Which states need CPR, First Aid, and background checks to get a massage therapy license?

Read each of the sections below to see which states require CPR, First Aid, and background checks to get a massage therapy license.   Go to our Ultimate Guide for Getting a Massage Therapy License to learn more.

Which states require CPR to get a massage therapy license?

Approximately half of the states that regulate massage include CPR in their licensing requirements.  The following list is as of May 2023.  Always check with your state’s licensing agency for the latest requirements.

  1. Alaska
  2. Delaware
  3. District of Columbia
  4. Hawaii
  5. Iowa
  6. Maine
  7. Maryland
  8. Mississippi
  9. New Hampshire
  10. New Jersey
  11. New Mexico
  12. New York
  13. North Dakota
  14. Oregon
  15. Pennsylvania
  16. Puerto Rico
  17. Rhode Island
  18. South Dakota
  19. Texas
  20. Washington
  21. Wisconsin

Which states require First Aid to get a massage therapy license?

Nine states that regulate massage include First Aid in their licensing requirements.  The following list is as of May 2023.  Always check with your state’s licensing agency for the latest requirements.

  1. Delaware
  2. District of Columbia
  3. Mississippi
  4. New Hampshire
  5. New Jersey
  6. New Mexico
  7. South Dakota
  8. Washington
  9. Wisconsin

Which states require a background check to get a massage therapy license?

Many states that regulate massage include a background check in their licensing requirements.  The following list is as of May 2023.  Always check with your state’s licensing agency for the latest requirements.

  1. Alabama
  2. Alaska
  3. Arizona
  4. Arkansas
  5. California
  6. Colorado
  7. Delaware
  8. District of Columbia
  9. Florida
  10. Georgia
  11. Illinois
  12. Indiana
  13. Louisiana
  14. Maine
  15. Maryland
  16. Mississippi
  17. Missouri
  18. Nebraska
  19. Nevada
  20. New Jersey
  21. North Carolina
  22. North Dakota
  23. Ohio
  24. Oklahoma
  25. Oregon
  26. Pennsylvania
  27. Puerto Rico
  28. Rhode Island
  29. Tennessee
  30. Texas
  31. Utah
  32. Washington

Which states do NOT require CE hours to maintain a massage therapy license?

Most states in the USA require CE hours to maintain a massage therapy license.  Most of the requirements average 1 hour or a half-hour per month and are due every two years.  Always check with your state’s licensing agency for the latest requirements.  As of May 2023, the only states that do NOT require CE hours to maintain a massage therapy license are: 

  1. California
  2. Colorado
  3. Indiana
  4. Maine
  5. Massachusetts
  6. Ohio
  7. Utah