Renew a Massage School License
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Application and Fee
A renewal notice will be sent to licensed massage schools by mail at least 30 days prior to their license expiration date.
Schools must submit a copy of the renewal notice with any contact information updates along with the required $1,000 renewal fee.
NOTE: If you do not receive a renewal form by mail within 60 days of your renewal, please contact the Education and Examination division. It is the responsibility of massage schools to renew their licenses regardless of whether an expiration notice was received by the licensee from TDLR.
Fingerprinting Requirement
All massage therapy applicants must be fingerprinted for a national criminal history record review. Applicants must submit fingerprints as part of the initial license application and again for each renewal application.
Once your completed renewal application is received by TDLR, you will receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment for fingerprinting. The instructions will be emailed to you.
Please see the Fingerprinting Instructions for Massage License Holders page for detailed instructions on the fingerprinting process, including any fees you will be responsible for.
Be sure the email address provided on your renewal application form is current and legible to receive the fingerprinting information.
You will be responsible for paying the fee associated with this review to the fingerprint service vendor used by Texas Department of Public Safety. This requirement became effective September 1, 2019.
Renewal of Expired Licenses
A massage school which operates with an expired license may be subject to disciplinary action.
Course hours taught during the time the license is expired will not apply toward the minimum 500-hour course of instruction.
A license that has been expired for 90 days or less may be renewed by paying to the department a renewal fee that is equal to 1-1/2 times the normally required renewal fee.
A license that has been expired for more than 90 days but less than 18 months may be renewed by paying to the department a renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally required renewal fee.
On approval by the executive director (see Request to Executive Director for Expired License Renewal Form - PDF), a license has been expired for at least 18 months but less than three years may be renewed by paying to the department a renewal fee equal to two times the normally required renewal fee.
Applicants with Criminal Convictions
If you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation) or pleaded guilty or no contest (resulting in a deferred adjudication) to any in-state, out-of-state or federal criminal offense, you must provide a completed Criminal History Questionnaire (PDF) along with your application materials.
The department will conduct a criminal history background check, including fingerprinting, on all persons who apply for or renew a massage license. Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Licenses may be denied based on the nature of the conviction and how long prior to the application the conviction occurred. Depending on your criminal history, a review can take from one to six weeks to complete.
Individuals may request TDLR review their criminal background before actually applying for a license. TDLR uses the same process for this pre-application evaluation as the process described below. See the Criminal History Evaluation Letter page for more information.
Please see the Guidelines for License Applicants with Criminal Convictions, which describe the process that TDLR uses to determine whether a criminal conviction renders an applicant an unsuitable candidate for the license, or whether a conviction warrants revocation or suspension of a license previously granted.