DOH Massage Therapist

It is the Washington State Department of Health license to practice massage therapy in the state. The Board of Massage governs the profession, and the DOH licensing page is the hub for applying, renewing, updating contact information, and checking application status. Confirm scope-of-practice specifics against the licensing requirements and rules pages linked from DOH rather than relying on third-party summaries.

The DOH exam-information page returned a 404 error when retrieved, so this guide cannot state the exam vendor, question count, time limit, passing score, fee, or retake policy. Check the DOH massage therapist licensing page and its exam-information section directly, and contact DOH if the page remains unavailable, before you schedule or pay for anything.

Difficulty varies by candidate background, and no official pass rate is published in the source material. Start with foundational sciences and hands-on technique, then layer in Washington-specific licensing and renewal rules, since those are the areas where out-of-state or self-taught candidates most often lose points. Finish with the health equity continuing education requirements, which are rule-based and easy to memorize once the framework is clear.

The Board of Massage and DOH filed a CR-103P rule-making order as WSR #23-19-026 adopting amendments to WAC 246-830-475 to establish health equity continuing education requirements implementing Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5229. The adopted rule became effective January 1, 2024. Study the rule as currently in force and expect questions framed around that effective date.

Yes. Beginning January 1, 2023, massage therapists must complete the continuing education requirements in WAC 246-830-475 to renew their license. The COVID-19 policy statements BOM 20-01 and BOM 20-01.6, including the waiver of the hands-on portion of continuing education, expired December 31, 2022, so plan for hands-on hours again.

Three recur: studying from outdated material that predates the 2023 renewal resumption and the 2024 health equity rule, treating continuing education as a paperwork afterthought instead of a testable rule set, and skipping Washington-specific licensing requirements in favor of generic massage content. Build a study calendar that covers rules and sciences in parallel rather than cramming regulations at the end.

Work in three passes. First, cover anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology to rebuild fundamentals. Second, study massage technique, contraindications, and safety. Third, drill Washington licensing requirements, renewal obligations, and the WAC 246-830-475 continuing education rules, including health equity. Reserve the final week for mixed practice and reviewing your weakest domain rather than new material.

DOH is extending license renewal deadlines for health care professionals impacted by or responding to the wildfires in Eastern and Central Washington. If that applies to you, check the DOH wildfire resources webpage for the current extension before assuming a standard deadline. Otherwise, renew through the DOH renewal process and keep your contact information current so renewal notices reach you.

No. This is independent study material and is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by the Washington State Department of Health or the Board of Massage. Use it to organize your preparation, but verify every licensing, renewal, and continuing education detail against official DOH pages and the Washington Administrative Code before acting on it.