South Carolina Board of Massage Therapy

You must complete a massage therapy program that meets the requirements in the Board's regulations, from a school approved by the Commission on Higher Education. You should confirm with the educational institution before you begin the program that it is a CHE approved school and that its program meets Board requirements. The Board cannot provide you with verification of CHE approval.

No accreditation is needed for non-degreed schools or programs to be approved by the CHE.

No, CHE does not license programs offered at public technical colleges.

No.

A massage therapy education program must provide at least 650 hours of instruction in the following subjects:

(a) Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology - 250 hours. This content shall include anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and palpation techniques, as well as related pathology and medical terminology, and cautions and contraindications, with a minimum of 40 hours of instruction in pathologies.

(b) Massage Theory and Practice - 200 hours. This content shall include massage theory and principles, practical massage and bodywork applications, special populations and accommodations, allied modalities, and hands on practice in a classroom setting.

(c) Business and Ethics - 85 hours. This content shall include professional ethics, communications, boundaries, business practices and development, interpersonal skills, and career planning, with a minimum of 45 hours of instruction in professional ethics.

(d) Laws - 15 hours. This content shall include both State and Federal laws and regulations, HIPAA and privacy issues, with a minimum of 5 hours of instruction in State specific laws and regulations.

(e) Student Clinics - 100 hours. A minimum of 75 hours of student clinical time must be spent on actual full body massage for the public that takes place on site and under the supervision of a licensed massage therapy supervisor. Student clinics must include instruction in massage, assessment and intake, documentation, room preparation, and clerical work relevant to the session.

(1) Students are not eligible to participate in Student Clinics until they have completed a minimum of at least 250 hours of coursework distributed across the subjects of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, practical massage and bodywork applications, professional ethics, and boundaries.

No.

As of May 26, 2024, schools must implement the 650-hour program. Massage graduates who completed school prior to May 26, 2024, may apply for licensure with 500-hour transcripts.

The SC Board of Massage Therapy does not regulate massage schools. However, you may find it beneficial to contact the SC Commission on Higher Education regarding approved massage therapy programs.

As of May 26, 2024, applicants are required to graduate with 650 hours of massage therapy school education and pass the National Certification Examination (prior to November 1, 2014) or the Federation of States Exam for Massage Therapy (MBLEx). Once you have done that, you may submit your application with the requested information and the appropriate fee.

If the requirements for licensure in that state are at least equal or greater than our requirements, endorsement may be granted. You must have a current license in good standing, provide criminal history records checks supported by fingerprints, speak the English language as a native language or demonstrate proficiency, and pass or have passed the MBLEx as of November 1, 2014. For licensure prior to November 1, 2014, South Carolina will accept passing exam scores from the National Certification Exam as well as the MBLEx. Equivalent education is deemed met if you have passed an examination as stated herein. If you are granted a license, it must be renewed the following renewal cycle as everyone receives the same universal expiration date regardless of when you are initially licensed.

Yes, a licensee must include the licensee's license number in any advertisement for the licensee's services. Only a person licensed by the SC Board of Massage Therapy may use the title of "massage therapist". No person or entity shall use the words "massage therapy", "bodywork therapy", "massage-bodywork therapist", "massage therapist", the acronym "MT", "bodywork therapist", "massage", or "licensed massage therapist", the acronym "LMT", or any other words identified by the board in regulation unless the person or entity is licensed pursuant to Chapter 30.

Yes, a person licensed as a massage therapist under this chapter shall display their original license with a two inch by two inch current photo in a prominent and conspicuous place that is viewable by the general public in the massage therapy establishment or sole practitioner establishment. If a massage therapist provides massage therapy services outside of the massage therapy establishment or sole practitioner establishment, then the massage therapist must carry their original licensing card so that it is available at all times.

Yes, a person licensed as a massage therapist under this chapter shall display their original license with a two inch by two inch current photo in a prominent and conspicuous place that is viewable by the general public in the massage therapy establishment or sole practitioner establishment.

If your clients receive services in a specific space over which you have control, you will need to have and display a massage therapy or sole practitioner establishment license, and a practitioner license or licenses. A practitioner who is providing outcall services must carry their practitioner license with them.

The license will reflect your name, the expiration date and your license number will start with "MAS" with a set of numbers behind it. Ex: MAS 1234

Massage License pocket cards can be printed from the LLR website licensee portal and are no longer automatically included with the printed wall license.

Licensees must obtain 12 hours of massage CE beginning with their second renewal cycle and CE classes must be reported to CE Broker.

You may take any class which is approved by one of the national associations, approved massage therapy schools or persons who have been approved by the Board.

All licensees are exempt from obtaining continuing education for their first renewal. Licensees must obtain 12 hours of massage CE beginning with their second renewal cycle and the CE classes must be reported to CE Broker. CE classes must be obtained during the licensing period which is July 1st of every even year - June 30th every even year. The CE is not reusable for subsequent renewal cycles. Failure to obtain CE and record it with CE Broker may result in disciplinary action by the Board.

When a license is initially obtained, you will receive the expiration date for that licensing period as everyone receives the same universal expiration date. The license will need to be renewed the following renewal cycle. Licenses are renewed every even year on or before June 30, at which time 12 hours of continuing education must have been obtained. Continuing education is waived for the first renewal.

Yes, there is no proration of fees. You will receive the universal expiration date for that current licensing period and will be required to renew by June 30th of the even year. CE is not required for the first renewal. After your first renewal you will receive a two-year license.

No, you may not renew your active license if you do not have 12 hours of CE. However, you may place your license on inactive status. While CE hours are not needed to place your license inactive (on hold), you must pay the inactive license renewal fee. You will need to continue to renew the inactive license each even year renewal cycle to retain inactive status. You will not receive an active license and cannot practice or render massage services while your license is inactive. In order to return to active licensure, you will be required to gain CE classes (where applicable) for each renewal period while on inactive status. You can be inactive for an indefinite time.

Renewal notices are e-mailed as a courtesy at least 30 days prior to the renewal deadline. However, you are responsible for license renewal even if you do not receive a renewal notice.

The renewal deadline is June 30th every 2 years, in even numbered years.

Your license will immediately lapse and you cannot practice massage therapy until you reinstate your license. You may choose to place your license on inactive status prior to the renewal deadline.

No, if the license is not renewed timely, it is expired.

A license that has lapsed for more than one year shall be automatically canceled if the licensee has not submitted an application for reinstatement, included the applicable fee and provided proof of obtaining CE hours. If a license is canceled, then an individual may apply for a new license and you must meet the full licensure requirements. This includes, but is not limited to retaking and passing the MBLEx to obtain a new massage license.

No, provisional licenses cannot be reinstated. Once the license expires you must meet the full licensure requirements which includes but is not limited to completion of 650 hours from a massage therapy school, and passage of the MBLEX.

If you are providing massage therapy services in an area that is not your place of business, such as a client's home or office, you do not need an establishment license.

However, if you have a space such as a bus, van, trolley or the like that you take to a client, a client's house or place of business, or other location, within which the client receives services, you must have an establishment or sole practitioner establishment license.

No.

No, a licensee must include their practitioner license number in any advertisement for licensing services.

Yes, a Sole Practitioner Establishment License (SPE) is needed if you have a specific space where clients come to receive services. Massage therapists who perform outcall services at a client's residence, place of business, or other location do no need to have a sole practitioner establishment license, unless they have a mobile space in which services are provided.

No, employees only need their practitioner licenses.

No, the following facilities and practices that employ licensed massage therapists, or that engage licensed massage therapists on an independent contractor basis, are not required to obtain a massage therapy establishment license, or a sole practitioner establishment license:

(1) hospitals and long-term health care facilities that are subject to a licensing regime, a supervising authority, or an agency with jurisdiction over the hospital's or facility's operation or licensing;

(2) a chiropractor licensed by the South Carolina Board of Chiropractic Examiners;

(3) a medical doctor or an osteopath licensed by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners; and

(4) a physical therapist licensed by the South Carolina Board of Physical Therapy.

You must follow the Board statutes and regulations, including but not limited to licensed practice, and the operation of establishments.