***IMPORTANT UPDATE***
At the October 2017 meeting, the Florida Board of Massage ruled that the NYS Massage Exam would now be accepted as an equivalent exam. This is a big change for those of you looking to transfer an NYS massage license to Florida.
NYS transfer applicants with valid NYS massage licenses are now endorsement candidates. This means you do not need to take the MBLEx to get your Florida massage license. However, there are a few other requirements you need to complete. This post has been updated to reflect this exciting change for many of you!
Looking for the required 10-hour Florida Massage Laws and Rules course and my step-by-step checklist to get your Florida Massage License? Click here to get started on the 10-hour Florida Massage Laws and Rules Course.
Want to learn more about transferring your license from NYS first, then keep reading.
Why This is Such Good News
Compared to most other massage therapists, New York massage therapists looking to relocate to Florida used to encounter an extra step in the transfer process. This was an extra step no massage therapist really wants to take. The thought of taking another licensing exam years after completing massage school was enough to keep many qualified NYS LMTs from even applying for a Florida license.
New York State is one of the few remaining states that still administers its own state massage licensing examination. Any massage therapist that leaves the state of New York usually finds out pretty quickly that having your own state exam can be a problem for reciprocity and license portability. This problem was certainly true for those moving to Florida until 2017.
The New York State Massage Therapy Exam (or any other state massage licensing exam) was not an approved licensing exam for obtaining a Florida massage license before October 2017. Before qualifying for a Florida massage license, NYS licensees were required to pass a Florida Board-Approved Examination (MBLEx, NCETMB, NCETM, or the NESL) in order to get a Florida massage license.
Now that this extra step is no longer required, the process is easier. However, it is still an unfamiliar process for most of you.
Ready to Begin the Process?
Again, if you are looking for the 10-hour Florida Massage Laws and Rules course and my step-by-step checklist to get your Florida Massage License, click here to complete that requirement. This checklist and guide will help you through the entire process and make your move a little less chaotic. I have included specific links in the checklist and guide for NYS applicants to contact the NYS Board for the required license verification form.
Don’t Make These Two Mistakes
I have two final (and very important) tips for NYS licensees to help you avoid frustration and delays.
#1 – Have an Active License
If your NYS massage license is not active, you need to make it active before you apply to Florida. A license must be active for an applicant to qualify by endorsement.
#2 – Apply By Endorsement
Make sure you apply as an endorsement candidate. Since you now took an exam that is now accepted to get your NYS massage license, you are no longer an examination candidate. If you choose examination candidate on your application you will encounter a delay in your license being issued.
Do you have more questions about your unique situation? You can email me at ivy@floridamassage.com.
I would be happy to help!
Do You Have A Dual License?
If you have cosmetologist, nail specialist (manicurist), or facial specialist (esthetician) license to transfer to Florida, you can learn more about that process and purchase the Florida Board of Cosmetology Approved Initial 4-hour HIV/AIDS course we have available on a separate website here.
My wife is an experienced massagist and healer. ashe has a gift to diagnoze (by feeling subtle disbalance in energy and pain that hasn’t been manifested yet) she can as well inadvertantly magnetize metallic objects (forks ,spoons ,knives etc) by strange magnetic power in her hands. Her problem is that she speaks English not so fluently ( we had come from abroad to USA 4 years ago) and she won’t pass exams for licensure, requiring a high speed in answering numerous questions. My question is: is it possible for her to work under any licensed massage therapyst, herself being unlicensed?
Roman, I have had others in your situation before with English being their second language and having difficulty passing the exam. I wish I had better information for you.
What state do you live in? That will help me figure out what the laws and regulations are for massage therapists in your area.
I graduated from the Swedish Institute in New York and received my NYS license for Massage Therapy. I moved to Florida the beginning of last year and am ready to get out of my current job and into my licensed profession. On top of the National Board Exam I was told there was another course I needed to take to become licensed in Florida. Do you know the name of the course? It has to do with medical error prevention or preventative care?
Hi Augustus!
Here is the link to my other site. This page will have all of the information and courses you need to get your Florida license.
Since you are from NYS, you most likely took the NYS state massage exam and not the NCETMB, NCETM, NESL, or MBLEx – right? You will need to follow this checklist.
If you have any other questions, let me know!
Hi Ivy, I am currently licensed as an LMT in NYS and considering a move to Florida. I have read some of your other posts for requirements in Fl. I am wondering since that was in 2013 if the requirements have changed at all. Since NYS does have its own state exam, am I still required to take another board exam that’s accepted by Florida or will I be able to transfer as an endorsement? I’ve been practicing for about 2 1/2 years now since being Licensed in NY. Thank you for any advice/help that you can offer.
Hi Ivy, I am currently an LMT in NYS and considering a move to Florida. I’ve been practicing for about 2 1/2 years since being licensed. I am wondering if I can transfer my license to Florida without having to retake a board exam. I’ve read some of your other posts from 2013 and now just wanted to know if anything has changed since then as far as the Florida board requirements. Also, can I still maintain my NY license after moving. Thank you for any advice/help in any way.
Hi!
There have been no rule changes regarding the accepted exams. You will still need to complete a board approved exam. The MBLEx is now the only entry level exam available (as of November 2014). You can read more about the MBLEx on my other site – http://www.massageexamacademy.com.
You most certainly can keep your NYS license too. I always recommend it. Life changes happen and rules change. Maintaining a license is good insurance in case either of those happen. I have a Iowa license and Florida license. I will always maintain both. I have seen far too many people let there licenses lapse and then have to take additional requirements because rules changed while they were not licensed.
I need a tutor to help me in converting an old not renew New York state massage therapy license ina florida one.
Hi Paola, I sent you an email with a few questions. Your path will depend on where you went to school (US or Italy) and if you took the NCETMB, NCETM, or MBLEx .
Hello Ivy I’ve also gone to the Swedish institute here in NYC and have taken and passed the mblex, is there a way for me to work in NYC without taking their NYS board exam?
Not that I am aware of at this time. I have not heard of anyone being granted a license without taking their state exam. Have you emailed the board of massage there?
Ivy
So how does the MBLEX work exactly? Will I receive a license card in the mail?
Hello I recently have taken and passed my MBLEX exam. I sent the results to the NJ state board a few weeks ago. Is there any other step or documents I need to send to obtain my license?
Which state are you trying to get a license? NJ?
Yes NJ.
I cannot say for sure. I am not as familiar with their process. I would visit their board website and then call their office if you have more questions. Sorry I cannot be of more help.
I’ve sent the results to the NJ state board. I’m just wondering is there are other steps as well.
Hi, I do not see this actual new ruling for NYS massage therapists now being candidates for endorsement on the Florida Board of Massage Therapy. Where can I find the link to this new ruling? What does “candidate for endorsement” actually means? Thanks!
Hi Sophie,
The rule is so new I am sure the Board has not updated their website yet. You can listen to the board ruling from the October 2017 meeting.
Endorsement means that you completed your 500 hours of education (or 1000 in NYS), took a FL board approved exam (which the NYS exam now is) AND your license in that state (NY) is still active.
Thank you! I am a LMT in NY. Have been for years. It is going to save me a lot of time as I never took the national certification, only the NYS license exam years ago. I am fully active with a current registration to practice in NY.
So I just need to contact the FL massage therapy board and that’s it? Do I need to register with them?
You are welcome to verify this info by contacting the board in FL. You can also go ahead an apply by endorsement. Here is my checklist
– http://www.advancedmassagetechniques.com/wp-content/uploads/florida-endorsement-checklist.pdf
For NYS you will need to contact the state for verification. On their verification, it will list that you passed the NYS exam.
I am obtaining my license in Florida currently and would like to transfer up to NYC later in 2019. Any advice on this? It says I am not eligible for an endorsement because I have not practiced for 2 years? I maybe misunderstanding this
I am not as good with the reverse information of going from FL to NYS. I would contact the NYS board to ask for their advice. I understand my reply is INCREDIBLY late. This was buried in my spam and I thought I would still answer it just incase others had the same question. Hope it all worked out!
Hi Ivy.
I live in NJ and I was thinking to start a massage therapist program here in NJ that lasted from 8- 10 months.. I am excited to start this new career. I also was considering to move to Florida I like better the weather over there and I am close from my family. but I was wondering if I should take the State exam to get my license in NJ or NY even if I have to take some extra hours or should I take my exam in Florida after I finish my program ??.
I read your article and said that with the NY lisence we could apply by endorsement in Florida without taking the test again.
Thanks you
I would just take the MBLEx. The NYS exam is only given 2x a year (January and August) and also NYS requires 1000 hours.
Here is more information on my MBLEx study guide and practice questions.
Hi,
I am a new York state licensed massage therapist and want to move in Florida soon.
What can I do to eligible to work there?
This article takes you step by step through the process.
I have a question. While I’m overjoyed to hear Florida accepts NYS license to shift to FL, how can I go about having both licensess?
Common question! I answer that question here about having a massage license in multiple states :)
https://www.floridamassage.com/license-multiple-states/
I lived in Florida in 2015, and took the MBLEX and had failed. It had been many years since I was in school. I had graduated from Swedish Institute in NYC and had my license from NY. When I moved to Florida that year I was not able to work as an LMT since my license was not accepted unless I passed the MBLEX . I now see this new rule and how I wish it had been applied when I was living in Florida I ended up moving back to NY and lost so much money when I was living in Florida! Good luck to everyone else !
I am hoping you can help. I was licensed in NY from 1993-97. I ended up working in NC as s massage therapist and never practiced in NY. I live in Daytona Beach area now.
I went back to the corporate world for financial reasons and I am thinking of getting back into massage therapy in Florida.
I went to the Florida School of Massage Therapy in 1993 and have 1000 hours there, including a 200 sports massage.
What steps would I need to take. I can’t seem reach anyone in Tallahassee to clarify. Should I try to reinstate my NY license band then transfer it to FL? Do I need to take the mblex? What is the best course of action?
Thank you. John
Hi John!
Quite honestly, your situation is one of the more complicated since there are a few variables I do not know, mostly concerning your exam Florida situation (if you took and if Florida would accept it).
If you took the Florida boards and Florida accepts them, you would simply need to apply and use that exam. I know it seems weird, but I had heard at one time they did not accept their old exam. However, that may have changed.
If you took the NCETMB back in the day, that would work too for the exam requirements. You would not need to get the NYS license back in good standing in this case.
What I do know is that if you got your NYS license back in good standing (I assume you took the NYS exam) then you would be able to apply to Florida by endorsement.
You would still need to take the Florida laws and rules course (here is my course) and do the fingerprinting.
So, you have options.
Anyway, let me know if you know which exam you took and I can help you get started on finding the best path for you.
Ivy
Dear Ivy,
Thank you for this service of love and devotion!
I am NYS LMT since 1999 but last registered was 11/2013. So I need a good 36 CEU to reinstate my NYS lic. I am planning to move to FL in the next two years.
I am happy to do the CEUs in NY even in these strange times. I would like to avoid any exams if possible!
What is your advice?
Thanks again for all you do!
TC
I would do whatever is necessary to get the NYS license reinstated if you want to avoid an exam. So, start looking for CE courses that will get your license back in good standing. Once that is done, you can move onto getting licensed in Florida. Here is my newer website that should help you get started with that process.
https://www.floridamassage.com/license/
Hey there!
I have been Licensed as a Massage Therapist in NY, and recently moved to Florida. I’d like to apply for my FL license by endorsement, however my school (Finger Lakes School of Massage) closed several years ago and so am unable to contact someone for my transcript. I do have my own copy of my transcript and so am wondering if that would be sufficient.? Also, do you need a Florida drivers license to apply? Thanks!
Hi Ivy, I would like to know if this is logit that NYS License is transferable to Florida. I took the exam and I passed it. and now I’m in Florida and would like to work as massage therapist and I don’t want to retake the national exam again. I read your news and I want to make sure if it is gonna work. please let me know. thank you
No need to take another exam. The NYS exam has been approved for a few years now.
I have been Licensed as a Massage Therapist in NY, and recently moved to Florida. I’d like to apply for my FL license by endorsement. will it work to transfer the license to FL Endorsement
Yes! The NYS state is approved for endorsement applicants.