Massage Therapist in New Jersey
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NJ. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, New Jersey.
Jobs (NJ)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a massage therapist in New Jersey
To become a licensed Massage Therapist in New Jersey, applicants must complete a minimum of 500 hours of supervised classroom and clinical instruction from an accredited school. They must then pass either the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) or an examination offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). The application process involves submitting an online application with a $75 fee, undergoing a criminal history background check, and providing proof of professional liability insurance and current CPR/AED certification. New Jersey also offers reciprocity for licensees from other states with equivalent requirements and at least three years of practice within the last five years.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for New Jersey. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist New Jersey requirements
| Licensing body | New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy |
| State license | Required |
| Education | 500 hours of supervised classroom and clinical instruction from an accredited school, including 90 hours of anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology, ethics and law, theory and practice, electives, and 100 hours of supervised clinical practice. |
| Exam | Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) or an examination offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) ($265) |
| Application fee | $75 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing education | 20.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Requires a criminal history background check, proof of professional liability insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate), and current CPR/AED certification. If licensed during the second year of the renewal period, only 10 CE hours are required, including 2 hours of ethics. A maximum of 6 CE hours may be completed online. 2 hours in ethics and 1 hour in laws & rules are required for CE. |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleNew Jersey license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+15.4%)
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk