New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy

​​General Questions

1. Must I be a citizen of the United States to be eligible for licensure?

   No. New Jersey State law allows for all individuals, regardless of citizenship status, to obtain a professional or occupational license in New Jersey if all requirements for licensure are met. Individuals with undocumented status are eligible for licensure and a social security number is not required for licensure.
   

2. How can I verify my New Jersey Massage and Bodywork license?

   You can verify your license by using the Division of Consumer Affairs' online licensee verification system. Follow the instructions on the online system to pick the appropriate board and license type.

3. How do I request an official written verification of my New Jersey Massage and Bodywork license?

   
   License Verification Request Procedure
   To request a verification of your New Jersey license status to another state or entity, reach out to the requesting board/jurisdiction/entity and obtain an email address to which we can send electronic verification. 

   Once you've obtained their email address, send an email with the information below to: massagetherapy@dca.lps.state.nj.us

   Your emailed request must include:

   1. Your New Jersey license number
   2. Your mailing address
   3. Your e-mail address
   4. The e-mail address where verification is to be sent.
   
   

   Once we receive your email request, we will reply with an invoice for the $30 verification fee (which you can log into your EGov account to pay online to expedite processing). Please note: incomplete requests will delay the processing of the verification. 
   

4. How do I request a duplicate license?

   Submit a written request to the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy, P.O. Box 47032, Newark New Jersey 07101 for a duplicate license. The fee for a duplicate license is $35.00. The written request must include your name, address and New Jersey license number. Also enclose a certified check or money order in the amount of $35.00 made payable to the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.

5. When must I notify the Board of a change of address?

   New Jersey licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapists must notify the Board in writing within 30 days of any change in the address on file with the Board and must specify whether the address is a residence or employment address. Please be aware that an address change form will be attached to your license. You can also use that form for your address change.

6. When must I notify the Board that my name has changed?

   New Jersey licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapists must notify the Board in writing within 30 days of any legal name change. Notification of a name change must include a copy of the marriage license or court order that authorized the legal name change.

​Continuing Education Questions

1. Am I required to complete continuing education courses in order to renew my license?

   Yes. Each licensee must complete during the preceding biennial renewal period 20 credit hours of continuing education related to the practice of massage and bodywork therapy. These 20 credit hours must include at least two hours in the subject of ethics.

   For Example
   Massage and Bodywork Therapy licenses that expire on November 30, 2014. Licensees must complete 20 credit hours of continuing education between December 1, 2012 and November 30, 2014.

   Courses that are related solely to the business practice of licensees and courses in practices which licensees are prohibited from engaging in WILL NOT satisfy the continuing education requirements.

2. If I was licensed during the first year of the biennial renewal period (December 1st of every even year through November 30th of every odd year), how many continuing education credits do I need to complete before my license expires?

   You must complete 20 credit hours of continuing education credits for that biennial renewal period.

3. If I was licensed during the second year of the biennial renewal period (December 1st of every odd year through November 30th of every even year), how many continuing education credits do I need to complete before my license expires?

   You must complete 10 credit hours of continuing education credits for that biennial renewal period. The 10 credit hours must include at least two hours in ethics.

4. When and where do I send my continuing education certificates of completion?

   Do not send documentation to the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy unless you receive an official "continuing education audit" letter. If your name is selected at random to be audited, you will then be provided with specific instructions and you will have 14 days from receipt of the continuing education audit letter to submit all of the pertinent documents to the Board. N.J.A.C. 13:37A-4.3(b) requires all licensees to retain continuing education documentation for a period of four years after completion of the credit hours.

5. How many credits can be obtained from courses presented online or through DVDs?

   A maximum of six of the mandatory 20 credit hours of continuing education can be obtained from courses presented online (Internet courses) or through DVD courses.

6. How many credits can I carry over into the succeeding biennial period?

   A licensee who completes more than the required 20 hours of continuing education credits in any biennial period may carry no more than 18 of the additional credit hours into a succeeding biennial period. A licensee who carries over credits into a biennial period must complete, during that biennial period, at least two hoursin the subject of ethics. Two hours of ethics education must be completed for every biennial renewal period.

7. Which continuing education courses or programs are approved?

   A licensee may obtain continuing education credit hours from courses or programs related to the practice of massage and bodywork therapy, one credit hour for each hour of instruction. Courses and programs must be approved by, or offered by providers approved by:

   • National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB)
   • National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) Asian Bodywork Therapy Examination
   • The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
   • The American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA)
   • The Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP)
   • The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
   • The American Polarity Therapy Association (APTA)
   • The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
   • The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FMSTB)
   • The International Association of Structural Integrators (IASI)
   • The American Medical Association (AMA)
   • The Rolf Foundation
   • A state board of massage and bodywork, physical therapy or chiropractic.

​Renewal Procedure Questions

1. How often must a Massage and Bodywork license be renewed?

   The renewal period is biennial. All Massage and Bodywork therapy licenses expire every two years on November 30th of any even-numbered year, regardless of the date of licensure.

2. What is the cost to renew a massage and bodywork license?

   The massage and bodywork license renewal fee is $120.00.

3. Can a license be placed on "inactive" status?

   Yes. A massage and bodywork license can be placed on inactive status by checking "yes" for the appropriate question on the biennial renewal application, or by sending a written request to the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. The fee for an inactive status license is $60.00. However, be advised that placing your license on inactive status means that you may not practice as a massage and bodywork therapist in the State of New Jersey.

4. How can a license be reactivated?

   In order to reactivate a license, an application to reactivate an inactive license must be completed by the applicant and mailed to the Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. The applicant is required to present satisfactory proof that he or she has maintained proficiency by completing the continuing education credits that were required for every biennial period that the applicant has beenon inactive status. The applicant must also hold a current certification in C.P.R., First Aid, and use of an automated external defibrillator (A.E.D.) from courses approved by the American Heart Association or a substantially similar course approved by the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council, Coyne First Aide Inc., The American Safety and Health Institute or EMP International Inc. ​

5. I’m trying to add my updated liability insurance information to the online form in my EGov account as part of the renewal process. Why am I getting an error message?

   From the “Add Insurance Information” screen, you’ll notice an instruction at the top of the page that asks you to select “Professional Liability” from the drop-down menu for your “Coverage Type.” Make sure this option is selected, and this should solve the problem. ​

​Business/Employer Registration Questions

1. If I employ massage and bodywork therapists, do I need to register with the Board?

   Yes. Application for licensure as a business must be made online.

2. How long is the employer registration valid for?

   The registration is valid for two years.

3. What is the cost of a employer registration?

   The fee for employer registration is $150.00.

4. When must an employer notify the Board of a change of address?

   An employer must notify the Board in writing within 30 days of any change in the name and residence of the individual or the owner or operator of the entity as well as any change in the municipality and location of the owner or operator's primary place of business and the location of any branches of the business.

​Miscellaneous Questions

1. How long must a massage and bodywork therapist keep client records?

   Client records must be maintained for a period of seven years from the date of the most recent entry.

2. Do I need to display my license?

   Yes. Licensees must display their license in view of the clients whenever he/she providesmassage and bodywork services at their place of business or office. Whenever licensees provide massage and bodywork services outside of their place of business or office they must produce their licenses for clients or other members of the public upon request.

​Licensure Requirements by Application:

• For individuals who completed a course of study in massage and bodywork therapy that was at least 500 hours AND have passed either an examination offered by National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); the or the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)

  The 500 hours of education must have included:

  • 90 hours of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology;
  • ethics and law;
  • theory and practice;
  • electives related to the practice of massage and bodywork therapy; and
  • at least 100 hours of clinical practice.
  
  

  The course of study must be taken in a school accredited or approved by:

  • the New Jersey Department of Education;
  • the New Jersey Department Labor and Workforce Development;
  • the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education; or
  • an agency of another state which certifies that the course taken substantially meets the requirements of the New Jersey Agencies listed above.