Massage Therapist’s Complete Guide to Massage CEUs - Section 11: Other Frequently Asked Questions

Section 11: Other Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CEUs and CE hours?

Although the terms CEUs and CE hours are often used interchangeably, they technically aren't the same thing.

CE hour means one hour of approved continuing education credit. NCBTMB uses the term CEs (continuing education hours) and calculates them based on the educational content presented in a course. For face-to-face courses, NCBTMB bases the calculation on a 50-minute instructional hour. For home-study courses, NCBTMB has specific standards for determining the number of CE hours.

CEU, or Continuing Education Unit, is a more formal measurement that is commonly defined as 10 contact hours of continuing education.

Because massage licensing boards and CE providers often use the terms "CEUs," "CE hours," and "CE credits" differently, massage therapists should pay attention to the actual number of hours accepted by their licensing board, rather than assuming that "1 CEU = 1 hour."

For massage therapy license renewal, you'll usually see state boards referring to continuing education hours, rather than requiring therapists to convert their hours into traditional CEUs.

Is one CEU always equal to one hour of continuing education?

No. Technically, one CEU is not always equal to one hour. But in the context of massage therapy continuing education hours one CEU generally means one CE hour or one hour of education.

A traditional CEU represents 10 contact hours of continuing education. For example, 10 CE hours = 1 traditional CEU. However, massage therapy providers and licensing boards frequently use the term "CEU" informally when they actually mean one CE hour.

This is why it's important to look at the specific wording used by your state licensing board and CE provider. NCBTMB, for example, refers to continuing education in terms of CEs/CE hours and has specific methods for calculating the amount of credit awarded for different types of courses.

Don't assume the terminology is universal. If a course says it provides 6 CE hours, that is generally six hours of continuing education credit—not six traditional CEUs.

When renewing a massage license, follow the terminology and conversion rules provided by your state licensing board.

Who determines which CE courses are acceptable?

There isn't one organization that determines whether every massage therapy CE course is acceptable in every situation.

There are several levels of approval.

State licensing boards
- For massage license renewal, your state licensing board ultimately determines which continuing education courses satisfy your state's requirements.
FSMTB specifically states that state regulatory boards determine whether continuing education hours meet their requirements for license renewal.
NCBTMB
- NCBTMB operates an Approved Provider program that establishes standards for continuing education providers and courses.

NCBTMB identifies specific categories of acceptable course content, including massage modalities, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, pharmacology, ethics, business, and other professional topics.

Why do massage therapy CE requirements vary by state?

Massage therapy is regulated primarily at the state level, which is why CE requirements can differ substantially from one state to another.

Each state establishes its own rules regarding things such as:

Total CE hours
Renewal periods
Ethics requirements
Mandatory subjects
Online CE
Home-study CE
CPR requirements
Approved providers
Carryover hours
Reporting requirements
CE audits
License renewal deadlines

FSMTB's current state information demonstrates the differences. For example, its state table lists different CE requirements and renewal periods across jurisdictions. This means a course that works perfectly for a massage therapist in one state may not satisfy all of the requirements for a therapist in another state.

That's why state-specific information matters. Always check your state's current licensing requirements before purchasing CE courses. Rules can change, and the licensing board is the final authority for determining what counts toward license renewal.

Can a course be approved by NCBTMB but not accepted by a state board?

Yes.

This is one of the most important concepts for massage therapists to understand.

An NCBTMB Approved Provider course meets NCBTMB's standards for its Approved Provider program. However, that does not mean that every state automatically accepts every NCBTMB-approved course for license renewal.

For example, a state could have rules limiting:

Business CE
Self-care CE
Online CE
Home-study CE
Certain modalities
Non-clinical education
The number of hours from a particular category
NCBTMB approval is still valuable

NCBTMB approval provides an important quality indicator and is recognized or referenced by many state regulatory systems. But therapists should still verify their state's specific requirements.

What makes a massage therapy CE course legitimate?

A legitimate massage therapy CE course should provide real educational content, clear course information, appropriate provider credentials, completion documentation, and a verifiable approval status when approval is claimed.

Before enrolling, look for:

A legitimate provider
The provider should clearly identify who is offering the education and how to contact them.
Clear course information
The course should explain:
Course title
Number of CE hours
Course description
Learning objectives
Course content
Completion requirements

NCBTMB requires Approved Providers to document course information and learning outcomes as part of its provider standards.

Also look for:

Verifiable approval. If a provider says it is NCBTMB approved, you should be able to verify the provider in NCBTMB's directory. NCBTMB Approved Provider Directory
A certificate. You should receive documentation showing that you completed the course and how many CE hours you earned.
Appropriate completion requirements. A legitimate course should actually require you to complete the educational material. Depending on the course format and approval standards, this may include reading, videos, assignments, quizzes, or examinations.
State acceptance. Finally, make sure your state accepts the course if you're taking it for license renewal.

A course can be legitimate and educational but still not satisfy your particular state's renewal requirements.

How can I verify a CE provider's approval?

Start with the organization that supposedly approved the provider. If a provider says it is an NCBTMB Approved Provider, verify the provider through NCBTMB.

You can also check the FSMTB CE Registry when applicable. Not all legitimate providers belong to the FSMTB, so this does not apply in all situations. FSMTB explains that CE Registry providers must adhere to its CE Standards & Registry Guidebook, and providers are monitored for ongoing compliance.

Lastly, check with your state massage board. Find state board contact info here.

What happens if a CE provider's approval expires after I take the course?

Generally, what matters is whether the course was properly approved and completed when you took it, but you should keep documentation proving when you completed the course.

This is an important reason to save your CE certificate. Your certificate should establish:

Your name
Course title
Provider
Number of CE hours
Completion date
Approval information, when applicable

For NCBTMB Board Certification specifically, NCBTMB requires qualifying courses to come from NCBTMB Approved Providers and requires courses to be completed within the applicable renewal period.

What if the provider later loses approval? A provider's approval status can change over time. That doesn't necessarily mean a course you legitimately completed while the provider was approved suddenly disappears from your records.

However, don't make assumptions about how a state board will handle a particular situation. If you are ever concerned that a provider's approval changed after you completed a course:

Keep your original certificate.
Keep your receipt or enrollment confirmation.
Save the course description.
Save evidence of the provider's approval at the time you took the course, if available.
Contact your state licensing board if you have questions.

Good record keeping gives you documentation showing what you took, when you took it, and who provided it.

Can continuing education help me advance my massage career even when it isn't required?

Absolutely. In fact, some of the most valuable continuing education you take may be education that isn't specifically required for your license renewal.

Required CE helps you maintain your license. Elective CE can help you develop your career. Massage therapists can use continuing education to develop specialized knowledge in areas such as:

Oncology massage
Pregnancy massage
Infant massage
Sports massage
Acupressure
Cupping
Myofascial release
Lymphatic drainage
TMJ
Migraines
Essential oils
Anatomy
Pathology
Ethics
Business
Marketing
Client communication

Visit our comprehensive library of massage therapy CE hours to see the course we offer.

Continuing education can help you:

Develop new skills
Expand the services you offer
Work with new client populations
Improve client communication
Increase professional confidence
Develop a specialty
Improve your business
Differentiate yourself from other therapists
Stay current with the profession
Discover new areas of massage therapy that interest you

The goal of continuing education shouldn't simply be "How can I get enough hours to renew my license?"

Understanding the difference between CE hours, CEUs, provider approval, and state requirements can make choosing continuing education much easier. While meeting your state’s requirements is important for maintaining your massage therapy license, continuing education is also an opportunity to expand your knowledge, develop new skills, and grow your career. By choosing reputable courses and verifying that they meet your state’s requirements, you can make every CE hour count toward becoming a more knowledgeable, confident, and successful massage therapist.