Massage Therapy License Renewal in South Dakota (2026)

Massage Therapy license renewal in South Dakota is handled by the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health), which requires Massage Therapist (LMT)s to renew every 12 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.

South Dakota Massage Therapy renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	12 months
Deadline rule	Licenses expire September 30 each year. The renewal window runs August 1 through September 30, with a 30-day late/grace period from October 1 to 30 to renew before the license lapses.
CE hours required	8 hours
Renewal fee	$65.00
Online renewal	Yes
Governing body	South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health)

Go to the official South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health) renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health). automated research workflow (official south-dakota massage board), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for Massage Therapys in South Dakota

Eight hours of board-approved continuing education are required every two years (current cycle Oct 1, 2024 - Sept 30, 2026). No specific ethics topic is mandated; any course that maintains, improves, or expands massage-therapy skills/knowledge qualifies, or education from an approved provider of NCBTMB, the American Medical Massage Association, or FSMTB. CPR counts for up to 4 hours per cycle, board-meeting attendance up to 2 hours, and up to 8 hours may be completed online. Therapists licensed mid-cycle have prorated requirements (2-8 hours). Note: the license itself renews annually but CE accrues over the 2-year cycle.

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

How to renew your Massage Therapy license in South Dakota

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health) portal.
Complete the required 8 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: South Dakota licenses massage therapists at the state level via the SD Board of Massage Therapy under the Department of Health. Licenses are renewed annually ($65 annual licensure/renewal fee) and expire September 30. Beginning in 2025, all renewals must be submitted online; paper renewals are no longer accepted. Licensees must maintain at least $250,000 in malpractice insurance and an absence of professional misconduct. CE is 8 hours every two years (biennial CE cycle despite annual license renewal). Licensees self-maintain CE proof and submit documentation at renewal; no state CE-tracking platform was identified, so uses_ce_tracking left null. The $65 late renewal fee appears in secondary sources/proposed rules and is associated with the Oct 1-30 grace period; it was not confirmed verbatim on the official renewal page, so confidence on the late fee specifically is lower.

Massage Therapy license renewal in South Dakota: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my Massage Therapy license in South Dakota?

South Dakota Massage Therapy licenses renew every 12 months. Licenses expire September 30 each year. The renewal window runs August 1 through September 30, with a 30-day late/grace period from October 1 to 30 to renew before the license lapses.

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

Approximately 8 continuing-education hours per cycle. Eight hours of board-approved continuing education are required every two years (current cycle Oct 1, 2024 - Sept 30, 2026). No specific ethics topic is mandated; any course that maintains, improves, or expands massage-therapy skills/knowledge qualifies, or education from an approved provider of NCBTMB, the American Medical Massage Association, or FSMTB. CPR counts for up to 4 hours per cycle, board-meeting attendance up to 2 hours, and up to 8 hours may be completed online. Therapists licensed mid-cycle have prorated requirements (2-8 hours). Note: the license itself renews annually but CE accrues over the 2-year cycle. Confirm the current requirement with the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health).

Can I renew my South Dakota Massage Therapy license online?

Yes — South Dakota offers online renewal through the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health). Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my South Dakota Massage Therapy license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. A late fee of about $65 may apply. Contact the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health) promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Massage Therapist (LMT) renewal