California does not currently require state licensing for massage therapists. However, they do have voluntary certification for massage professionals who meet the standards of the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). Certification by the CAMTC is not required by the state but may be required by individual cities or counties for massage therapists practicing there. Only certified massage therapists who are certified by the California Massage Therapy Council may use the CMT designation.
To become a CMT in California, massage therapists must complete the requirements as described on the California Massage Therapy Council website. We’ve provided a summary of these requirements below for a quick reference.
Industry research from ABMP in 2016 estimated that there was about 52,534 massage practitioners in California. That’s more than any other state; about 1 therapist per every 745 people in California.
Massage License Required? No
Designation: CMT
Education hours: 500
Exam: MBLEx or NCBTMB
CEUs / Renewals: none/2yrs
Applicants for massage certification in California are required to complete a minimum of 500 hours of in-class instruction from a CAMTC approved school. 100 hours of the approved program must be in core subjects including: anatomy and physiology, contraindications, health and hygiene, and business and ethics. Applicants who attended a massage school out-of-state must have a received education and training substantially equivalent to CAMTC approved schools. CAMTC does not accept out-of-country education.
CAMTC certification currently does not require applicants to pass a CAMTC approved exam. Passing of an exam such as the MBLEx or BCETMB was previously a requirement, however this requirement has been suspended through December 31, 2027.
Although the current regulations in California do not mandate an examination for CAMTC certification, many therapists still find value in taking the MBLEx. Utilizing an MBLEx practice test can be a proactive step for those seeking to ensure a broad and deep understanding of massage therapy principles, even beyond the state’s requirements.
In addition to completing approved education, massage therapists wanting to get certified by the California Massage Therapy Council must:
Becoming a certified massage therapist in California is a fairly straight forward process. Once you have completed the requirements listed above, you can apply online, or you can download the printable application with instructions and mail it in. Your application will also need to include sealed school transcripts, a passport photo, a copy of a current government issued photo ID, and payment. And the background screen results will be sent directly to CAMTC by Live Scan.
The CAMTC FAQ page states that it takes approximately 90 days to complete a certification application that has no background or educational requirement issues. Massage therapists who have a current out-of-state massage license in good standing may qualify for certification by the CAMTC if the licensing requirements are equivalent.
In case you’re wondering how much it costs to become a certified massage therapist (CMT) in California, here’s a summary of the fees charged by the California Massage Therapy Council:
Certified massage therapists in California who wish to keep their CAMTC certification must recertify every 2 years. The cost for this is $200 if application is completed on or before March 31, 2023, and $300 if application is completed on or after April 1, 2023. There is currently no CEU requirement.
The California Massage Therapy Council does not regulate massage establishments. These businesses are typically regulated at the city or county level.
