Moving to Florida? Wondering how to transfer your current license to Florida?
I have helped a lot of massage therapists through this process. Transferring your license to Florida is more complicated than transferring a license to most other states, but by the end of this blog you should have all of the links and resources you need to get your Florida massage license. It is best to plan your professional move ahead of time, or you may find yourself sitting in Florida waiting and waiting for your license to arrive. So in order to keep your massage income coming in, I suggest you start the process as soon possible. Ready?
First:
They take the practice of massage therapy pretty seriously in Florida. The Florida Department of Health calls this transfer process “becoming licensed by endorsement“. Endorsement and examination candidates must complete three courses before applying for a license. These courses are 10 hours of Florida Law and Rules, 3 hours of HIV/AIDS, and 2 hours of Prevention of Medical Errors. These must be taken by a Florida Approved Continuing Education Provider.
Click here to purchase all of the courses needed for a Florida Endorsement License. I have them available as a package or separately.
After you complete these required courses, I will send you a transcript for you to submit to the board.
Additionally:
You must show proof your your current massage state license. To do this you need to contact the state massage board where you are currently licensed. They will need forward proof of your licensure to the Florida Board of Massage. Your current state must also verify that you previously completed a board-approved exam (i.e. NCETMB, MBLEx, NESL, NCETM) to obtain your current license.
And Then…
Provide the Florida Board of Massage with an official transcript (with a seal) from your 500 hour minimum massage training program.
Last up:
Submit all the information with your completed Application and Required Fees (currently $155) to the Board for review.
Done!
Now, just patiently wait for the Board to approve your license.
Questions about this process? Please email me info@advancedmassagetechniques.com. More about the endorsement process can be found on the Board of Massage Website.
Ivy Hultquist, LMT
Owner Advanced Massage Techniques: Florida Board Approved Massage CEU Provider
my friend passed her exam and move to ft lauderdale . she likes to work here as a L.mT. NEED YOUR HELP TO TRANFER HER LICENSE. 954 687 5718 THANK YOU
We have a new checklist on our website @ Advanced Massage Techniques to help guide people through the process.
ENDORSEMENT CHECKLIST
I plan on moving to Florida. I know the renewal time is August 31st but I plan on moving before then. Will I have to transfer my license and then renew it too.
Good question. The next FL massage license renewal is August 31st, 2013 (this is the end of the biennial period). You can get your license anytime before then. Every massage therapist needs 24 hours of CE’s at the biennial renewal, except new licensees or transfer licensees. When it comes time for your renewal you will need one credit for every month left in the biennial period. So if you move in August of this year, you will need 12 CE’s. If you move now, you would need 18 hours since there are 18 months left in the renewal period. Make sense?
We are wanting to relocate to Florida for “retirement”. We currently reside in Ohio, can I start working on obtaining my Floriday license while in Ohio? Do I have to relinquish my Ohio license once I move?
I actually highly suggest you start the process before you move. This will help minimize the gaps in income (so you can start working sooner) when you move. Since the biennial period has just passed, it is the same cost to apply for a license now as it will be anytime before the next 8/31/13 renewal deadline.
Luckily massage licenses are not like citizenship, you do not have to relinquish one for another. You will just be dually licensed. I hold Iowa and Florida massage licenses. You will just need to decide if you want to keep your Ohio license once it comes up for its next renewal.
If you have any other questions- let me know!
When you are ready for your Florida required courses, head over to my CE website (http://www.advancedmassagetechniques.com).
HELLO,
IVI, Iam Just move to Florida, I did school for massage therapist in Greensboro NC, 500 hours, never applied for state license, only did the school for help my patients, family and close friends,I take and pass national test for NCBTM this expire in last november,let me know, what is the follow stepts, for take license, for florida state, thanks for you attention.
LUZ
Hi Luz,
Luckily, your situtaion should not be that difficult. It does not matter that your NCTMB credential has expired, it just matters that you took and passed the NCETMB exam. As long as NC recognizes your school as an approved massage therapy school, you should be fine. So, you are actually a candidate for examination. Here is a link from our website on all of the items you need to complete. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Ivy
Hi ! not sure if im reading the blog correctly so i have a question. Im going to move to florida in the next 6-12 months. i want to get the process started to have my florida license. First question, will i still be able to practice in ohio while obtaining a license in florida and if i order the endorsement materials off this site, is that the same as taking the required courses and how will the florida board get that info ? Thanks so much for your help
Hi Cassidi.
Yes, you most certainly can work in Ohio (as long as your license is still valid there). You can hold a license in all 50 states if you want. Getting a license in FL does not negate the current one you have. I have an Iowa and Florida License.
As long as you have had 500 hours of training, passed the NCETMB or MBLEx, then next you need the 3 required Florida courses (Here is the link to the course package from my site) After you pass these courses, I will send you a transcript to send to the Board, or you can send it yourself. Most people complete these classes and send the transcript in with their application. If you apply first without taking the courses, the Board opens a file for you. Then they wait for all of the other information to come in (School transcript, NCE/MBlex scores, license varication, CE transript). When everything is in, they send you your license. Make sense?
Yes,Thank You so much !