California Massage Therapy Continuing Education Requirements

Massage therapy continuing education requirements for license renewal vary from state to state and the laws are constantly changing. It's our current understanding that there are two levels of massage therapy certification in California.

A Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) must have at least 500 hours of formal education and training in massage therapy.
A Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP) has completed between 250 to 499 hours of massage therapy training.

There are currently no continuing education requirements for renewal of the CMT or CMP certification.

If you would like to verify this information, or have further questions regarding your massage therapy continuing education requirements, we suggest contacting the California Massage Therapy Council directly. The telephone number for the California Massage Therapy Council is 916-669-5336 or visit their website at https://www.camtc.org/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does California require massage CEUs for renewal?

California does not currently require continuing education for CAMTC certificate holders. CAMTC states directly that there are no continuing education requirements for certificate holders.

How often do California massage therapists renew CAMTC certification?

CAMTC certification is issued for a two-year period, and certificate holders must apply for recertification every two years.

Is California massage certification the same as a state massage license?

California uses CAMTC certification rather than a traditional statewide massage license structure. Massage therapists should also check any local city or county rules that may apply where they practice. CAMTC’s own guidance also notes that certificate holders are responsible for accurate compliance with CAMTC requirements.

Should California massage therapists still take continuing education?

Many California massage professionals still take CE courses for professional development, employer requirements, modality training, insurance requirements, or national certification renewal, even though CAMTC itself does not currently require CE for recertification. CAMTC’s official position is that there are no CE requirements for certificate holders.

Do NCBTMB-certified massage therapists in California need CE?

NCBTMB requirements are separate from CAMTC. California CAMTC certificate holders do not have a CAMTC CE requirement, but therapists with national board certification should follow NCBTMB renewal rules separately.