Need Help Transferring a Massage License to Florida?   by Eric Lindquist

in Health / Alternative Medicine    (submitted 2011-11-27)

Massage therapists planning to make the move to the state of Florida will need to complete an application process called "becoming licensed by endorsement". To complete this procedure, you should go to the Florida Massage Board's website. Print out the application form on the site and follow the instructions provided.

After you complete the application, you can mail it back to the Board of Massage with the required fee. The Florida Board of Massage will begin a file for you while they await info on your previous training and massage license to be mailed in to their location. You will get one year to finish the remainder of the actions.

Next, you have 3 required massage continuing education courses to complete. The courses are 10 hours of Florida Massage Law, 3 hours of HIV/AIDS for massage professionals, and 2 hours of prevention of medical errors. The courses can be purchased as an endorsement ceu package by continuing education providers online. Following the completion of these courses, you should get a transcript to submit to the Florida Board of Massage.

Third, contact the state board of massage where you are currently licensed, and request them to submit proof of your massage license directly to the Florida Board. The application presents added specific requirements for this step. Your current state board of massage might request a small fee along with this service.

Following that, get hold of the provider of the licensing exam you completed to obtain your current state license. This will be the National Certification Board of Therapuetic Massage (NCBTMB) assuming you took the NCETM Exam, NCETMB, or NESL Exam. If you took the more recent MBLEx exam, call the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSTMB). You need to request they send your official score directly to the Florida Massage Board. You may need to pay a fee with this service.

Finally, communicate with the school where you completed your Five-hundred hours of massage therapy training. They will also need to send a transcript to the Board of Massage.

When you complete all of the required steps, the Florida Board of Massage will issue your license to practice therapeutic massage.

The process may take as little as thirty days, but often takes more. It's best to start this process before moving to Florida so you can start working immediately after your relocation. Florida levies large fines and penalties to any person discovered practicing without a massage license. Furthermore, most massage therapists must also submit an application for an establishment license. There is an additional charge for this, and it will require an inspection of the premises prior to offering massage to the community.

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Here is a blog that gives further information about transferring a massage license to Florida. Advanced Massage Techniques is an online CE provider where you can find a Florida Massage Endorsement package.