Becoming a licensed massage therapist in maryland state
a general how-to for Maryland
MD Board of Massage Therapy Examiners Official Website
Maryland State and Massage
In the state of Maryland, you must have a license issued by the state to practice massage therapy. To be issued a license, you have to complete a minimum of 750 contact hours of education in an approved educational facility that must include hands-on clinical experience in the field. Some scholarships and grants are available, though generally fewer than for some other avenues of study. For more information and specifics, check out our FAQ below!
massage therapy as a profession faq
There are many places you can study massage therapy in Maryland. Some of the ones near us are below.
You should be able to reach out to the school to find out if they are accredited and if their program prepares students to take the MBLEX.
Depending on the speed of your program, how many credits you take, and your own will, schooling can take 10 months to multiple years to complete.
Some costs are fixed and some are variable when thinking about becoming a massage therapist in Maryland state.
Starting Costs
Schooling: $5,000-$20,000
MBLEX National Exam: $265
- This is sometimes covered in the schooling cost
Jurisprudence State Exam: $180
- Re-examination: $250
Initial License Fee: $330
Recurring Costs
License Renewal (every two years): $276
Continuing Education: $200-???
- Implicit Bias Training (for first time renewals): $25-50
- 24 CE credits required every 2 years
Possible Costs
RMP to LMT Conversion: $100
License/Registration Reinstatement: $475
Duplicate or Replacement License: $40
Out of State License Conversion/Verification: $330
If you are a veteran, the fee is waived
In the state of Maryland, only licensed massage therapists may make money from performing massage. You are only allowed to receive compensation once you have passed all of your exams and received your license in the mail. You must legally display this license inside or just outside the room that you are working in.
Currently, Maryland only offers the Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) status for new applicants. Maryland Registered Massage Practitioners (RMPs) who received their license before 10/01/2024 may renew this license ad infinitum but no more RMP designations will be issued. The LMT conversion process for current RMPs has been made easier.
Massage therapists who move to Maryland have to transfer their license by applying for their Maryland license. Maryland does not offer reciprocity. This process can take up to a few months to complete, so ensure that you budget both time and the correct amount of money for the process. Depending on the standards of your initial state of license, you may or may not have to submit extra documentation in order to become licensed in Maryland State. As of 2023, Maryland did away with the RMP designation and so all incoming therapists must meet the LMT requirements.
Massage therapist pay varies significantly depending on what your work status is, how much you or your business charges for services, and how often you see clients.
Massage therapists typically fall into one of three categories:
- Self-Employed: the massage therapist is responsible for all aspects of the business; renting a space or having a home studio, scheduling, ordering supplies and doing laundry, all legal requirements and permitting, taxes and filing. This option tends to have the highest earning potential but also the highest amount of clerical hours.
- Contractor: this varies from contract to contract, but typically the contracting business provides one or more of the following: a space, a scheduling platform, sheets and materials, a brand. The massage therapist retains 40-70% of their service cost and 30-60% goes to the contracting business. The massage therapist still has the responsibility to do their own taxes, withholding, and filing. This option tends to pay more than employees but less than self-employment.
- Employee: the massage therapist is a W2 employee and the business is responsible for withholding taxes, paying the employee on a set schedule for a set fee-for-service, providing sheets and materials, branding, scheduling, clientele, and all necessary pieces for the massage therapist to work. Massage therapists typically make $18-40 plus tips per 60 minute session. This option tends to pay the least but usually offers higher stability and options for benefits.
Metta is a little different...
- Employee-Owner: the massage therapist is a W2 employee and the business is responsible for withholding taxes, paying the employee on a set schedule for a set fee-for-service, providing sheets and materials, branding, scheduling, clientele, and all necessary pieces for the massage therapist to work. The "business" is made up of us, a collective of individuals with varying skills, levels of knowledge, backgrounds, and interests. We look at the jobs we have to do and cooperatively split them up into more manageable pieces, each sharing in the load of the business, while also reaping the benefits of our labor. We offer modest benefits and still pay 55% of the session fee plus tips to our workers. This option tends to be a little trickier to start but offers high pay and stability, and we think, high reward.