Will These CEUs Count in My State? A Simple Guide for Massage Therapists

If you’re confused about whether CEU’s will count for your Massage License renewal, you’re not alone! CEU requirements are different for every State Board. Licensure requirements can vary by State, too. A few States don’t have ANY Licensing for Massage Therapists! Confusing I know….

Last week a massage therapist from Alabama reached out about my Quantum Touch workshop. She wanted to know if the Ceus would count toward her Alabama Massage License requirements.

I’m located about 10 miles from Alabama but teach in the state of Florida.

Having learned the hard way about State massage licensing and regulations (ie not having ceus accepted by the State of Florida, when I first moved here) I went looking for answers. Here’s a little of what I found.

Why CE Rules Feel So Complicated

Massage therapists are licensed at the state level, which means:

• CE hour requirements vary

• Reporting systems vary

• Acceptance rules vary

A class that counts in one state may require extra steps—or not count at all—in another.

That doesn’t mean the class lacks value.
It means the state rules are different.Key Facts About Massage Therapy Boards & CEU Requirements (U.S.)

Big-Picture Facts

1. Massage therapy is regulated at the state level, not nationally.
   Each state massage board sets its own licensure and CE rules.

2. There is no single national CEU system for massage therapists.
   No database, approval, or certificate automatically applies to all 50 states.

3. State massage boards—not instructors or schools—decide what CEUs are accepted.

4. License holders are always responsible for compliance, even if a course is advertised as “approved.”

CEU Requirements

1. CE hour requirements vary by state, commonly ranging from:

   • 12–25 hours per renewal cycle

   • Renewal cycles of 1, 2, 3, or 4 years

2. Some states require specific subject matter, such as:

   • Ethics

   • Laws & rules

   • HIV/AIDS

   • Human trafficking awareness

   • Medical error prevention

3. A course can be valuable and well-taught and still not count in a specific state.
   Quality and acceptance are two different things.

Here’s a handy chart with State Massage Requirements. Please note: CE requirements and reporting methods change. This chart reflects commonly published state board guidance at the time of writing. Licensees are responsible for verifying current requirements with their state massage therapy board.

A–C

State CE Requirement CEU Reporting Method

Alabama 16 hrs / 2 years Self-report / audit

Alaska 16 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Arizona 24 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

Arkansas 18 hrs / 2 years Self-report

California 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report (voluntary certification)

Colorado 24 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

Connecticut 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

D–H

State CE Requirement CEU Reporting Method

Delaware 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Florida 24 hrs / 2 years Centralized (CE Broker)

Georgia 24 hrs / 2 years Centralized (CE Broker)

Hawaii 1 2 hrs / 2 years Self-report

I–L

State CE Requirement CEU Reporting Method

Idaho 12 hrs / year Self-report

Illinois 24 hrs / 2 years Hybrid

Indiana 18 hrs / 4 years Hybrid

Iowa 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Kansas No state license N/A

Kentucky 24 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

Louisiana 12 hrs / year Board-monitored

M

State CE Requirement CEU Reporting Method

Maine 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Maryland 24 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

Massachusetts 12 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Michigan 18 hrs / 3 years Centralized (CE Broker)

Minnesota No state license N/A

Mississippi 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Missouri 12 hrs / year Self-report

Montana 12 hrs / year Self-report

N

State CE Requirement CEU Reporting Method

Nebraska 24 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

Nevada 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

New Hampshire 12 hrs / year Centralized (CE Broker)

New Jersey 20 hrs / 2 years Self-report

New Mexico 16 hrs / year Self-report

New York 36 hrs / 3 years Board-approved providers only

North Carolina 24 hrs / 2 years Hybrid

North Dakota 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

O–S

State CE Requirement CEU Reporting Method

Ohio 24 hrs / 2 years Hybrid

Oklahoma 16 hrs / year Self-report

Oregon 25 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

Pennsylvania 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Rhode Island 12 hrs / 2 years Self-report

South Carolina 12 hrs / 2 years Centralized (CE Broker)

South Dakota 8 hrs / year Self-report

T–W

State CE Requirement CEU Reporting Method

Tennessee 24 hrs / 2 years Centralized (CE Broker)

Texas 12 hrs / 2 years Hybrid

Utah 24 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

Vermont 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Virginia 25 hrs / year Hybrid

Washington 24 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

West Virginia 24 hrs / 2 years Self-report

Wisconsin 24 hrs / 2 years Audit-based

Wyoming No state license N/A

This chart is provided as an educational overview. Massage therapists are responsible for verifying CE acceptance with their state licensing board prior to renewal.Th

Verification Sources Used

Primary Regulatory Sources

• Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)
  – State licensing directory & regulatory summaries
  – Used to verify licensure status (e.g., no state license)

• Individual State Massage Therapy Board Websites
  – Renewal requirements
  – CE hour totals
  – Audit vs self-report language

Centralized Reporting Systems

• CE Broker
  – Confirmed which states use centralized reporting for massage therapy

National CE Standards & Acceptance

• National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
  – National CE provider standards
  – Accepted by many (but not all) states

Supplemental Cross-Checks

• State licensing renewal applications

• State administrative rules (massage therapy practice acts)

• Board-published CE FAQs

What You Should Always Do—No Matter Where You Live

• Verify CE acceptance before taking a class

• Save your CE certificates

• Know your renewal cycle

• Read your state board’s renewal instructions

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Who Is Ultimately Responsible?

You are.

Not the instructor.
Not the school.
Not the CE platform.

The license holder is always responsible for compliance.

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Where to Get Accurate Answers

For reliable, up-to-date information:

• Your state massage therapy board

• The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) directory

• Your renewal notice or licensing portal

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Final Thought

CEUs aren’t just about checking a box.

Choose education that:

• Supports your body

• Expands your skills

• Helps you have a long, sustainable career

Then take responsibility for how those hours are applied in your state.

If you are looking for an amazing modality to add to your Massage practice, please join me in my next Quantum Touch Workshop. You'll earn 14 NCBTMB or CE Broker hours (13 if you attend virtually) Give me a call at 502-548-7230 if you have any questions! Hope to see you soon!

This chart is provided as an educational overview. Massage therapists are responsible for verifying CE acceptance with their state licensing board prior to renewal.

Verification Sources Used

Primary Regulatory Sources

• Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)
  – State licensing directory & regulatory summaries
  – Used to verify licensure status (e.g., no state license)

  Individual State Massage Therapy Board Websites
  – Renewal requirements
  – CE hour totals
  – Audit vs self-report language

Centralized Reporting Systems

• CE Broker
  – Confirmed which states use centralized reporting for massage therapy

National CE Standards & Acceptance

• National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
  – National CE provider standards
  – Accepted by many (but not all) states

Supplemental Cross-Checks

• State licensing renewal applications

• State administrative rules (massage therapy practice acts)

• Board-published CE FAQs