State Board Contact: Arkansas Department of Health – Massage Therapy Section – Website – Phone: 501-683-1448; Email: adh.massage@arkansas.gov. Address: 4815 W Markham St., Slot #8, Little Rock, AR 72205. (The state’s massage licensing is governed by the Massage Therapy Technical Advisory Committee under the Dept. of Health.)
Education Requirements: 500 hours of massage training from a state-approved school. Applicants must pass the MBLEx or NCBTMB exam and a state law examination on Arkansas massage rules. Arkansas offers different license levels: Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), Master Massage Therapist (additional experience/education), and Massage Therapy Instructor. All applicants undergo a background check with fingerprints.
Continuing Education: 18 hours of CE every 2 years (9 hours per year on average) are required for Arkansas license renewal. Specific CE may be required for those with the Master Therapist designation or instructors.
Licensing Fees: $75 application fee, $80 initial license fee. Renewal fees are $80 annually (licenses are renewed every year in Arkansas). Additional fees apply for upgrading to Master Therapist or Instructor licenses.
Healthcare Provider Status: Arkansas regulates massage therapists as licensed professionals under the health department, but they are not explicitly categorized as “healthcare providers” in state law. The scope of practice is therapeutic (focused on massage and bodywork techniques for pain relief, stress reduction, etc.), and they operate under Arkansas Department of Health oversight. This status means LMTs must meet health and safety standards, but direct participation in healthcare insurance systems is limited.
Licensing History: Arkansas was one of the early adopters of massage regulation – the state’s first massage practice act was enacted in 1951. Over time Arkansas has made several changes: introducing the Master Massage Therapist tier, updating educational content requirements, and moving oversight to the Dept. of Health. The continuing education requirement was established to ensure ongoing competency (currently 18 hours biennially).
Insurance Billing:Workers’ Compensation: Arkansas workers’ comp guidelines typically allow massage therapy when part of a physician’s treatment plan (often performed by PTs or LMTs in clinical settings). LMTs need a referral/prescription; they cannot usually bill comp directly without being under a doctor or clinic. Auto Insurance (PIP): Arkansas is an at-fault state (no mandatory PIP), though insurers must offer optional med-pay. If an insured has med-pay coverage, therapeutic massage might be reimbursed when ordered by a healthcare provider after an accident. Health Insurance: No state insurance mandates include massage. Some health insurance plans in Arkansas may cover massage therapy if it is considered medically necessary (commonly they require the service to be done in a medical office or prescribed by an MD or chiropractor). Generally, most Arkansas LMTs do not rely on insurance reimbursement and instead take cash or work in settings where the employer handles insurance.
Continuing Education Resources: The Arkansas Dept. of Health provides lists of approved CE courses and providers (often those approved by NCBTMB or offered by state-approved massage schools). The AMTA Arkansas Chapter and institutions like the Arkansas School of Massage host workshops that count toward CE. Required courses include subjects like ethics and Arkansas massage law as part of the CE cycle.
Professional Community & Mentorship: Practitioners can connect via AMTA Arkansas Chapter events and newsletters. Arkansas also has a state massage therapists association (independent) that often collaborates on an annual conference for continuing ed. Online, Arkansas LMTs share referrals and advice in Facebook groups (such as “Arkansas Massage Therapists”). For mentorship, local senior therapists or school instructors are great resources; new licensees can seek out a mentor through AMTA’s mentoring program or informal networking at state events.
