Massage CE Requirements in Nevada, Texas and California (and Where Barefoot Training Fits)

I teach Sarga Bodywork in three states: Nevada, Texas and California. And the question I get most before people enroll isn't about technique.

It's "Will these hours count for my license?"

Fair question. The rules are different in each state, and they change. Here's what I found on each regulator's site, in plain English. I last checked these sources on November 9, 2026, Pacific Time.

Important: I'm a bodywork instructor, not your licensing board. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Rules change. Always confirm with your board before you count on any course for renewal.

The quick version

Nevada: 6 hours every two years

Here's the Nevada picture, from the Board's licensee page and from LCB File No. R137-26, which the Nevada Legislative Commission approved on September 24, 2026:

• Licensed massage therapists need 6 hours of CE every two years. Details are on the Nevada Board's licensee page.
• Of those 6 hours: 2 hours must be human trafficking on the first renewal, or ethics on later renewals. The other 4 hours must be relevant to the practice of massage therapy.
• Excess hours no longer roll over to the next renewal.

What counts in Nevada? The Board accepts CE from providers accredited by NCCA or NCBTMB, and CE approved by AMTA, ABMP, FSMTB or the Nevada Board itself.

A 4-day hands-on class will give you more than 6 hours. That's useful, but it does not replace the required human trafficking or ethics hours in that cycle. Plan those mandatory topics on purpose, and don't assume leftover technique hours will carry forward.

Texas: 12 hours, and technique classes must be in person

TDLR's rules are clear, including 16 TAC §117.30 and §117.31:

• Licensed massage therapists need at least 12 hours of approved CE per license term.
• TDLR recognizes NCBTMB-approved providers and courses, as long as the subject relates to its accepted curriculum.
• Online or correspondence CE doesn't count if the subject is massage techniques or soft-tissue manipulation (16 TAC §117.31(c)).

That last point is the one I talk about most with Texas therapists. If you want hands-on technique hours in Texas, you need a live, in-person class. An online technique course may still teach you something, but it will not satisfy that part of renewal.

TDLR also requires a separate human trafficking prevention training for renewal. Check TDLR's massage CE page for current details, including any course or timing rules that apply to you.

Texas also treats the words "CE hour" and "CEU" carefully. TDLR defines 0.1 CEU as one clock hour. When you compare classes, look at the hours printed on the certificate, not just a marketing line that says "CEUs."

California: no CE requirement for CAMTC

California is different. CAMTC certification is voluntary statewide, though some cities and counties require it.

CAMTC's own requirements page says there are no continuing education requirements for CAMTC Certificate Holders.

So California therapists usually take CE because they want the skill, not to renew a CAMTC certificate. That's a good reason. If you also hold NCBTMB Board Certification, or a license in another state, those credentials have their own CE rules. A California therapist who also keeps a Texas or Nevada license has to meet that other state's requirements too.

What about NCBTMB Board Certification?

If you're Board Certified through NCBTMB, you have your own requirement on top of your state's.

According to NCBTMB, Board Certificants renew every two years and need 24 CE hours from NCBTMB Approved Providers in that period.

Small note on wording: NCBTMB itself uses the term "CE hours." Many instructors, including me, still say "CEUs" because that's what therapists search for. When it matters for renewal, go by the hours on the certificate and the language your board uses.

One more wording issue that matters for my classes: Sarga 101 and 102 hours are NCBTMB-approved through Sarga Bodywork's provider number (#1431). Sarga Bodywork is the approved provider, not me personally. That's a normal setup when you take a branded method from an instructor who teaches that organization's curriculum.

Where Sarga 101 fits

Here's how my Sarga Bodywork 101 course lines up:

• 35 NCBTMB-approved CE hours through Sarga Bodywork's NCBTMB provider number (#1431) when you complete the in-person and online portions
• 4 days in person, 10 am to 5 pm, with attendance at every session required for CE
• Hands-on technique training, which is the kind Texas requires to be live
• 8 students max, so you get real correction, not just a certificate

One Sarga 101 class covers far more than Nevada's 6-hour minimum and Texas's 12. But "more hours" is not the reason to take it. Take it if you want a barefoot method you'll actually use.

Sarga 102, the advanced class, is 2 days and provides 16.5 NCBTMB-approved CE hours when you complete the in-person and online portions. It requires Sarga 101 in person first, so it is not a first CE class.

See the full breakdown on the Sarga Bodywork 101 training page, or check current dates and cities. I teach in Nevada, California and Texas. If you need live technique hours and you're in Texas, an Austin, Dallas or Houston date is the kind of class that can fit that rule. If you're in Nevada, a Las Vegas date can do the same, as long as you still cover your required ethics or human trafficking hours in that cycle.

If you hold licenses in more than one state

Some therapists I teach are licensed in more than one of these states, or they hold CAMTC certification plus a license somewhere else. In that case, take the stricter rule as your planning guide.

A simple example: if Texas requires technique CE to be in person, and you want those hours to count in Texas, don't use an online technique course for that part, even if another credential would accept it. Keep a copy of every certificate, and confirm each board's reporting process rather than assuming one upload covers all of them.

A simple CE checklist before you enroll anywhere

• Is the provider approved by an organization my state accepts?
• Does the course subject fit my state's accepted topics?
• Is it live or online, and does that matter for my state?
• Will I get a certificate showing provider name, approval number, hours and dates?
• Do I have to attend every session to get the hours?
• Do I need any mandatory topics (ethics, human trafficking) this cycle?
• If I hold more than one credential, will this class count for each of them?

If you can't get a clear answer to those questions, wait. A cheap class that doesn't count is more expensive than it looks.

FAQ

Does Sarga 101 count for Texas massage CE?

Sarga 101 is NCBTMB-approved, and TDLR accepts NCBTMB-approved courses that fit its curriculum. It's taught in person, which Texas requires for technique CE. Confirm with TDLR for your renewal.

Does Sarga 101 count in Nevada?

Nevada accepts CE from NCBTMB-approved providers, and Sarga 101's hours are approved through Sarga Bodywork's NCBTMB provider number. Its 35 hours far exceed Nevada's 6-hour minimum, but you still need the required human trafficking or ethics hours within that cycle. Confirm with the Board.

I'm in California. Why take CE at all?

CAMTC doesn't require CE. Many California therapists take courses to add a premium skill, protect their bodies, or keep NCBTMB Board Certification or a license in another state.

What's the difference between CE hours and CEUs?

NCBTMB uses "CE hours." Many people say "CEUs" for the same thing. Some states define a CEU differently (Texas treats 0.1 CEU as one clock hour), so check the hours listed on your certificate.

Will I get a certificate I can give my board?

Yes. After you complete the required in-person and online portions, you should receive documentation that shows the course, the hours, the dates and the approval information. Keep that file. If your board asks for a provider number, Sarga 101 and 102 hours are approved through Sarga Bodywork's NCBTMB provider number (#1431).

Do I have to attend every day to get the hours?

Yes, in my classes. Attendance at every session is required for CE. If you think you might miss part of the class, talk to me before you enroll instead of hoping a partial weekend will still count.

Next step

If you're choosing your next CE class anyway, make it one that changes how you work. Start with the Sarga 101 details, check the calendar, and read Sarga vs Ashiatsu if you're comparing barefoot methods. For a wider look at where therapists find live classes, see How to Find In-Person Massage CE Classes.