State Board Contact: Delaware Board of Massage and Bodywork – Website – Phone: 302-744-4500; Email: customerservice.dpr@delaware.gov. Office: Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Blvd., Suite 203, Dover, DE 19904.
- Education Requirements: Delaware has two credential levels (historically): Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) requires 500 hours of education plus passing the MBLEx or NCBTMB. Certified Massage Technician (CMT) required 300 hours of training. Important Update: Delaware is phasing out the 300-hour certification – no new CMT licenses will be issued after Dec. 31, 2024. Going forward, all new practitioners must meet LMT requirements (500+ hours and exam).
- Continuing Education: 24 hours of CE every 2 years for license renewal (for both LMTs and CMTs). Delaware requires specific topics within those hours (e.g. ethics, CPR renewal).
- Licensing Fees: $169 application fee for LMT license (biennial license). Renewal is $110 every 2 years. (CMT fees were the same as LMT; with the phase-out, all will be LMT.)
- Healthcare Provider Status: Delaware licenses massage under the Board of Massage and Bodywork, part of the Division of Professional Regulation. LMTs in Delaware are recognized as licensed professionals, but not explicitly listed as “health care providers” in state insurance or medical laws. Their scope is defined in the Massage and Bodywork Act (therapeutic massage, bodywork, and assessing soft tissue dysfunction). They operate under health-related oversight, including requirements like CPR training, which indicates a quasi-healthcare role, but for legal and billing purposes they are not on par with, say, nurses or physical therapists.
- Licensing History: Delaware implemented massage practitioner regulation in 1993. The two-tier system (LMT vs. CMT) was created to grandfather in existing practitioners at lower hours. In recent years, recognizing industry standards, Delaware decided to eliminate the 300-hour CMT path (effective 2025) to require all new practitioners to have full licensure. This is a major change to elevate training standards. Delaware also added continuing education requirements (24 hrs biennially) and maintains a registry of approved schools.
- Insurance Billing:
Workers’ Compensation: Delaware’s workers’ comp system may reimburse massage therapy if it’s part of a prescribed rehabilitation program. Typically, services are coordinated through a physician or chiropractor; direct billing by LMTs is not common, but LMTs can provide treatment under a doctor’s referral.
Auto Insurance (PIP): Delaware is a no-fault state, meaning PIP coverage is mandatory. Massage therapy is generally covered under PIP when ordered by a treating physician or chiropractor for accident injuries. LMTs in Delaware do treat auto accident patients; some insurers reimburse LMTs directly if they have an NPI and the treatment is prescribed (though often they prefer a clinic to bill).
Health Insurance: Delaware has no special provisions requiring insurers to cover massage. However, some regional insurers (like Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware) may offer coverage for massage therapy on a case-by-case basis (for example, under pain management or physical therapy benefits). Usually, a prescription is required and sometimes insurance will only pay if a PT or other credentialed provider delivers the service. Many Delaware LMTs thus either partner with medical offices or simply bill clients who then seek reimbursement. - Continuing Education Resources: The Delaware Board accepts CE from NCBTMB-approved providers and certain online courses. Practitioners can find approved CE classes via the Board’s website and through AMTA Delaware Chapter events. Given the small size of the state, many Delaware therapists attend workshops in nearby states (PA, NJ, MD) which are accepted for credit. Delaware’s CE requirement includes at least 3 hours in ethics.
- Professional Community & Mentorship: AMTA Delaware Chapter is a key resource for local therapists, although it’s a smaller chapter. Delaware therapists often network regionally (e.g. attending AMTA events in Maryland or Pennsylvania). There are a few Facebook groups for Delaware massage professionals, and because the community is small, many find mentors through personal connections or referrals. The close proximity of schools (some in PA/MD serving DE students) means alumni networks from those schools (like Dawn Career Institute in Wilmington) can serve as mentorship forums for Delaware-based LMTs.