DOH Massage Therapist cheat sheet
DOH Massage Therapist · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Massage Therapy Practice and Licensing Requirements
New York massage therapy licensure is administered by the State Education Department's Office of the Professions under Education Law Article 155.
License renewal occurs every 3 years; a registration certificate must be current to practice legally.
Minimum licensure pathway: at least 1,000 hours of approved massage therapy study plus a passing score on an approved licensure examination.
Approved exams include the MBLEx and the New York State massage therapy examination; exam scores are reported to the Office of the Professions.
A license may be issued by endorsement to holders of a comparable out-of-state license who meet New York's education and examination standards.
Scope of practice covers hands-on manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes; diagnosis and prescription are outside the massage therapist's scope.
Unprofessional conduct includes practicing beyond scope, failing to maintain client records, and practicing with an expired registration.
A licensee must report changes of name or address to the Department within a defined period and display the registration certificate at the practice location.
Infection control expectations include hand hygiene, clean linens per client, and sanitation of reusable tools and surfaces between clients.
Continuing Education and Health Equity Requirements
New York requires 36 hours of approved continuing education per 3-year registration period for massage therapists.
Self-study or home-study hours are capped; a portion of the 36 hours must be live, in-person or synchronous coursework.
At least 2 of the required hours must cover child abuse identification and reporting; at least 2 hours must cover infection control.
New York mandates coursework in cultural competence (health equity) as part of the continuing education requirement for licensed professions.
Approved providers include institutions of higher education, professional associations, and sponsors approved by the Department; unapproved hours do not count.
CE hours must be documented with certificates showing provider, title, date, and hours; records are retained and produced on audit.
Excess CE hours earned in one registration period generally do not carry over to the next period.
Health equity CE addresses disparities in access and outcomes by race, ethnicity, language, disability, and socioeconomic status.
A lapsed registration requires completion of the required CE before reactivation, in addition to any late fee.