Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) in Georgia – Schools, Salary, and License Info

The Board of Massage Therapy oversee the massage therapists in Georgia, and they can receive their license only after meeting certain criteria, like:

• Education,
• Examination,
• Background screening.

Education

In Georgia, future massage therapists must graduate from a recognized program that lasts at least 500 hours.

These hours must include:

• A minimum of 440 hours of instruction
• Supervised clinical practice, between 50 and 60 hours.

The 500-hour program must include these subjects, for at least 125 hours:

Popular Programs

• Anatomy,
• Physiology,
• Kinesiology

200 hours of the program must cover:

• Theory,
• Technique
  • effleurage,
  • petrissage,
  • compression,
  • superficial warming techniques,
  • direct pressure,
  • stretching
• Practice

Other subjects:

• Pathology -40 hours
• Ethics – at least 6 hours
• Business management – 4 hours
• Other subjects  – 125 hours:
  • benefits and contraindications,
  • client data collection and documentation
  • therapeutic relationships,
  • universal precautions

The state rules and regulations mentioned in detail the curriculum, at 345-8-.01.

The programs must have a state mandate, and the school providers need a code from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

Additionally, the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) must also provide an unencumbered authorization code.

There is also a list of recognized programs in Georgia.

Exam Details

Georgian candidates must pass an exam if they want to obtain a license in this field.

Although Georgia approved more exams, not all of them are still offered.

The application materials reference 3 former exams:

• National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM)
• National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB)
• National Examination for State Licensure (NESL)

The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) is the one still available and used the most.

This exam is intended to assess the skills for entry-level professionals.

Candidates have to read all the information before registering, even if they register online.

If they’re approved, they have to schedule the time of the test by contacting Pearson Vue.

The exam is done on a computer.

Other exams that are deemed equivalent, the Board has the authority to accept them.

Out-of-State Candidates

Those coming from out of the State of Georgia seeking a license here would have to make sure the program they graduated meets the minimum requirement of the Georgian ones.

This means that not all the programs are accepted.

Only if the other state has higher or similar standards the license obtained there will be endorsed.

Additional documentation from the other state will also be required, as a copy of the license cannot be accepted by the Board.

It’s possible that out-of-state professionals will be asked to work while supervised until they receive their certification.

International Applicants

Any candidate coming from overseas will need to have their credentials evaluated by the Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (ICD).

They’ll also need a certified translation of the transcript, into English.

Criminal Background Check

Passing a criminal background check is one of the requirements to receive a license in Georgia.

This verification has to be done based on the person’s fingerprints, at the  Georgia Crime Information Center and the FBI.

The candidates will have to register with Cogent Systems, and this can be done online as well.

The results of this check are usually ready in 2 days since the fingerprints were taken.

The website of the Board has more detailed instructions regarding this process.

The Application Process

To apply, the candidates must download the form from the Board’s website, fill it in and attach a series of documents.

They need to mention if they passed the required exam or if they plan on taking the exam, as the Board needs the results from the test.

Program transcripts proving that the program was completed, will also be needed.

This transcript can include credit transfers if these exist.

However, it’s the issuing school that needs to directly send the transcripts to the Board, in a sealed envelope.

The Board will not accept the diploma or certificate in place of the transcript.

The applicants need to provide proof of their citizenship or prove they can legally work in the USA.

They do this by providing a notarized form.

There’s an application fee of $125 that will not be refunded.

The candidates must know the relevant state laws and Board regulations, before applying.

The applications will be processed in about 25 business days, but the time-frame will be extended if extra documents will be needed.

The Board will update the website with information related to the status of the application.

Copies of the credentials can be printed as soon as they’re available.

Income Info

The salary will depend, like in most careers, on the person’s experience and skills.

Regional Salary in Georgia

The table below shows the average annual salary massage therapists can expect in Georgia.

Massage Therapy by State