Maryland Continuing Education Requirements

Massage License Renewal Requirements Have Changed for Maryland. Mandatory Renewal Requirement Increase

• 24 Continuing Education hours (CE) must be completed to renew your massage license by October 31st every two years
• All continuing education (CE hours) may be completed online 
• Mandatory 8 CE Hours: 3 CE Professional Ethics, 3 HIV/AIDS, 2 CE Implicit Bias or Cultural Diversity – New Requirements in 2025
• Students may not complete more than 12 continuing education hours in one calendar day
• Maryland DOES NOT accept Aromatherapy courses for massage license renewal (updated 10-1-2024)
• Massage CE Learning Tree is an approved NCBTMB Provider. Complete all of your CE with us!

From MD State Massage Board, 2025

Biennial Renewal Requirements

By October of each renewal year, license and registration holders shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of 24 hours within the previous 24 months. The 8 hours of mandatory requirements include:

1. 3 hours in professional ethics or jurisprudence;
2. 3 hours in communicable disease education, this includes AIDS/HIV;
3. 2 hours in diversity, cultural competency, or implicit bias;
4. 16 hours in massage-related courses as approved by the Board; and
5. A current CPR certificate.

Any LMT or RMP with an initial license or registration (first time issuance of a license or registration) issued less than 12 months before a Biennial Renewal is exempt from CEU Requirements BUT must still renew the license or registration issued (COMAR 10.65.05.03).

The completion of an additional one-hour Implicit Bias training course is mandatory for first-time renewals. This specific course must be approved by the ACCME. Information regarding this course can be found on the Maryland Massage Board website.  If you need this additional course as a first time renewal, you can find the information HERE. 

Approval of Continuing Education Programs

A “Pre-Approved Provider” of massage therapy continuing education courses is no longer required to submit an application for approval to the Board provided their programs cover one or more of a specified list of subjects. (COMAR 10.65.05.02).

A. The Board shall:

1. Base approval of continuing education programs solely on content;
2. Ensure that continuing education programs are directed toward improvement, advancement, and extension of professional skill and knowledge related to massage therapy.

B. A course or program offered by a pre-approved provider is approved without further review and is exempted from the requirements of Regulation .04 this chapter, provided that the course or program pertains to the human anatomy and includes any of the following topics:

1. Massage practice modalities, application, scope, and philosophy;
2. Contraindications;
3. Massage therapy theory, technique, studies, and research;
4. Professional ethics, jurisprudence, and risk management;
5. Recordkeeping and professional business practices;
6. Diversity, communications, and cultural competency;
7. Any other topic determined by the Board to meet the professional and educational requirements of the license and registration holders.

C. Pre-approved Providers:

Unless the requirement of §B of this regulation are not met or accreditation status of the pre-approved provider, including all sub-providers, schools, courses, and programs approved or sanctioned by the pre-approved provider unless otherwise prohibited, is not retained, the following shall be considered pre-approved providers:

1. American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA);
2. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP);
3. Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB);
4. National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB);
5. The American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA);
6. National and State massage therapy organizations accredited by the federal or state government or a Board-recognized accreditation society;
7. Accredited state schools and U.S. Military Commands; and
8. Such other Board-approved providers