How to Get a Georgia Massage License

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Georgia’s hour count is ordinary; its definition of “supervised” is not. The Board recognizes a program at 500 total clock hours of classroom and hands-on instruction — but the rule spells out that supervised means the supervisor is physically on site, qualified, and immediately available. That same standard follows you into continuing education, where 12 of your 24 hours must come from a course that is 70% direct hands-on instruction. Distance learning does not satisfy the core of this license.

What Georgia Actually Requires

• 500 total clock hours of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction from a Board-recognized massage therapy education program.
• Georgia’s definition of supervised: the supervisor is physically on-site, qualified and immediately available. It is written into the rule, not left to the school.
• The MBLEx from the FSMTB ($265), or another Board-approved examination.
• An application to the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy, which sits under the Secretary of State. All application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

What It Costs

Item	Cost	Notes
Application / licensure fees	See Board fee schedule	Set by the Board and subject to change; non-refundable and non-transferable
MBLEx exam	$265	Paid to FSMTB
Massage school (500 hrs)	Tuition varies widely	Must be a Board-recognized program with genuinely on-site supervision
Continuing education	Varies	24 hours per biennium; 12 must be 70% hands-on, which usually means in-person tuition
Georgia LLC	$100	Articles of organization, filed at eCorp

“Supervised” Is Defined, and It Rules Out the Cheap Path

Plenty of states say “supervised instruction” and leave the interpretation to the school. Georgia writes it down: the supervisor must be physically on site, qualified, and immediately available. That single clause is what determines whether a program counts.

It matters most if you are considering a hybrid or largely online program, or transferring hours in from another state. Hours delivered by video, or supervised by someone reachable rather than present, do not meet the standard however the transcript describes them.

The same philosophy governs renewal. Of the 24 continuing education hours per biennium, 12 must come from a course that is 70% direct, hands-on supervised instruction — the instructor physically with you during the demonstration, placement or movement of the body. Budget for travel and in-person tuition every cycle, not just once.

How to Get Licensed, In Order

1. Choose a Board-recognized program and confirm its 500 hours are genuinely on-site supervised.
2. Pass the MBLEx ($265 through FSMTB) or another Board-approved exam.
3. Apply to the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy — check the current fee schedule first, since fees change at the Board’s discretion and are non-refundable.
4. Note your expiry date: licenses expire October 31 of the next even-numbered year regardless of when yours issues.
5. Opening a studio? Register the entity, check your city and county requirements, and bind liability insurance before the first client.

Staying Licensed

Georgia licenses expire on October 31 of every even-numbered year, whatever date yours was issued. Renewal requires 24 continuing education hours per biennium from an approved provider, and 12 of those must come from a course that is 70% direct, hands-on supervised instruction — the instructor qualified, physically on site, and immediately available while you work. Plan the in-person hours early; they are the part that cannot be done from home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours does Georgia require for a massage license?

500 total clock hours of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction from a Board-recognized massage therapy education program. Georgia defines supervised strictly: the supervisor must be physically on site, qualified, and immediately available.

What exam does Georgia require for massage licensure?

The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, or another Board-approved examination.

When do Georgia massage licenses expire?

Licenses issued by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy expire on October 31 of every even-numbered year, regardless of when they were issued.

What continuing education does Georgia require?

24 continuing education hours per biennium through an approved provider. Of those 24, at least 12 must come from a course that is seventy percent direct, hands-on supervised instruction — meaning the instructor is qualified, physically on site, and immediately available while you perform hands-on work.

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

Sources

Source	What It Covers
Georgia Board of Massage Therapy	The board, forms, and fee schedule
Georgia Board of Massage Therapy — FAQ	Exams accepted, fee policy, application guidance
GA Rules Chapter 345-8 — Board Recognized Education Program	500 clock hours and the definition of supervised instruction
GA Rules Chapter 345-4 — Renewal and Continuing Education	24 CE hours, the 12-hour 70% hands-on requirement, October 31 even-year expiry
FSMTB — MBLEx	MBLEx registration and $265 exam fee