North Dakota Continuing Education Requirements

Licenses Renew February 28, 2024

North Dakota Accepts NCBTMB Approved 12 Hours Online (specific class requirements listed below)

CE Requirements for License Renewal (from the ND Massage Board Website)

Even-numbered licenses whose license expiration date is 2/28/2024, the hands-on hours requirement remains in place.  

Acceptable forms of CE courses:

1. Contact application: (may be referred to as face to face /on location course):

  • A course presentation that takes place in a physical setting with an attending provider physically present during the entire process. Attendees interact by verbal communication and/or physical touch (practical learning) to other attendees while the instructor/provider and/or their associates supervise.

  • At least 12 continuing education hours are required by law to be hands-on muscle manipulation therapies and given in the physical presence of the class instructor/presenter

2. Remote application:

  • Of the 24 required hours, up to 12 hours can be by remote means and may include: Webinar /Podcasts that are not live-feed; DVD with written materials and student feedback.

Appropriate course content:

  • Application of general massage techniques as defined by NDCC 43-25 and ND Admin Code Title 49.

  • Massage business related topics. The LMT must submit an explanation on how this relates to massage.

  • Ethics: Patient/therapist boundaries, therapist confidentiality, courses offering an insight for specific needs of clientele (vulnerable populations)

  • Stretching as defined in NDCC 43-25-02(2a-3).

  • Courses outlining contraindications for massage therapy

  • Communicable diseases; prevention/infection control

  • Specialty training as pertaining to massage therapy: Diabetes, Cancer, Fibromyalgia, PTSD and other diagnosed illnesses that can be alleviated with massage.

  • Courses relating to massage therapy research – at board discretion

  • First aid training/recertification accredited by American Red Cross and/or American Heart Association

  • Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation initial course and refresher courses

Applicable to ALL ND licensees:
*Credit hours may not be carried into the next license renewal period.
*The Board does not keep track of hours for you.
*The Board does a random audit of licensees at the time of license renewal.  If you are selected for the random audit, you will receive an e-mail notifying you and instructing you how to complete the audit portion of the license renewal process.

Licensed/actively practicing up to 14 years:
*For the FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL after becoming licensed in the State of North Dakota, you are not required to obtain continuing education hours.  The second license renewal after becoming licensed in the State of North Dakota, you will be required to obtain 24 continuing education hours including a minimum of 3 hours in Ethics education.  Thereafter, 24 hours of continuing education are required with ethics education optional.  Of the 24 hours, 12 hours must be classroom, hands-on.  No more than 10 hours may be earned by remote/on-line means.  Remote is anything that is not presented in person in a physical location.  

Licensed/actively practicing for 15 to 24 years:
Six (6) hours of continuing education are required every two years.  All 6 hours may be completed via hands-on or on-line methods.  

Licensed/actively practicing for 25 or more years:
Three (3) hours of continuing education are required every two years.  All 3 hours may be completed via hands-on or on-line methods.  

Please visit the state licensing board to verify massage licensing renewal requirements or for further information.

North Dakota Board of Massage
701-872-4895

Please note that all courses taken with Massage CE Learning Tree can be used for NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) recertification, NCBTMB Approved Provider #450015-06.