Maryland Massage Therapist License Exam
To get licensed in Maryland, massage therapists are required to take a massage exam that covers such subjects as anatomy, physiology, pathology and kinesiology. Whether you live in Annapolis, Baltimore, or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your massage license.
Need of a Massage License: A massage therapist needs a license to practice massage therapy in Maryland.
Who Grants a License: Licenses are granted by the Maryland Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners.
Qualifications to receive a License: Maryland has two levels of certification for massage therapists, licensure and registration.
A candidate for licensure needs to complete a minimum of 60 credit hours of college courses and 500 hours from an accredited massage therapy program. Additionally, the candidate must pass a Maryland Jurisprudence Exam and a national exam: the MBLEx. Candidates seeking registration, not licensure, do not need to complete 60 credit hours of college courses.
Applying for the Massage Exam: The Board requires the candidate to pass a national exam (MBLEx) prior to taking the Jurisprudence Exam. Candidates can apply online to take the MBLEx. More information can be found on the MBLEx in a Candidate Handbook.
Jurisprudence Exam: Maryland requires applicants to take a Jurisprudence Exam at the Board offices. To prepare for the exam, candidates are to study the laws and regulations that govern massage therapy in Maryland. For more information, see Jurisprudence Exam.
The MBLEx exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions with four choices provided for each question. Test takers have 110 minutes to complete the computer-based exam.
The exam is divided into eight content areas:
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Kinesiology
- Pathology, Contraindications, Areas of Caution, Special Populations
- Benefits and Physiological Effects of Techniques that Manipulate Soft Tissue
- Client Assessment, Reassessment, & Treatment Planning
- Overview of Massage & Bodywork History/Culture/Modalities
- Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, Regulations
- Guidelines for Professional Practice
How to Apply for the License: Candidates must provide Board the following: (1) completed application; (2) transcript of completed course of study; (3) CPR and First Aid certification and (4) verification of passage of the national exam. The documents should be sent to:
Maryland Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners
Massage Therapy Program
4201 Patterson Avenue
Suite 301
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299
Phone: (410) 764-4738
Fees: There are fees to apply to become a licensed massage therapist.
Who administers the Massage Tests: The MBLEx is administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and Pearson Vue.
License Renewal Requirements: A massage therapist must renew their license every two years and complete at least 24 hours of continuing education in the two year time period.
Applicable Regulations: Massage therapists in Maryland are regulated by the Maryland Code of Regulations 10.43.17 et seq.
