Requirements to Renew or Reinstate an Expired Massage Therapy License & Consequences of Practicing with an Expired License

Massage Therapy, In the United States, Massage Therapists are regulated at the state level.

Each state has a board that governs the massage profession.

If you are a massage therapist in a state that requires you to be licensed.

And also, you are also required to renew or register your massage license on a periodic basis.

Your license may be valid anywhere from one year to four years, depending on the state.

To renew your massage license.

So you generally required to fill out a renewal application, pay a renewal fee.

And also, provide documentation of continuing education hours to fulfil the state’s mandate.

In some states, you are also required to provide proof of CPR certification and/or sufficient massage liability insurance.

Most states allow you until the date of expiration to apply for renewal.

However, if you live in Arkansas or North Carolina your renewal application must postmark well in advance of the renewal date.

In Arkansas, you must send it by the first day of the month preceding the month of renewal or pay a late fee.

In North Carolina, all licenses renew on December 31.

You must have your application for renewal sent before November 1 of the year it renews to avoid a $75 late fee.

Consequences of Practicing with an Expired License

If you continue to practice massage after your license expires, you are violating state law in most cases.

Iowa allows you a 30-day grace period.

If you renew within those 30 days and pay the $60 late fee.

So you not considered in violation.

Maine will also allow you to renew without penalty for practising without a license if you renew within 90 days of your license’s expiration and pay a $50 late fee.

New Mexico allows a 60-day grace period where you can practice after your license expires without legal penalty.

Renewing within the grace period adds $200 to your fees.

In all other states, your license consider expired, inactive, lapsed or delinquent if the state does not receive your renewal application prior to the expiration of the license.

Practicing massage with an expired, inactive, lapsed or delinquent license is in violation of state law. 

Penalties for practicing without a license range from board disciplinary actions (denying renewal and/or ability to reapply) to monetary fines (up to $1,000 or more in some states) and/or arrest and prosecution as a criminal by local authorities.

Some states will allow you to renew a license for a period of time with only a late fee being paid.

And also, presuming you did not practice while your license was in an expired state.

In addition to the regular renewal fee, late fees range from as little as $20 for a license less than 30 days past due in Utah to as much as $500 in Nevada.

Reinstatement of a Massage Therapy License if Not Renewed on Time

Some states have no provision you to get your license reinstated after it expires.

Arkansas, South Dakota, Connecticut and Rhode Island require you to submit a new license application and meet all current new licensee requirements.

In many cases, especially if there have been law changes since you were first licensed.

And also, you may have to return to massage school to supplement your education and/or take or retake a licensing examination.

You may also have to get a criminal background check.

The reapplication process can take up to six months or more.

So during which you cannot practice massage.

Other states allow you to reinstate your license under certain conditions, within a specified time period.

That period ranges from 6 months to 5 years.

In order to reinstate a license.

And also, you generally required to submit a reinstatement application.

Pay the regular renewal rate for the time you have expire.

Pay a late fee and pay a reinstatement fee.

The total cost can be several hundred dollars.

Some states require you to go before the board and explain the circumstances behind your failure to renew.

Others require you sign a sworn affidavit that you have not practiced massage therapy in the state during the time your license was expired.

Some states will allow reinstatement with proof that you were working under a valid massage license in another state during the expired period.

You may also require to prove your competence to provide massage to the state board’s satisfaction.

So which could include taking a test or providing other evidence?

A Note about Inactive Status

If your license considered inactive.

And also, you do not allow to practice massage therapy.

But you keep your license number and your “grandfathered” status if state laws have changed.

You may not have to provide proof of continuing education or CPR certification when considered inactive.

In some states, you have to apply for and renew inactive status.

And also, you can keep your license inactive for a certain time period.

After which it must reactivate or allowed to expire.

Other states place your license in an inactive state for a period of time if you do not renew the license.

In both cases, to reactivate your license you will generally be required to have taken enough continuing education credits to cover the entire time the license was inactive.

Summary

If you want to continue to practice massage therapy in a state with a massage license law.

So you should be sure to know and follow the state’s rules and regulations on renewing your license.

If you fail to renew on time, get the appropriate number of continuing education hours or otherwise fail to complete your renewal application before the expiration.

And also, you will have to pay the consequences.

That can range from a relatively small late fee to losing your license, having to return to school, having to re-take a licensing examination.

And also, undergo a criminal background check and reapply as a new therapist, costing you significant time and money.

Refer to this table which demonstrates the massage license reinstatement or renewal period you are allowed.

Neal Lyons is a founding member and volunteer contributor at the MTSI Institute, an information based portal dedicated to guiding and assisting aspiring massage therapists establish a successful career in massage. Neal is a published author and has collaborated on several mobile applications that serve the massage profession. You can view his published work on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Sony and Kobo. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter and on Google+

17 comments on “Requirements to Renew or Reinstate an Expired Massage Therapy License & Consequences of Practicing with an Expired License
  1. Can i just take the exam again and pay the fees online or do I have to go all the way down to my nearsest massage therapy building in person.

  2. I want to practice massage in Massachusetts and have a certificate from 2 years ago that I want to renew please??
    I have renewed my insurance to be current and tried to call
    Mass Licensing phone # 617 727 1747 4X no answer

    Please advise me
    thank you

  3. JenniferStanley says:

    Joanne is out on maternity leave till
    January
    No answer @ either phone #
    I am trying so hard
    Please call me or
    Email me renewal form and fees
    I will pay and send
    Thank you
    Jennifer Stanley 617 335 1410

  4. Melissa says:

    My massage license expired in 2017 December 31 in North Carolina. How long do I have to renew it before having to take the exam again?

  5. Sarah Durf says:

    I live in PA, my massage license expired 1/31/17, i did not renew it due to health issues,today i renewed my license, now what? What is PA’s rules?

  6. penny osuna says:

    Hi.I live in Phoenix ,Arizona my massage license expired in 2013. What do I need to do to get it renewed to practice again.

  7. Tina Huebner says:

    hello,
    I am a little flustered. I have been trying to renew my license for massage Therapy since yesterday (last day to renew), and now that I am able to navigate the site properly it doesn’t show my license to be renewable. It is like I don’t have a license. What are my options? I have tried to find an email for contact. I could not call because I had to work until after 7:00 pm.

  8. Beth says:

    Ok so I haven’t worked in massage since 2005 and at that time in IL you did not have to be licensed so I have never had a license. But I have had all the hours of training so what do I need to do to get back in the massage field? Beth

  9. Staci Goodwin says:

    I am wanting to reinstate my retired Tennessee massage therapy license. I am wanting to know aside from filling out application I downloaded from Tennessee’s website how many CEUs am I required to complete and if they are NCBTMB approved can they all be done online, not in person education? Also other than Ethics and Jurisprudence are there any others required?

  10. Carol Murphy says:

    So I graduated from massage school in 2004, took the nationals & passed, then I moved to Colorado in 2007 where I quit practicing. I now want to reinstate my Washington license & apply for the first time in Oregon. What all is required of me for both States?
    In school and on my transcripts my name was Carol Cawood but my license in Washington my license was under Carol Glidewell.

    Thanks for your time
    Carol Murphy

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