Frequently Asked Questions

Massage Therapist – Initial Licensure

What are the minimum educational requirements for licensure?

The minimum educational requirements are:

  • 165 hours of Anatomy and Physiology (to include Kinesiology and Pathology)
  • 150 hours of Massage Therapy instruction (to include Contraindications)
  • 75 hours of General Instruction (to include Hydrotherapy, Business, Professional Ethics, a minimum of 4 hours of First Aid, and a minimum of 4 hours of current CPR); and
  • 260 hours of electives (limited to a maximum of 150 hours Clinical Practicum)

I took and passed the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). Do I still need to meet the minimum educational requirements?
Yes. The minimum educational requirements apply to ALL applicants for licensure.

Can I reciprocate my massage therapy license from another state?
No. The Board would be required to have a reciprocity agreement with the other state, and the Massage Therapy Practice Act does not provide for reciprocity with any state.

How long does the application process take?
If the Board Office has received all required documentation, the application process may take up to four weeks.

It has been over four weeks since I submitted my application for licensure and I have not received a status letter. What do I do?
Contact the board office to request the status of your application. Include in your request:

  • Your full name and address
  • Date application was mailed to the Board Office
  • Date transcript was mailed from the Massage Therapy School
  •  If or when applicable, the date the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) results were mailed from the testing agency
  • When applicable, the date the Jurisprudence Examination was mailed back to the Board Office

My massage therapy school issued me a transcript. Will you accept my copy of the transcript?
No. The official transcript must be mailed in a sealed envelope directly from the Massage Therapy School to the Board office.

What happens if the Massage Therapy education was obtained outside of New Mexico?
If you attended a Massage Therapy School outside New Mexico, you are required to have the School complete Form A, available on the Forms page. This provides the Board with a list of subjects and hours taken by you, enabling us to determine whether you meet New Mexico's minimum education hours. Also required is documentation/verification that the school is approved to operate as a private post-secondary educational institution or its equivalent.

If I attended an out-of-state Massage Therapy school, will my credits be accepted?
Out-of-state education received may be accepted as long as it meets New Mexico’s requirements. Many schools from other states meet New Mexico’s educational requirements; however, additional documentation and verification requirements must also be met.

How do I obtain a temporary massage therapy license?
Complete the Massage Therapist Application for Licensure, (available on the Forms page), including the Temporary Licensure section, and pay the Temporary License fee in addition to the other fees outlined on the application.

My temporary massage therapy license is about to expire. How do I get the license extended?
61-12C-14.C of the Massage Therapy Practice Act provides for the issuance of no more than one temporary license; therefore, you cannot have your temporary license extended.

I took the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB); however, I failed the examination. May I obtain a temporary massage therapy license until I pass the examination?
No. A temporary massage therapy license is issued to persons waiting to take the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). Since you have already taken the examination, you do not qualify for a temporary license. Also 61-12C-14.C of the Massage Therapy Practice Act states "no temporary license shall be issued to an applicant who has previously failed the examinations."

I need to apply with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) to take the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). How do I contact the NCBTMB?
You may contact the NCBTMB at 800-296-0664 or 703-610-9015, or visit their website. Or e-mail them at info@ncbtmb.com.

I just took and passed the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). Will the Board accept the score report I received at the examination site as proof of taking and passing the examination?
No. In the National Certification Examination Candidate Handbook you will find a Score Report Request Form. Follow the instructions on the form to have your official score report sent to the Board Office.

Will the testing agency automatically mail my NCETMB results to the Board Office?
No. In the National Certification Examination Candidate Handbook you will find a Score Report Request Form. Follow the instructions on the form to have your official score report sent to the Board Office.

I took the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). Why haven’t I been issued a license?
If your answer to any one of the following questions is no, this may be the reason why the Board Office has not issued the license:

  • Did you pass the NCETMB?
  • Did you pass the Jurisprudence Examination?
  • Did you request that your NCETMB official score report be mailed to the Board Office by the official agency?
  • Have you made application for licensure with the New Mexico Massage Therapy Board?

Also, if you used a different name on the application for licensure than what is on the NCETMB score report we may have filed your score report in a suspense/pending file. If you changed your address and failed to notify the Board Office in writing, the license may have been returned to the Board Office.

If you can answer is yes to ALL questions and you have not used a different name or changed your address, contact the Board office for the status of your application.

If you are applying for Licensure by Credentials and you have not taken the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), you are required to have the credentialing Board provide documentation/verification that the examination you took in that state meets or exceeds the NCETMB examination. However, if you did take the NCETMB, you may instead have the examining agency forward your scores to the Board Office. This will expedite the licensure process.

General

I have a massage therapy license in another state. May I practice in New Mexico with my out-of-state license?
No. You must be licensed by the New Mexico Massage Therapy Board in order to practice massage therapy as a Massage Therapist in New Mexico.

I am Nationally Certified. May I practice in New Mexico with my National Certification?
No. You must be licensed by the New Mexico Massage Therapy Board in order to practice massage therapy as a Massage Therapist in New Mexico.

If I am a licensed Medical Doctor (MD), Registered Nurse (RN), Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM), or Physical Therapist (PT), to what extent may I practice massage therapy and may I advertise myself as a Massage Therapist?
The degree to which other health care practitioners may engage in the practice of massage therapy is determined exclusively by their governing Board's Statute and/or Rules, specifically, under their Scope of Practice. The Massage Therapy Board defers to the other licensing Board's determination of this issue. However, no individual may advertise himself or herself as a Massage Therapist unless he or she holds a license issued by the Massage Therapy Board.

I have never had formal training in massage therapy, but I have been practicing massage for several years. Is there a way to be grandfathered?
No. Every applicant applying for licensure as a Massage Therapist must meet the minimum educational and testing requirements outlined in the Massage Therapy Practice Act and Rules in order to obtain a license in New Mexico.

How do I go about obtaining a specialty license in my area of expertise, such as Shiatsu, Polarity Therapy or Reflexology?
The Massage Therapy Practice Act and Rules do not provide for specialty licenses.

How do I obtain a duplicate license?
Subsection B of 16.7.1.8 NMAC states: The Board will issue a duplicate/replacement license or wall certificate upon receipt of a written request which states the reason for such duplication or replacement (for example: it was lost, stolen, destroyed, or name changed).

You may obtain a duplicate/replacement license certificate by contacting the board office or by requesting a duplicate/replacement online by following this link.

How do I report a change of address to the board?
Subsection D of 16.7.1.8 NMAC states in part: Licensees and registrants will maintain a current mailing address with the Board by immediately notifying the Board Office in writing whenever a change of address has occurred. Notification of a change of address must include: 

  • Your name as licensed with the Board
  • License number
  • Old address and phone number
  • New address and phone number

You may obtain a change of address form by downloading it from the Forms page, or you may change that information online by following this link: https://mylicense.rld.state.nm.us/.

I am applying for a license in another state and the Licensing Board requires that the New Mexico Massage Therapy Board send verification of my Massage Therapy license. What do you require from me?
The Board charges a fee for license verification. Contact the Board office with your request.

I am interested in attending a Board Meeting. How do I find out when the Board meets?
Board meeting dates, times, and locations are posted on the News and Information page. You may also contact the Board Office at (505) 476-7090 for the next Board meeting date. Information about Board meetings are also published in the Legal Section of the Albuquerque Journal.

How do I file a complaint against a licensee or report unlicensed activity?
Download a Complaint Form from the Forms page.

Renewal and Continuing Education

How many continuing education hours are required for renewal?
Sixteen (16) hours. Refer to Part 11 for the requirements.

When are renewals notices mailed?
Renewal notices are mailed approximately 45 days prior to the expiration date noted on the license. If you do not receive your renewal notice, contact the Board Office to make sure we have your correct/current mailing address. Because licenses are renewed for a two-year period, be sure to check your license for the year it is scheduled to expire.

What happens if I do not receive a renewal notice?
If you do not receive a renewal notice, it is your responsibility to contact the Board Office to obtain the renewal application at least one (1) month prior to the expiration of your license to ensure you have sufficient time to renew your license prior to the expiration date noted on your license.

What happens if I fail to renew my license?
61-12C-18.B provides that a massage therapy license not renewed shall be placed on Inactive Status for a period not to exceed two years. At the end of two years, if the license has not been reactivated, it shall automatically expire.

Is it a requirement that I be Nationally Certified in order to renew my New Mexico Massage Therapy license?
No.

How do I apply to become a Continuing Education Provider?
The Massage Therapy Board has no application process for continuing education providers. It is up to each licensee to ensure that the continuing education received falls within the requirements outlined in the Continuing Education Rule, Part 11. If a provider informs you that the Massage Therapy Board has approved the course or program for continuing education, this is not true.

How do I find the courses or programs that have been approved for continuing education by the Board?
The Massage Therapy Board does not evaluate specific courses or programs for continuing education credit. It is up to each licensee to ensure that the continuing education received falls within the requirements outlined in the Continuing Education Rule, Part 11.

What is the minimum information required on the Continuing Education certificate or documentation?
The certificate or documentation must include:

  • Name of licensee
  • Name of program
  • Date(s) of attendance (date, month, and year)
  • Hours granted
  • Signature of provider
  • Provider’s address or phone number