Illinois
Title: Licensed Massage Therapist
How do I contact my board?
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation: Massage Therapy
555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661
888-473-4858
What are the initial licensing requirements in my state?
Obtain 600 education hours, pass the MBLEx exam, submit a fingerprint background check, and proof of completing a course in abnormal skin growth.
What are the licensing renewal requirements in my state?
Licenses must be renewed every even-numbered years. Show proof of 25 hours of CE. Two CE hours must be in ethics, 1 CE hour must be in sexual harassment prevention training, 1 CE hour must be in domestic violence and sexual assault awareness training, and 21 CE hours must pertain to the advancement, extension and enhancement of professional skills.
Are some practitioners exempt from licensure?
Practitioners that do not involve intentional soft tissue manipulation, including but not limited to Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Reike, and Therapeutic Touch. Practitioners of bodywork approaches, including Rolfing, Trager Approach, Polarity Therapy, and orthobionomy. Practitioners of other forms of bodywork, who restrict manipulation of soft tissue to the feet, hands, and ears.
How do I look up a license? https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
Once at least seven states pass the Interstate Massage Compact, licensed massage therapists will be able to temporarily move from one state to another by applying for a multistate license without long application wait times or a hiatus between practicing. If you support licensure mobility, contact your Illinois representatives now.
On August 2, Governor J. B. Pritzker signed into law Senate Bill 2660, amending massage therapy misconduct laws. The bill requires a massage therapist to practice only when a chaperone who is a licensed massage therapist or other health-care worker licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Department) is present if a massage therapist is charged with: An offense that may result in registering as a sex offender Sexual misconduct of a minor Battery or sexual misconduct
Licensees must earn one hour of CE in in domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education.
Effective March 1, 2021, a new rule allows all 24 hours of continuing education credits to be completed online.
ABMP offers members a free, one-hour sexual harassment prevention training CE to meet new Illinois continuing education requirement.