Continuing Education FAQ

Continuing education may be required by your state to maintain your massage therapy license. The number of CE hours required for massage therapists varies by state. Find your state’s regulations.

• AMTA offers 150+ online courses on massage for specific conditions, ethics, sports massage, self-care, business and more.
• Attend National AMTA education programs, such as: National Convention, Schools Summit, the AMTA/NCBTMB Sports Massage Specialty Certificate Program, or the Fascial Therapy Continuing Education program.
• Attend an AMTA chapter education program.
• Review advertisements in Massage Therapy Journal to find workshops and home study options.
• Search NCBTMB’s Approved Provider list by topic or speaker name.

Instructors and teaching assistants are not eligible to claim CE credits for the time they serve as a teacher.

Yes, AMTA is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider. The AMTA NCBTMB Approved Provider number is 024237-00.

AMTA is a National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) continuing education Approved Provider. Every course offered by AMTA, in-person or online, is submitted for continuing education (CE) approval to each state, as required. These two processes ensure that AMTA continuing education courses are rigorously vetted for quality standards.

In addition, AMTA incorporates member feedback into the planning process; feedback received through member surveys and course evaluations is given to AMTA’s Education Operational Committees, which consist of massage therapists, to inform their recommendations.

AMTA continuing education is designed for massage therapists, and by massage therapists.

If you are interested in becoming a speaker for AMTA at a future National Convention, Schools Summit or other education experience, visit AMTA’s Call for Speakers when the process opens every spring.

Yes, beginning with the first full year of Professional Active membership, members of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) are required to complete 48 continuing education (CE) credits every four years.

Resources that meet the CE requirement for AMTA Professional Active membership must be directly related to massage therapy, be provided by responsible sponsorship, and be presented by qualified instructors. Examples include:

• AMTA-sponsored education
  • Online courses
  • National Convention
  • Schools Summit
  • AMTA/NCBTMB Sports Massage Specialty Certificate Program
  • Fascial Therapy Continuing Education Program
  • AMTA chapter events
• Continuing education courses offered by massage schools, colleges or universities
• Regional workshops by NCBTMB or state-approved providers
• Home study courses that include an assessment, such as online courses, workbooks, DVDs, etc.

AMTA does not approve continuing education courses. Rather, AMTA provides a definition of the types of courses that are acceptable for the AMTA CE requirement. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure that a course meets the AMTA definition and to ensure a course meets any state licensing requirements for continuing education.

To access your transcript, log onto the AMTA website, go to “Your account” and then select "Download CE Transcript." Contact AMTA if you have questions about your CE transcript.

The "Login name" is your AMTA membership number or a username created by you. You can find this number on the front of your membership card, on your Massage Therapy Journal address label, or by contacting AMTA at 877-905-2700 . If you forget your password, select the "Forgot your password?" link to reset it. If you successfully log in to the AMTA website, you will see a web page with a welcome message using your first name.

Alabama

List of courses not approved by Alabama

Florida

List of courses not approved by Florida

Louisiana

List of courses not approved for Louisiana

Mississippi

No Mississippi CE credits will be approved for programs which are for the personal enrichment or self-care of the learner, or courses categorized as business. List of courses not approved by Mississippi

New York

Any course that is designed to maximize profits or does not fall within the scope of practice of massage therapy in New York State will not be accepted towards meeting CE requirements. Commissioner's Regulations Part 78.5 states "Any continuing education designed for the sole purpose of maximizing profits for the practice of a massage therapist shall not be acceptable as continuing education.”

North Dakota

List of courses not approved by North Dakota

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Massage Therapy will not issue CE credit for courses in office management or practice building. Continuing education must be designed to advance the licensee’s professional knowledge and skills related to the practice of massage therapy as defined in Section 2 of the Act (63 P.S.§ 627.2).

• AMTA NCBTMB Provider #024237-00
• AMTA Florida Provider #50-4255
• AMTA Mississippi Provider #36
• AMTA Louisiana Provider #LAP0084
• AMTA New York Sponsor #0009