How to Get a Utah Massage License

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Utah is one of the few states where you can become a licensed massage therapist without going to massage school. DOPL accepts either a 600-hour program at an approved school or 1,000 hours as a licensed apprentice. Either way you sit the MBLEx. And renewal is $52 — the cheapest in this comparison by a wide margin.

What Utah Actually Requires

• Either a 600-hour program in an approved massage school, or 1,000 hours as a licensed apprentice.
• The MBLEx from the FSMTB ($265), created and administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.
• Application to DOPL, the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, part of the Department of Commerce. Fees are printed on the application forms.

What It Costs

Item	Cost	Notes
Application fee	See DOPL form	Printed on the massage therapist application
MBLEx exam	$265	Paid to FSMTB
Massage school (600 hrs)	Tuition varies widely	Or 1,000 apprentice hours instead — often far cheaper
Renewal	$52	The cheapest massage renewal in this comparison
Utah LLC	$59	Certificate of organization, Utah Division of Corporations

The Apprenticeship Route Is the Reason to Look at Utah

Most states have exactly one path in: pay a massage school for 500 to 1,000 hours, then sit the exam. Utah has two. You can do 600 hours at an approved school, or you can do 1,000 hours as a licensed apprentice.

The trade is time for money. The apprentice route is longer — 1,000 hours against 600 — but it removes tuition as the barrier to entry, and you are working in a practice while you accumulate them. If cost is what has been stopping you, that is the door.

Compare the alternative: Florida explicitly has no apprenticeship path, and New York asks for 1,000 classroom hours with no substitute at all. Utah is genuinely unusual here.

The second Utah number worth noting is renewal: $52. Nevada charges $295 and Pennsylvania $175. Over a working life that difference is real, and it makes Utah one of the cheapest states to hold a massage license in.

How to Get Licensed, In Order

1. Pick your route — 600 school hours, or 1,000 hours as a licensed apprentice.
2. If apprenticing, get licensed as an apprentice first so the hours count.
3. Pass the MBLEx ($265 through FSMTB).
4. Apply to DOPL using the current application form, which carries the fee.
5. Opening a practice? Register the entity, check city requirements, and bind liability insurance before the first client.

Staying Licensed

Utah massage therapist licenses renew for $52. Confirm the current continuing education requirement with DOPL at renewal — it is not published on the pages checked here, and this page does not guess at a number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you become a massage therapist in Utah without going to massage school?

Yes. Utah accepts either a 600-hour program at an approved massage school or 1,000 hours completed as a licensed apprentice. The apprenticeship route is unusual — Florida, for instance, has no apprenticeship path at all — and it is the reason Utah is worth a second look if tuition is the obstacle.

How many hours does Utah require for a massage license?

600 hours in an approved massage school, or 1,000 hours as a licensed apprentice. Either route then requires passing the MBLEx.

What exam does Utah require for a massage license?

The MBLEx, created and administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.

How much is a Utah massage license renewal?

$52 for a massage therapist renewal — among the cheapest renewals of any state that licenses massage therapy. Confirm the current initial application fee with DOPL, which publishes fees on the application forms.

Forming the company, taxes, insurance, and hiring are covered in our full guide to starting a business in Utah.

Sources

Source	What It Covers
Utah DOPL — Massage Therapy	The licensing division, forms and renewal
Utah DOPL — Apply for a Massage Therapist License	Application route and requirements
Utah DOPL — Renew a Massage Therapy License	$52 renewal fee
OPLR — 2024 Periodic Review, Massage Therapy (Jan 2025)	600-hour school route vs 1,000-hour licensed apprentice route, MBLEx requirement
FSMTB — MBLEx	MBLEx registration and $265 exam fee