State Board Contact:
Alabama Board of Massage Therapy – Website
Phone: 334-230-3999;
Email: bmtlicensing@amtlb.alabama.gov.
Mailing Address:
Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
P.O. Box 301011
Montgomery, AL 36130-1011
Education Requirements: 650 hours of massage education from an accredited school, plus passing the MBLEx or NCBTMB exam. Applicants must also have liability insurance, pass a background check, and submit a 2×2″ photo
Approved Massage Schools: Alabama Board of Massage (PDF)
Continuing Education: 16 hours of CE every 2 years are required for license renewal in Alabama. CHAPTER 532-X-6 CONTINUING EDUCATION” 1) Every massage therapist licensed by the Board must complete
16 hours of continuing education within the 24 months preceding the date of renewal of licensure, from providers of courses approved by the Board, as a condition for renewing the license to
practice massage therapy.”
Licensing Fees: $25 application fee and $100 initial license fee; biennial license renewal costs $100. (A state background check fee of $45 applies for new licenses)
Healthcare Provider Status: Massage therapists in Alabama are regulated as therapeutic professionals under a state licensing board (established by law in 1996) amtlb.alabama.gov. However, Alabama’s laws do not explicitly define LMTs as “healthcare providers” for insurance purposes. They operate under a dedicated Massage Therapy Board (rather than the Department of Health), which means they are licensed professionals but generally not recognized at the same level as physicians or allied health providers in state statutes.
Licensing History: Alabama’s massage therapy practice act was enacted in 1996, and licensure began in 1997 . This law created the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy to ensure public safety by setting educational standards and licensing requirements. Recent updates include rule changes in 2025 affecting CE and license renewal processes.
Insurance Billing: Workers’ Compensation: Alabama does not list massage therapists as independent healthcare providers in its workers’ comp system, but medically prescribed massage may be reimbursed if performed under a physician’s direction. Coverage is case-by-case. Auto Insurance (PIP): Alabama is an at-fault state with no mandatory PIP; massage therapy might be covered under optional medical payments coverage if an auto policy includes it and a physician prescribes treatment. Health Insurance: There is no state mandate for private health insurers to cover massage. Some insurers or plans may reimburse therapeutic massage for injury rehabilitation or pain management with a doctor’s prescription (e.g. certain Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans), but coverage varies widely and many Alabama LMTs operate on a cash-pay basis.
Continuing Education Resources: The Alabama Board’s website provides a list of approved CE providers and guidelines for acceptable courses. Therapists can also obtain CE through AMTA/ABMP workshops and NCBTMB-approved providers, as Alabama accepts nationally approved courses.
Professional Community & Mentorship: The AMTA Alabama Chapter offers networking and education opportunities for LMTs. Alabama does not have an independent statewide association beyond the AMTA chapter. Therapists often connect through social media (e.g. Facebook groups for Alabama massage therapists) and local meetups. Additionally, alumni networks of Alabama massage schools and the AMTA’s national Mentoring Program can help new therapists find mentors.
1. At-a-glance facts
License title used in this state: Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
Regulating agency: Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board (AMTLB)
Governing law (statute): Alabama Code, Title 34, Chapter 43 (Massage Therapy) Justia Law
Rules/regs (admin code): Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 532-X (Massage Therapy Board rules) Alabama Administrative Code+1
Education required: (Needs one more official source pull to confirm current minimum hours in the newest statute/rules; Alabama updated rules in 2024–2025.) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
Exam required: (To verify on the board’s current application page details beyond fees.) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Background check: Yes (state + federal; billed at “actual cost”) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
CPR/First Aid required: (To verify on the board application checklist.) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Liability insurance required: (To verify on the board application checklist.) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Renewal cycle: Every 2 years Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
CE required: 16 hours within the 24 months preceding renewal Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Initial fees: $150 for a two-year license (plus background check cost) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
Renewal fees: $125 for a two-year renewal (plus background check cost); late and reinstatement fees apply Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
Massage establishment license required: Yes (separate establishment fees listed by the Board) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Interstate Compact status: (We will verify separately on the compact site and/or state statute when we get to the “compact” pass.)
2. Official board and contact info
Board website: Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board (AMTLB) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Apply / license info page: “Massage Therapist” application portal page Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Fees page: AMTLB fee schedule Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Board purpose/statute excerpt: Creation/purpose of the Board (Alabama Code §34-43-6) Justia Law
3. Getting licensed
3.1 Education and school approval
Required hours / required curriculum topics: (To be filled from the current official rule or statute page that states minimum education hours and required subjects.) Alabama Administrative Code+1
3.2 Exam and jurisprudence
Exam accepted: (To be verified from the current board application requirements page.) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
State law exam required: (To verify.)
3.3 Background checks
Fingerprinting / checks: Background check required; cost is charged at actual cost Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
4. License renewal and continuing education
4.1 Renewal basics
Renewal fee: $125 for a two-year renewal; late and reinstatement fees apply Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
4.2 CE requirements
Total hours required: 16 hours within the prior 24 months Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Provider approval: CE must be from providers/courses approved by the Board Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
Recordkeeping: The rule requires licensees to maintain CE records in their files (audit-ready) Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
5. Fees and financial realities
5.1 State fees (official)
- Initial LMT license (two-year): $150 Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
- Renewal (two-year): $125 Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
- Late fee (under one year expired): $25 Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
- Reinstatement (more than one year expired): $175 Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board
- Establishment license fees: Initial $350; renewal $250; re-inspection $100 Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
6. Scope of practice and legal boundaries
Legislative framing: Alabama’s materials describe massage therapy as a “professional therapeutic health service.” Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
(Next pass for Alabama: pull the exact statutory definition of “massage therapy” and the explicit prohibited acts, then summarize in plain English.)
7. Are massage therapists healthcare providers here?
What we can say with sources right now: Alabama’s legislative materials characterize massage therapy as a professional therapeutic health service. Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board+1
What still needs verification for a precise answer: Whether Alabama statutes define LMTs as “health care providers” for specific legal contexts (insurance, worker’s comp provider categories, etc.). That term changes meaning depending on the statute, so we will cite the exact section once pulled.
8. Insurance billing and reimbursement pathways
This section is where I will be extra strict about sources, because “can you bill” depends on payer rules, not just the license.
8.1 Workers’ Compensation
Alabama’s Department of Labor notes that workers’ comp insurance is not universally required for all employers (coverage depends on employer size and business type). Alabama Department of Labor
What’s next to verify for the hub: whether Alabama WC has a provider enrollment category that includes massage therapists, and what documentation is needed when massage is authorized as treatment.
8.2 Auto injuries (PIP/MedPay/liability)
(To be filled after verifying Alabama’s auto medical coverage structure and what insurers allow for massage in injury claims.)
8.3 Health insurance
(To be filled with at least one primary source: insurer medical policy language, state insurance guidance, or official plan documents.)