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 |
| Reciprocity | New Jersey offers endorsement for out-of-state licensees with similar requirements and practice experience.Reciprocal states: New Jersey offers licensure by endorsement for applicants licensed in other states with substantially similar education and examination requirements. Applicants must have been practicing for at least three years within the five years prior to application and provide documentation that their license is in good standing. |
| 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. |
Source: New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to New Jersey? See whether New Jersey recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Massage Therapist license reciprocity guide.
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
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