Massage Therapy License Renewal in District of Columbia (2026)

Massage Therapy license renewal in District of Columbia is handled by the District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration), 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.

District of Columbia Massage Therapy renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	24 months
Deadline rule	Biennial renewal. As of June 16, 2024, DC moved from a fixed renewal window to a birth-month-based system: licenses now expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month, and the renewal year is even-numbered for those born in even years and odd-numbered for those born in odd years. The prior fixed cycle expired January 31 of odd years (e.g., the period ending January 31, 2025). Renewal must be completed online before the expiration date; a late fee applies for renewals after the deadline.
CE hours required	14 hours
Renewal fee	$177.00
Online renewal	Yes
Governing body	District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration)

Go to the official District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration). automated research workflow (official district-of-columbia massage board), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for Massage Therapys in District of Columbia

14 hours of approved CE per 2-year cycle, broken down as: 3 hours in ethics; 2 hours in LGBTQ cultural competency; 9 hours in massage-related coursework, of which 6 hours must be hands-on massage technique courses; and 10% (1.5 hours) in Public Health Priorities. CPR and first-aid certification must be current and submitted with the renewal, but those certifications do not count toward the 14 CE hours. (Note: under Board Policy 20-001, extended through the period ending Jan 31, 2025, all CE could be completed online/virtually; ordinarily the hands-on technique hours must be completed in person/live.)

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

How to renew your Massage Therapy license in District of Columbia

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) portal.
Complete the required 14 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: Renewal is online-only via the DC Health licensing portal (https://dohenterprise.my.site.com/dchealthrenewals/ ; legacy link https://dohlicenseinfo.secure.force.com/dchealthrenewals/); DC Health no longer accepts paper renewal applications and issues an electronic license only (no hard copies). In addition to the $177 renewal fee, all licensees must pay a mandatory $50 criminal background check (name search) fee at renewal; no fingerprint or live scan is required for renewal. Late fee of $85 is in addition to the renewal fee, effective Feb 1, 2025. Payment accepted only by Visa or MasterCard. The birth-month renewal change applies to all massage therapists going forward. Figures verified from the official DC Health Board of Massage Therapy renewal notification PDF dated Nov 1, 2024.

Massage Therapy license renewal in District of Columbia: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my Massage Therapy license in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia Massage Therapy licenses renew every 24 months. Biennial renewal. As of June 16, 2024, DC moved from a fixed renewal window to a birth-month-based system: licenses now expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month, and the renewal year is even-numbered for those born in even years and odd-numbered for those born in odd years. The prior fixed cycle expired January 31 of odd years (e.g., the period ending January 31, 2025). Renewal must be completed online before the expiration date; a late fee applies for renewals after the deadline.

How many CE hours are required to renew an Massage Therapy license in District of Columbia?

Approximately 14 continuing-education hours per cycle. 14 hours of approved CE per 2-year cycle, broken down as: 3 hours in ethics; 2 hours in LGBTQ cultural competency; 9 hours in massage-related coursework, of which 6 hours must be hands-on massage technique courses; and 10% (1.5 hours) in Public Health Priorities. CPR and first-aid certification must be current and submitted with the renewal, but those certifications do not count toward the 14 CE hours. (Note: under Board Policy 20-001, extended through the period ending Jan 31, 2025, all CE could be completed online/virtually; ordinarily the hands-on technique hours must be completed in person/live.) Confirm the current requirement with the District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration).

Can I renew my District of Columbia Massage Therapy license online?

Yes — District of Columbia offers online renewal through the District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration). Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my District of Columbia Massage Therapy license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. A late fee of about $85 may apply. Contact the District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration) promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Massage Therapist (LMT) renewal