was wondering if i lost out or what is the next step in recovering my license if able to. Thank you
Without knowing how long ago you went to school, the number of hours you completed, or if you completed the MBLEx – it is hard for me to say. I would get this information and then contact the Colorado board for guidance – https://dpo.colorado.gov/MassageTherapy
I’m in Arizona and the massage board only emails you dry answers and I still don’t know. It has been over 10 years of expiration and want to know how I can reenstate my license without having to go back to school.
That is very common with all boards. It looks like if it has been over three years, you need to reapply and comply with all new requirements. This usually means that if you did not take an exam to get your license previously, then you likely will need to take one now. If you did take a board approved exam previously, you can usually use those scores when you reapply. Here is the page that helped me for AZ https://massagetherapy.az.gov/az-state-board-renewal-requirements-and-renewal-application-form#:~:text=The%20board%20may%20reinstate%20a,education%20established%20by%20the%20board.
I want to renew my license in the state of Maine. I had let it go do to cancer and I am now cancer free. But I am not finding any answers
Happy to hear you are cancer free! Yay! I would contact the Maine Massage Board for help with reinstating your license. I would mention you do have medical reasons for not renewing. They may have some leniency because of medical reasons (not all massage boards do) – https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/massage-therapy-licensure
If I took the NICMB exam for my licensure over 20 years ago but let me license slip, how do I find that original license? I think I was only nationally certified and not licensed by state at the time. You mentioned that the NICMB is no longer given. I am thinking about reinstating my license if it is not too much work to do so. I originally was in California and today reside in Washington state. Washington has a CMP for people with 300 hours like my oritiganl training, so I think I am covered there. Thanks!
Here is how to contact the NCBMTB – https://www.ncbtmb.org/contact/ They should give you instructions on how to create an account and get access to your old exam scores to send to a state. I would also contact the state board where you where licensed and plan to get licensed. If you only have 300 hours of training, that may create an issue if the state has increased its minimum hour requirement.
Hi.. I graduated from there Swedish Institute in NY … I had my license but it has expired (a LONG time ago.. like 12 years ago) but would like to get back Intomassage this Summer. Can you help me find out what I need to do?? I am really hoping that I can renew and I don’t mind paying fees and doing some continuing ed… but not if it’s love 300-600 hours…
My guess is that you may just need to register with the board again. This page has some information at the very top in the blue that applies to you https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/massage-therapy/license-application-forms Important Notice: DO NOT use Form 1 if you are already licensed in this profession in New York State. A New York State professional license is valid for life unless it is revoked, annulled, or suspended by the Board of Regents. To practice in New York State, your professional license must be registered. To renew your registration online, visit http://op.nysed.gov/services/online-registration-renewal. If your registration has lapsed for longer than 4 months, submit a Delayed Registration Application. https://eservices.nysed.gov/professions/wf/delayed-registration/pi?rid=c1ef347d-f548-4b74-954f-3b2cc0f1ba4d&workflowSlug=delayed-registration#/
Hi, I attended massage school in Texas back in 2001 and received my massage license in 2002. I am grandfathered in at 300 hours. however, covid hit in 2020 and then I moved abroad. it will be four years this November since I’ve had my license and cannot find the information on how to renew my license in Texas as I want to massage again. The TDRL does not provide information on this is the expiration is over 4 years. Can you possible guide me or tell me where to go, please? Thank you so much for your time.
Hi Cathy! I would contact the board office. My guess is after 3 years, you would need to qualify and apply for a new license. This is one of the risks we take when we let our license expire, we risk not qualifying for the new requirements. Since Texas now requires 500 hours applicants, they may require that for you too. I would contact them and see what options they suggest for you.
Hi Ivy,
I got my license in Colorado in 2012, and then moved to Kentucky and got licensed there as well. I have not been doing massage since 2016, and I am thinking about getting licensed in Indiana. Would I have to renew my license in one of the states I am licensed in before I could get my license in Indiana? Any advice would help. Thank you.
Possibly. Sometimes states with endorsement applications want your license in another state to be active. I do not see that as a requirement on the IN checklist. You will need to have verifications sent from the states where you were licensed though. https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/massage-therapy-home/massage-therapy-licensing-information/#Massage_Therapist Have you taken the MBLEx ever? I know CO did not require it, but it looks like IN does.
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