Massage Therapy License Renewal in Arkansas (2026)

Massage Therapy license renewal in Arkansas is handled by the Arkansas Department of Health - Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section, which requires Massage Therapist (LMT)s to renew every 24 months. Below are the renewal deadline rule, continuing-education (CE) hours, fees, and a direct link to the official renewal page — last verified 2026-06-01. This is an unofficial guide; always confirm the details with the board before you file.

Arkansas Massage Therapy renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	24 months
Deadline rule	Licenses are renewed every two years and expire on the licensee's birthday. The completed renewal packet (with fee and CE documentation) must be postmarked by the first day of the month before the licensee's birth date. Packets postmarked from that date through the birth date are late; renewals postmarked after the birth date mean the license has expired and the person must apply for a new license meeting current requirements.
CE hours required	18 hours
Renewal fee	$80.00
Online renewal	Yes
Governing body	Arkansas Department of Health - Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section

Go to the official Arkansas Department of Health - Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the Arkansas Department of Health - Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section. automated research workflow (official arkansas massage board), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for Massage Therapys in Arkansas

18 hours of continuing education are required each two-year renewal period. Of these, no more than 6 hours may be from online/in-home study courses (the rest must be in-person). All CE must be approved by the Department and earned during the current renewal period; no carryover hours are allowed. The official instructions do not specify a separate mandatory ethics-hours component.

Need approved hours? Compare Arkansas Massage Therapy CE courses (some links are affiliate links).

How to renew your Massage Therapy license in Arkansas

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the Arkansas Department of Health - Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section portal.
Complete the required 18 CE hours.
Submit the renewal application and pay the current fee online.
Keep proof of CE and your renewal confirmation for your records.

Good to know: Arkansas massage therapy is regulated at the state level by the Arkansas Department of Health (Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section); licensure was transferred to ADH from the former Arkansas Board of Massage Therapy. License types include LMT, MMT, and MTI. Fee ($80), late penalty ($25), and 18-hour CE rule (max 6 online, no carryover) come from the official ADH renewal instructions/application PDF (Revised December 2023). Online renewal is available via the ADH portal at https://massagetherapy.adh.arkansas.gov/ (Arkansas Cosmetology Licensing, Inspection, and Permit System), though the paper PDF describes mail-in submission. Inactive status is also available with the same $80 fee. No TB test required for renewal. The 24-month cycle (license valid 2 years, expiring on birthday) is consistent across ADH materials; could not locate cycle length stated verbatim in a single .gov sentence, so confirmed via combined ADH PDF deadline language plus secondary sources.

Massage Therapy license renewal in Arkansas: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my Massage Therapy license in Arkansas?

Arkansas Massage Therapy licenses renew every 24 months. Licenses are renewed every two years and expire on the licensee's birthday. The completed renewal packet (with fee and CE documentation) must be postmarked by the first day of the month before the licensee's birth date. Packets postmarked from that date through the birth date are late; renewals postmarked after the birth date mean the license has expired and the person must apply for a new license meeting current requirements.

How many CE hours are required to renew an Massage Therapy license in Arkansas?

Approximately 18 continuing-education hours per cycle. 18 hours of continuing education are required each two-year renewal period. Of these, no more than 6 hours may be from online/in-home study courses (the rest must be in-person). All CE must be approved by the Department and earned during the current renewal period; no carryover hours are allowed. The official instructions do not specify a separate mandatory ethics-hours component. Confirm the current requirement with the Arkansas Department of Health - Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section.

Can I renew my Arkansas Massage Therapy license online?

Yes — Arkansas offers online renewal through the Arkansas Department of Health - Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section. Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my Arkansas Massage Therapy license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. A late fee of about $25 may apply. Contact the Arkansas Department of Health - Cosmetology/Massage Therapy Section promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Massage Therapist (LMT) renewal