Georgia Massage Therapy Continuing Education Requirements 2026
Georgia licensed massage therapists must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their massage therapy license. MassageTherapyCEU.com is an NCBTMB Approved Provider (#409296-00), and Georgia massage therapists can take up to 12 qualifying CE hours from us toward their Georgia renewal requirements. The remaining 12 hours must include direct hands-on supervised instruction and must be completed through an appropriate in-person course.
Georgia does not pre-approve individual continuing education courses. However, the Georgia Board recognizes NCBTMB Approved Providers when the continuing education is related to the scope of practice of massage therapy. Therapists should make sure that any course they take meets Georgia's requirements. This information can be verified by visiting the Georgia Board of Massage.
Suggested courses for Georgia massage therapy license renewal:
- Assessment and Treatment Methods for Massage Therapists - 12 CE hours
- Chair Massage - 12 CE hours
- Massage for the Elderly and Ill - 12 CE hours
- A combination of qualifying courses totalling 12 CE hours
Georgia Massage Therapy CE Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Georgia |
|---|---|
| CE required | 24 hours every 2 years |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial |
| Hands-on requirement | 12 hours |
| Remaining CE | 12 hours |
| Online CE | May be used for qualifying non-hands-on hours |
| Provider requirement | NCBTMB Approved Provider or other qualifying provider |
| CE tracking | CE Broker |
| License expiration | October 31 of every even-numbered year |
How Many CE Hours Does Georgia Require?
Georgia requires 24 continuing education hours for each biennium as a condition of renewing a massage therapy license.
The 24 hours are divided into two basic categories:
- 12 hours must include direct hands-on supervised instruction.
- 12 additional hours may include online means or additional direct hands-on supervised instruction.
Georgia defines direct hands-on supervised instruction as instruction in which the qualified instructor is physically onsite and immediately available while the participant performs hands-on massage-related activities.
Can Georgia Massage Therapy CE Be Taken Online?
Yes, but Georgia does not allow all 24 hours to be completed through non-hands-on online courses. At least 12 of the 24 CE hours must include direct hands-on supervised instruction with the instructor physically onsite.
The remaining 12 hours may consist of other qualifying massage therapy-related continuing education. This is the portion for which online education may be useful, provided the course meets Georgia's requirements.
Important for Online CE
An online course cannot be used to replace the required 12 hours of direct hands-on supervised instruction. Georgia massage therapists should therefore plan to complete:
12 hours hands-on + 12 hours qualifying additional CE = 24 hours total
What Does Georgia Accept as an Approved CE Provider?
The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy does not pre-approve individual CE courses or programs. Instead, the Board establishes requirements for acceptable continuing education providers and courses. Under the current Georgia Board rule, the Board accepts CE from entities recognized as NCBTMB Approved Providers, provided the CE is related to the scope of practice of massage therapy in Georgia.
MassageTherapyCEU.com NCBTMB Approval
MassageTherapyCEU.com is an NCBTMB Approved Provider, #409296-00.
Georgia's rule specifically recognizes NCBTMB Approved Providers, making NCBTMB provider status an important consideration when selecting CE.
However, NCBTMB approval does not mean every course on every NCBTMB-approved provider's website is automatically acceptable for Georgia.
Georgia requires the course to be related to the scope of practice of massage therapy.
Important: Georgia Course Topics
Georgia has specifically warned massage therapists that some courses offered by NCBTMB Approved Providers may not qualify for Georgia CE because the subject matter falls outside Georgia's definition of massage therapy.
The Georgia Board specifically identifies topics such as:
- Animal Massage
- Aromatherapy
- CPR
- Light Therapy
- Sound Therapy
- Yoga
as examples of courses that do not meet Georgia's massage therapy CE requirements. For this reason, Georgia massage therapists should select courses carefully and make sure the subject matter falls within the scope of massage therapy under Georgia law.
Does Georgia Require Ethics CE?
Georgia's current massage therapy CE rule requires 24 qualifying hours but does not establish a separate number of mandatory ethics hours for each renewal period.
Ethics courses may still be valuable for professional development when the course is related to the practice of massage therapy and meets Georgia's CE requirements.
Does Georgia Require CPR CE?
CPR is not a required Georgia massage therapy CE subject. In addition, the Georgia Board specifically lists CPR courses among topics that do not meet the definition of massage therapy CE for Georgia licensees.
A CPR course may be useful for professional practice or required by another organization, employer, or credential, but it should not be counted toward Georgia's massage therapy CE requirement unless the Board specifically determines otherwise.
When Does a Georgia Massage Therapy License Expire?
Georgia massage therapy licenses expire on October 31 of every even-numbered year.
The 24 required CE hours must be completed before renewal.
Georgia provides a 30-day late renewal period after the October 31 expiration date. During that late renewal period, massage therapists may not practice until the Board grants the renewal.
How Does Georgia Track Continuing Education?
Georgia uses CE Broker to track continuing education.
Massage therapists are required to record their CE activities and upload supporting documentation, such as certificates of completion, into CE Broker. The Georgia Board specifically states that a transcript alone is not sufficient documentation.
Massage therapists should complete and record their CE before submitting their renewal application.
What Happens If I Am Newly Licensed in Georgia?
Georgia provides special CE provisions for newly licensed massage therapists.
A therapist who is licensed during the second year of the biennium is required to complete 12 hours of CE, with 6 hours requiring direct hands-on supervised instruction.
A graduate of a Board-recognized approved massage therapy education program who applies within one year of graduation may be exempt from CE for the initial biennium renewal period. New licensees should review their individual renewal requirements before selecting CE courses.
NCBTMB Approved Provider
MassageTherapyCEU.com is an NCBTMB Approved Provider (#409296-00). Georgia's rules recognize NCBTMB Approved Providers when the CE is related to the scope of practice of massage therapy.
Important: Georgia does not guarantee acceptance of every course simply because the provider is NCBTMB approved. Always select courses that are clearly related to massage therapy and meet Georgia's requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours does a Georgia massage therapist need?
Georgia requires 24 CE hours every two years for license renewal.
How many Georgia CE hours must be hands-on?
12 of the 24 required hours must include direct hands-on supervised instruction.
Can Georgia massage therapists complete CE online?
Yes, Georgia massage therapists can take up to 12 CE hours online.
Does Georgia accept NCBTMB-approved CE?
Yes. Georgia's current rules recognize NCBTMB Approved Providers when the CE is related to the scope of massage therapy. However, NCBTMB approval does not automatically make every course acceptable to Georgia.
Does Georgia pre-approve CE courses?
No. The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy does not currently pre-approve individual CE courses. Licensees are responsible for selecting qualifying CE from an acceptable provider and ensuring that the subject matter meets Georgia's requirements.
Does Georgia require ethics CE?
Georgia does not currently require a separate number of ethics CE hours. Ethics education may be taken as qualifying massage therapy-related CE when the course meets Georgia's requirements.
Does Georgia require a CPR course for CE?
No. CPR is not a required Georgia massage therapy CE subject, and the Georgia Board specifically lists CPR among topics that do not qualify as massage therapy CE.
Does Georgia use CE Broker?
Yes. Georgia uses CE Broker to track massage therapy continuing education, and licensees must record their CE activities and supporting documentation. We report CE hours to CE Broker for you.
Georgia Massage Therapy CE: The Bottom Line
Georgia massage therapists must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license.
The most important requirement to remember is that 12 of the 24 hours must include direct hands-on supervised instruction. The remaining 12 hours may be taken online.
MassageTherapyCEU.com is an NCBTMB Approved Provider (#409296-00) and offers online CE that can be used toward qualifying Georgia CE hours.
Georgia massage therapists should also verify that each course is related to the scope of massage therapy and record their completed CE and supporting documentation in CE Broker before renewing their license.