This question seems to be coming up more and more lately so I thought I would put together what I hope is a helpful guide to getting your massage license in the state of Alabama.

For Graduates of Alabama Massage Therapy Schools

For recent graduates the process is quite straightforward, you must receive your diploma or certificate, take and pass a national exam, purchase liability insurance, and then apply for a state license. Numerous documents proving your credentials will be required. Those are spelled out in the application itself.

Your instructors and administrators from massage school should be a great help in getting your application package ready.

For Massage Therapists Moving to Alabama

For massage therapists moving to Alabama who wish to become licensed the process may be a bit less straightforward, especially if you have been a therapist for a long time, the state you’re moving from doesn’t require licensure, and/or you never took a national examination.

If you currently hold a license in another state and you took the NCTM(B) or MBLEx exam and passed then you should request an application for a license, fill it out and submit it. Unless you have a significant difference in educational hours, I suspect your application will go through pretty easily. In the case of a large difference in educational hours, I recommend documenting all your continuing education along with associated hours to send with your application.

If you’re reading this article because you have been a therapist for a number of years, you don’t have a license from your current state, and/or you never took the NCTM(B) or MBLEx, let me put your mind at ease right away. It is possible and you probably won’t have to take the national exam to get your license here.

According to the Code of Alabama, Title 34. Professions and Businesses, Chapter 43. Massage Therapists, § 34-43-9. Application for license; educational requirements, paragraph b,

(b) Notwithstanding the requirements in subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a), the board may license an applicant if the applicant is licensed or registered in another state, which, in the opinion of the board, has standards of practice or licensure that are equal to or stricter than the requirements imposed by this chapter.

So that’s good news! Yay! Take a deep breath and know you can do this.

Now let’s get down to the business of how to go about getting licensed if you are transferring from a state where you weren’t required the minimum educational hours, you didn’t have a license, or you’ve been a therapist for fifteen or twenty years and never took a national exam.

Here’s a jumping off point for getting started with this process:

1. Request an application for an Alabama massage therapy license
2. When it arrives, fill it out as best you can
3. Provide as much of the required documentation as you can
4. Include a copy of your liability insurance
5. Include a copy of any licenses or registrations you hold in the state you are moving away from*
6. Include a copy of your resume or a letter outlining your qualifications, work experience, and total number of hours of initial education and continuing education you have completed

*If you don’t have a license or registration because the state you’re moving from doesn’t require or provide it, I recommend doing a very thorough job of providing documentation on your initial education including hours required, years worked as a practicing massage therapist, and a list of all the continuing education including hours earned for each. A couple of references from massage school instructors and peers also would not hurt in this case. 

At this point you may be thinking I am making this sound easy in a somewhat terrifying sort of way. It is actually just a process. And while it seems like a lot all at once, by working through the process a step at a time and being organized, we can reduce a difficult, frustrating and, let’s face it, scary proposition to a somewhat less stressful situation.

So let’s all take a deep breath and get ready to work this process. More than likely it’s going to take several days (maybe weeks) to get all the documentation and information together to apply for your Alabama massage therapy license. Use the list above as a starting place and add to it as you think of specific documents you want to include in your application package. And then every day try to tick one thing off the list. Pretty soon your package will be ready to put in the mail and hopefully you haven’t pulled all your hair out.

After mailing your application, wait a few days then call the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy. They may or may not be able to confirm that your application has arrived. Regardless, have a conversation with the person answering the phone and anyone they may transfer you to about your application and what you are trying to do. They should be able to advise you on any further action you might need to take. Add any actions you need to take to your list. Write down that person’s name on your list so if you have to call again you can ask for this person and not have to start all over with someone new.

Expect for your application to be reviewed by the executive director of the board. Someone from the state board may call and ask clarifying questions. You may be asked to provide more information. If so, provide it. Then take a deep breath and get ready to wait. This part of the process could take a while.

I would advise you not to be afraid to call periodically (no more than weekly) to check on the progress of your application’s review process. So many people I talk to are afraid to call the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy and I don’t know why. They are actually all quite friendly and knowledgeable.

I hope this article has been helpful at relieving some of the anxiety involved in getting your Alabama massage therapy license. If you found this helpful or have more questions, let me know down there in the comments and I will do my best to find the answers.

Forms and requirements to apply for an Alabama massage therapy license can be found on the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy website.

***Please note that at the writing of this article 4/2016, there is a statement on the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy Requirements page that says,

The Massage Therapist License requirements are … and be certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

I have confirmed with a representative of the state board that certification (Board Certified) with NCBTMB is not a requirement. This is an unfortunate wording for their requirement to take and pass a national massage therapy examination. Their website is in the process of being updated to reflect that they will accept the MBLEx and delete the language associated with certification by the NCBTMB.

♥

Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Barefoot Massage Therapist!