Tennessee Massage License Renewal: Your 2026 CE Checklist
Heads up, Tennessee massage therapists! The current CE cycle ends December 31, 2026. That deadline is the same for everyone in the state, no matter when your license itself expires. Here’s everything you need to know to get your hours done and stay licensed.
The Quick Breakdown
| Requirement | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total CE hours | 24 every 2 years | Cycle runs Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2026 |
| Tennessee Statutes & Rules | 2 | Must be a Board-approved course |
| Practice Management, Ethics, or Substance Abuse | 2 | Can be taken online |
| Online / Home Study (max) | 8 | Includes internet, DVD, correspondence, etc. |
| Live / In-Person (min) | 16 | Live interactive webinars count as live |
A Few Things to Know
The 2-hour Tennessee Law course has to be approved by the Tennessee Board of Massage Licensure. That goes for every provider, even NCBTMB-approved ones. We don’t offer the Tennessee Laws and Rules course, so reach out to a local Tennessee massage school for that one. Most approved schools offer it.
According to the board website, courses from NCBTMB and FSMTB-approved providers count toward your hours. So do AHA and American Red Cross CPR/First Aid courses and massage courses from accredited colleges.
The 8-hour online cap is firm. If you take more than 8 hours online, the extra hours won’t count.
Need your ethics hours or your 8 online hours? We’ve got you covered with a 2-hour ethics course and an 8-hour package. Check out our Tennessee massage courses here.
New Licensee? Here’s Your Pro-Rated Chart
Newly licensed therapists aren’t exempt anymore. Your hours are pro-rated based on the month you got licensed. If you were licensed in September through December of the second year of the cycle, you still need 4 hours: the 2-hour Tennessee law course plus 2 hours of practice management, ethics, or substance abuse.
| Month Licensed | 1st Year of Cycle (2025) | 2nd Year of Cycle (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 24 | 13 |
| February | 24 | 12 |
| March | 23 | 11 |
| April | 22 | 10 |
| May | 21 | 9 |
| June | 20 | 8 |
| July | 19 | 7 |
| August | 18 | 6 |
| September | 17 | 5 |
| October | 16 | 4 |
| November | 15 | 4 |
| December | 14 | 4 |
How to Renew, Step by Step
- Complete your 2-hour Tennessee law course at an approved Tennessee massage school.
- Complete your 2 hours of ethics, practice management, or substance abuse. Our 2-hour ethics course works great for this.
- Finish the rest of your hours, keeping online courses at 8 hours or less.
- Renew online. Renewal opens 45 days before your license expires. Renew your license here.
I’m looking the way to take the Trafficking Mandatory course. Please, could you tell me how to reach the correct page?
Andres
Hi Andres!
I teach a human trafficking course for a few state boards. Which state board do you need to take the course for?
I took QIGong in 2017 for this renewal cycle
Can i take it in March 2019 for the next renewal date
I have been a massage therapist for 3 years now. I have 500 hours of schooling and in North Carolina theirs is 500 hours too! Can I just change over easily to a North Carolina license?
Hi Denise, I am a little confused. Are you trying to obtain a Tennessee license?
Thank you for sharing this information Ivy. Looking to becoming a massage therapist myself and I have looking for information on it. Came across your blog and found this article useful. Thank you
$100 a year??? What a deal. In Canada I pay $700 a year for membership in the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario
Thank you for providing such a great source for accurate CEU info!
You are welcome! I enjoy it.
Thank you very much for sharing this useful information. I was doing a project and for that I was looking for related information. Some of the points are very useful