Massage Therapy Licensure in Nevada
Nevada massage therapists are under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Massage Therapy. They are credentialed on the basis of education and examination. Licensees must also be at least eighteen and have acceptable backgrounds.
Select a Nevada Massage Therapy Licensure Topic:
- Find Massage Therapy Schools Near You
- Massage Therapist Education Requirements in Nevada
- Examination Requirements
- Reciprocity for Out-of-State Massage Therapists
- Application Process (Forms and Materials)
- Contacts for the Board and Professional Associations
- Massage Therapy Schools in Nevada
Massage Therapist Education Requirements
Massage therapists must complete Board-recognized massage therapy programs of at least 550 hours. Programs are recognized if they are approved by the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education or are housed in public colleges in any state. Other programs may be recognized at Board discretion.
The Nevada Board has provided a list of programs around the nation that do not meet requirements and are not approved. Programs may appear on the list because they were denied codes by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBMTB), because they were not in good standing with their regulatory agencies, or because the Nevada Board carried out its own investigation and found them to be lacking.
Out-of-state applicants cannot guarantee that a nonpublic educational program will be accepted even if it does not appear on the list. An applicant who wants recognition for a program that is not approved by the Commission on Postsecondary Education or offered by a state college will need to provide detailed information about the program.
All approved and non-approved programs can be reviewed on the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy website www.massagetherapy.nv.gov
Applicants with California transcripts may require Board review.
The Board notes that core curriculum cannot be completed through online education.
Examination Requirements
Nevada statute states that massage therapists must pass examinations that have been prepared by or for the Nevada Board or are offered by boards that hold accreditation through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
The licensing agency lists several options, all of which are offered by either the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). Accepted examinations include the following:
- The National Certification Exam of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB)
- The National Certification Exam of Therapeutic Massage (NCETM)
- The National Exam for State Licensure (NESL)
- The National Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEX)
The NESL, NCETM, and NCETMB are no longer offered. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork now offers only a Board Certification examination which is intended as one component of a certification process which rewards massage therapists who have skills beyond the entry level.
The MBLEX, an offering of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, is currently available It is widely accepted as a licensing examination around the nation (fsmtb.org/).
Please visit fsmtb.org mblex to inquire about taking the MBLEX.
The Application Process
Prospective massage therapists will need to request applications from the Board. They are not to make the request until they have graduated from a 550 hour program.
The request form can be downloaded from the Board website (massagetherapy.nv.gov Applicants How to Apply for a License). It is to be accompanied by a $480 fee and a copy of state ID and social security card. Applicants who hold current licensing in other U.S. jurisdictions are directed to include copies of their credentials when making the request.
Additional supplemental materials will be due at the time of application.
The applicant will request that the school send official transcripts and certificate of completion (Diploma).
The applicant will need a passport-quality photograph.
All massage therapist candidates will need to have background checks completed. Livescan services are only available in Las Vegas and Reno.
Applicants may receive temporary licenses. Please review www.massagetherapy.nv.gov for temporary license application.
All massage therapist licensees pay a total of $480: $100 for application processing, $85 for the background check, and $295 for 2 yr license.
Application status can be checked by email at [email protected]
Out-of-State Massage Therapists
Out of State therapists are required to pay the $480.00 and submit the required documents for approval. Application timeline is the same as a non out of State licensee. Please review our website for required documents. www.massagetherapy.nv.gov
Additional Information
The Nevada State Board of Massage Therapists can be reached by telephone at 775-687-9955. You may also email us at [email protected] for all inquiries.
The state’s professional organization is the Nevada Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association. AMTA-NV is not involved with the licensing process but serves as an additional professional resource (http://amta-nv.org).
Massage Therapy School in Las Vegas