Bodywork Credentials

These locales currently offer some type of credential to professionals in the massage and bodywork field – usually licensure, certification or registration. A city or county license may also be necessary where you practice – contact your city hall for further information.

We believe this information to be accurate, however accuracy cannot be guaranteed as laws change! Please notify us if you find any errors or omissions.

No license is necessary in any locale we are aware of to exchange a free massage between friends!

State Hours* Verification Comments
Australia
  To work in Australia as a Massage Therapist you require a Certificate IV or a Diploma in Massage Therapy Practice, plus join an approved industry association. The qualifications take between 1-2 years to complete, including supervised clinic hours under a qualified massage therapist. 
USA
Alabama 650  
Alaska    
American Samoa      
Arizona 500  
Arkansas 500  
California   State certification is a *voluntary* program (that is, NOT required) in California. 
Colorado 500  
Connecticut 500  
Delaware 300  
District of Columbia 500  
Florida 500  
Georgia 500  
Guam      
Hawaii 570  
Idaho 500  
Illinois 500  
Indiana 500  
Iowa 500  
Kansas      
Kentucky 600  
Louisiana 500  
Maine 500  
Marshall Islands      
Maryland 500  
Massachusetts 500  
Michigan 500  
Micronesia      
Minnesota      
Mississippi 700  
Missouri 500  
Montana 500  
N Mariana Islands      
Nebraska 1000  
Nevada 500    
New Hampshire 750  
New Jersey 500    
New Mexico 650  
New York 1000  
North Carolina 500  
North Dakota 750  
Ohio 750  
Oklahoma      
Oregon 500  
Palau      
Pennsylvania 600  
Puerto Rico 1000  
Rhode Island 500  
South Carolina 500  
South Dakota 500  
Tennessee 500  
Texas 500  
Utah 600  
Vermont      
Virgin Islands      
Virginia 500  
Washington 500  
West Virginia 500  
Wisconsin 600  
Wyoming      
Canada
Alberta      
British Columbia      
Manitoba      
New Brunswick      
Newfoundland 2200    
Northwest Territories      
Nova Scotia      
Nunavut      
Ontario 2200    
Prince Edward Island      
Quebec      
Saskatchewan      
Yukon      
United Kingdon
England      
Guernsey      
Isle of Man      
Jersey      
Northern Ireland      
Scotland      
Wales      
Mexico
Aguascalientas      
Baja North      
Baja South      
Campeche      
Chiapas      
Chihuahua      
Coahuila de Zaragoza      
Colima      
Distrito      
Durango      
Guanajuato      
Guerrero      
Hidalgo      
Jalisco      
Mexico (State)      
Michoacan de Ocampo      
Morelos      
Nayarit      
Nuevo Leon      
Oaxaca      
Puebla      
Queretaro de Arteaga      
Quintana Roo      
San Luis Potosi      
Sinaloa      
Sonora      
Tabasco      
Tamaulipas      
Tlaxcala      
Veracruz-Llave      
Yucatan      
Zacatecas      

* Minimum number of formal training hours required for licensure, certification, or registration.

Other Resources