§ 6–302
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 6-302 (2026)
Title 6. Massage Therapy
Subtitle 3. Licenses and Registrations
§ 6–302LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this section, “contact hour” means 50 minutes of actual instructional time per each 60–minute hour.
(b)
To qualify for a license, an applicant shall be an individual who:
(1)
Is of good moral character;
(2)
Is at least 18 years old;
(3)
Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, has graduated from an institution of postsecondary education, as defined in § 10–101 of the Education Article and approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, with at least 750 contact hours of education in a curriculum:
(i)
Approved by the Board;
(ii)
Endorsed by:
(1)
The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation; or
(2)
An equivalent entity that accredits both institutions of higher education and programs offering instruction in massage therapy; and
(iii)
Accredited by an institutional accreditation agency recognized by:
(1)
The United States Department of Education; or
(2)
Another entity that accredits programs offering instruction in massage therapy;
(4)
Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, has completed 750 contact hours of education in a Board–approved program for the study of massage therapy that includes the following areas of content:
(i)
Anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology;
(ii)
Massage therapy theory;
(iii)
Contraindications and pathology;
(iv)
Professional ethics;
(v)
Health and hygiene;
(vi)
Research;
(vii)
Supervised hands–on techniques; and
(viii)
Clinical assessment and documentation;
(5)
Has passed an examination approved by the Board; and
(6)
Submits to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 6–303 of this subtitle.
(c)
(1)
An applicant who has graduated from an out–of–state program for the study of massage therapy shall have graduated from a program for the study of massage therapy that:
(i)
Has been approved by the state’s higher education commission or similar entity that regulates institutions of postsecondary education;
(ii)
Has been endorsed by:
(1)
The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation; or
(2)
An equivalent entity that is an accrediting agency or organization that accredits both institutions of higher education and programs offering instruction in massage therapy;
(iii)
Is accredited by an institutional accreditation agency recognized by:
(1)
The United States Department of Education; or
(2)
Another entity that accredits programs offering instruction in massage therapy; and
(iv)
Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, requires at least 750 contact hours that includes the areas of content required under subsection (b)(4) of this section.
(2)
An applicant who has graduated from an out–of–state program for the study of massage therapy that does not meet the contact hour requirement under this subsection may supplement the required hours with:
(i)
Contact hours from a Board–approved program of study of massage therapy, on a 1–hour to 1–hour basis;
(ii)
Board–approved continuing education hours, on a 1–hour to 1–hour basis; or
(iii)
Documented evidence of having completed at least 1,000 licensed, out–of–state hours of hands–on massage therapy experience within the immediately preceding 2 years.
(d)
(1)
Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board may waive any requirement of this subtitle for an applicant who is licensed, certified, or registered to practice massage therapy in another state.
(2)
The Board may grant a waiver under paragraph (1) of this subsection only if the applicant:
(i)
Pays the application fee set by the Board; and
(ii)
Provides adequate evidence that the applicant:
(1)
Has completed educational requirements that the Board determines to be equivalent to the Board–approved educational requirements in this State;
(2)
At the time the applicant became licensed, certified, or registered in the other state, passed in that state or any other state an examination that the Board determines to be equivalent to the examination required in this State; and
(3)
Is of good moral character.
(e)
On or after October 1, 2024, the Board may not issue an initial registration to practice as a registered massage practitioner.
(f)
The Board shall convert the registration of an individual registered by the Board as a registered massage practitioner to a license to practice massage therapy if the individual complies with regulations adopted by the Board.