Massage Therapist / Minnesota
2026 data Minnesota board official source

Minnesota Massage Therapist License Requirements

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

Provides therapeutic massage to relieve pain and reduce stress.

What the Minnesota data shows for Massage Therapists

To practice as a massage therapist in Minnesota, the state licensing board requires 1,500 documented education or training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. The regulation sits under Minnesota's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

Budget $75 to get started on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Minnesota, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

There's no published reciprocity list here - Minnesota reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Massage Therapist · Minnesota

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
1,500 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee B+
$75
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Minnesota

Education / Training Hours
Cosmetology School
1,500 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$75
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Minnesota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Massage Therapist in Minnesota?
Minnesota's requirements cover 1500 hours of education or training, a state exam, and an initial fee of $75. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Massage Therapist in Minnesota?
Minnesota licenses massage therapists who complete its requirements (1500 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Minnesota licensing board.
Can I transfer my Massage Therapist license to Minnesota from another state?
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for massage therapists in Minnesota - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the Minnesota licensing board for the current process.
Does Minnesota require a background check for Massage Therapist licensing?
A criminal background check is mandatory for massage therapist licensing in Minnesota. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

What to do with this massage therapist license

Massage Therapist in Minnesota is one requirement row in a massage therapist-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Minnesota licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.