Massage Licensing in Illinois

A state license is required to practice massage in Illinois under the Illinois Massage Licensing Act. Local governments may not require city-issued professional licenses for massage. Cities can continue to require business licenses similar to those issued for other types of businesses in that city.

All Illinois massage therapy licenses expire on December 31 of even-number years. The first renewal for massage therapist licenses is now in process. Currently licensed massage therapists should have received by now a mailing from the state with the renewal forms by October 31 of even-numbered years. You can renew on line at www.idfpr.com just as easily as an on-line driver’s license renewal. Or you can mail in the hard copy forms. If you do not receive the forms, the state may not have your correct address. You can correct your address when you renew on-line or click here to obtain the forms from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation web site.

Massage Defined ...

Under the Illinois law, massage is defined as palpation or movement of soft tissue, with or without aids, to enhance general health and well-being. Diagnosis of conditions is excluded, but treatment is not. For the complete language, read Section 10 of the law.

Title Protection ...

Only licensed massage therapists can use the terms “Massage therapist”, “massage therapy”, or “massage” in their advertising. Advertising is defined in the law to include everything from business cards and web sites to phone directory listings and conventional newspaper ads.

Who can get a license ...

Newly trained massage therapists must have completed a 500-hour program and passed a competency examination to get a license.

Who is exempt ...

Exempt from the license requirement are practitioners of certain service marked bodywork approaches that do not involve intentional soft tissue manipulation, including, but not limited to Rolfing, Trager Approach, Polarity Therapy, and Orthobionomy if they are approved by their governing body. There are other exemptions in the law (See Section 25).