Nevada Massage License Renewal in 2026: What Changed

If you still think Nevada massage therapists need 24 hours of continuing education to renew, you're looking at the old rule.

On September 24, 2026, the Nevada Legislative Commission approved LCB File No. R137-26. The Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy's licensee page now says licensed massage therapists, reflexologists and structural integration practitioners need 6 hours of CE every two years, not 24. Excess hours no longer roll over.

A lot of course sellers and state-by-state charts still say 24 hours. Some even say 24 hours a year, which was never the Board's rule. Use the Board, not a third-party summary, when you renew.

Important: I'm a bodywork instructor, not your licensing board. Rules change. Always confirm with the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy before you count on any course for renewal.

What changed

Here's the short version, based on the Board's licensee page, its Licensee FAQs, and the approved text of LCB File No. R137-26 (filed September 24, 2026).

How the 6 hours break down

The Board says the topic rules in NAC 640C.119 did not change:

• If this is your first renewal, 2 of the 6 hours must be on human trafficking.
• On later renewals, 2 of the 6 hours must be on ethics. The Board's FAQ says ethics can include reporting requirements, HIPAA, standards of conduct and human trafficking.
• The other 4 hours must be relevant to the practice of the license you hold.

Those hours have to be completed in the licensing period right before you renew. The FAQ is clear that you can't turn in an old certificate from a previous cycle, even if it's the same course title.

What counts in Nevada

For massage therapy, the Board's FAQ says it accepts CE provided by a person or entity accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). It also accepts CE approved by AMTA, ABMP, FSMTB or the Nevada Board itself.

If your course isn't covered by one of those approvals, the Board has a Continuing Education Request Form on its Licensee Forms page. R137-26 did remove the old option to ask the Board to credit CE that isn't in the listed categories, so don't assume a one-off course will go through. Ask the Board first if you're unsure.

Sarga 101's hours are approved through Sarga Bodywork's NCBTMB provider number (#1431), not under my name.

How you report CE now

This is easy to miss, because some of the Board's own FAQ language still talks about submitting CE with your renewal.

The approved regulation is more specific:

• You attest that you completed the required hours when you renew.
• The Board will perform random audits.
• If you're audited, you provide copies of original certificates of completion, or computer printouts from approved providers.
• You must keep that documentation for 4 years after the last day of the licensure period in which you completed the hours.

Follow whatever the Board asks you to upload when you actually renew, and keep the certificates either way.

One other change in the same regulation: credit for giving or preparing a presentation, serving on the Board or a Board committee, or attending a Board meeting is now capped at 4 hours per renewal period for each of those activities. The FAQ still mentions a 16-hour cap from the old rule. The approved regulation is the one to use.

If a website still says 24 hours

You're going to see outdated pages. I checked several after the September 24, 2026 filing, and some still described the old 24-hour rule, still talked about roll-over, or were still selling 24-hour Nevada packages.

For your renewal, start here:

• Nevada Board licensee page
• Licensee FAQs, including the CE hour question
• LCB File No. R137-26 (PDF)

The Board's FAQ also covers current renewal fees, photo rules and processing times. Confirm those details there, because they can change.

Where a live class fits

Six hours is a low minimum. You can meet it with short courses. You can also use a longer hands-on class if you want the skill, not just the hours.

My Sarga Bodywork® 101 course is 4 days in person, 8 students max, and includes 35 NCBTMB-approved CE hours through Sarga Bodywork's provider number (#1431) when you complete the in-person and online portions. That's more than Nevada's 6-hour minimum, but "more hours" is not the reason to take it. Take it if you want a barefoot method you'll actually use.

A technique class does not automatically cover the required human trafficking or ethics hours. Check the course topics, and complete those 2 hours in the same renewal cycle if the class doesn't include them.

For how Nevada compares with Texas and California, I already wrote a separate guide: Massage CE Requirements in Nevada, Texas and California.

FAQ

Do I still need 24 hours if I already started this renewal cycle?

The Board is already applying the 6-hour rule on its licensee page and FAQs, including for expired-license renewals. If your situation is unusual, or you were holding banked hours under the old roll-over rule, ask the Board how it applies to your next renewal. Don't rely on a course package still labeled "Nevada 24 Hour."

Can I still use leftover hours I already banked?

The Board's licensee page says excess hours are no longer banked for roll-over to the next renewal. I can't tell you how the Board will treat hours that were already carried over before September 24, 2026. Ask the Board directly.

Does Sarga 101 count for Nevada renewal?

Nevada accepts CE from NCBTMB-approved providers, and Sarga 101's hours are approved through Sarga Bodywork's NCBTMB provider number (#1431). Confirm with the Board for your renewal, and make sure you still complete the required trafficking or ethics hours in that cycle.

Do I have to send my certificates when I renew?

The approved regulation says you attest at renewal and provide proof if you're audited. The Board's FAQ still mentions submitting CE with the renewal. Follow the instructions in your renewal form, and keep the certificates for 4 years.

Next step

If you're completing Nevada CE anyway and you want a hands-on class, look at the Sarga 101 details and current dates. I also have Sarga 101 in Austin, April 12-15, 2027, if you're comparing cities. And always confirm your hours with the Nevada Board before you renew.