Continuing Education, License Renewal, and Reinstatement
Continuing education and renewal
Maryland massage licenses renew on a biennial cycle. Renewal requires a fee, a completed application, attestation of continuing education, and current CPR. The Board's CE requirement is commonly 24 contact hours per two-year cycle, including ethics and other Board-specified subjects; always follow the current renewal notice and keep certificates. CE must be from Board-approved providers or programs. CPR is a separate safety requirement, not a substitute for CE.
Reinstatement
If a license lapses, stop practicing immediately. A late renewal may be available for a short period with a late fee. After the late period, the licensee must apply for reinstatement, document CE, pay fees, and possibly appear before the Board or take an exam. A revoked license requires a petition for reinstatement after the period set in the order; the Board has discretion and considers public safety.
Worked example
A therapist's license expired three months ago. She has been massaging clients and assumes the renewal is automatic because she paid the fee. That is unlicensed practice. The correct path is to stop, apply for reinstatement or late renewal as the Board allows, pay the late fee, show CE for the cycle, and wait for written approval before resuming.
Traps that cost marks
- Assuming CE hours from any workshop count; they must qualify.
- Forgetting CPR or letting it expire.
- Practicing during a late-renewal grace period without confirming the license is active.
- Treating reinstatement as a ministerial rubber stamp; the Board can deny.