Where can I get Continuing Education (CE’s) for Massage Therapists in Georgia (GA)?

Written By Adrienne Permar
Massage Therapy, deep tissue massage, continuing education classes for massage therapists, man's hands giving deep tissue massage

Where can I get Continuing Education as a Massage Therapist in Georgia?

There are many places massage therapists can get Continuing Education credits (CE’s) in Georgia. The classes you choose depend on several things:

1. What do you want to learn?

As the deadline for renewal nears (massage therapy licenses renew on Oct. 31 of every even year), many massage therapists seek to find CE’s that meet the requirements. These include at least 12 hands-on hours and up to 12 hours of online credits. While we have been in the shoes of those seeking anything that will get them there, it might be beneficial to plan your CE hours at least 6-months in advanced, so that you can take something that interests you and will enhance your practice and boost your enthusiasm for your career. Taking an interesting continuing education class can keep you from feeling stale and burned out in your work.

You could also consider taking a course which gives you a specialization. Often this will require more than 12 hours of time and may require a larger financial investment, however, it may be worthwhile if it gives you an ability to reach a different clientele, charge a higher fee, or practice a modality that is easier on your body (perhaps allowing you to see more clients per day). For example, becoming Vodder Certified in Manual Lymph Drainage can allow you to work specifically with clients suffering from lymphedema or in recovery from surgery or cancer treatment.

2. Where do you live and how far are you willing to travel?

During a CE renewal year, massage CE providers will often travel, so if there is someone that you are very interested in, you can see if they are holding a class near you. While many schools in Atlanta host CE’s, such as Gwinnett College and the Heal Center, you may want to avoid the traffic and visit Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage near Athens, GA.

3. Do you mind uploading your credits to CE Broker?

The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy does not “approve” or “recognize” any CE providers, it does say that all providers in GA are required to upload certificates of completion from classes within 7 days of  teaching a class. That being said, you can take classes outside of GA or online, and upload the certificates and hours to CE Broker yourself. Just make sure the classes adhere to the guidelines the Board gives for what it will accept. See below for details on content areas that are allowed, as well as those that are not allowed.



Frequently Asked Questions about Massage Therapy CE’s in Georgia:

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Continuing Education for Massage Therapists in GA.





How many CE hours do I need to renew by LMT License in Georgia?

In general, massage therapists in Georgia need 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years. New graduates or massage therapists getting their GA license in the second year of a renewal cycle may only need 12 hours of continuing education, depending on how close to the renewal deadline (October 31st of every even numbered year). The Board will send you an email with your requirements sometime during the renewal year. Make sure that you have provided them with an accurate email which you check regularly.





What content is acceptable for continuing education hours?

According to the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy, continuing education needs to be accord with the definition of massage therapy, as defined by the Massage Therapy Practice Act. See below for the definition of massage therapy in Georgia.





43-24A-3. Definitions. (9) “Massage therapy” or “massage” means the application of a system of structured touch, pressure, movement, and holding to the soft tissue of the body in which the primary intent is to enhance or restore health and well-being. Such term includes complementary methods, including without limitation cupping therapy, taping techniques, the external application of water, superficial heat, superficial cold, lubricants, salt scrubs, or other topical preparations and the use of commercially available electromechanical devices which do not require the use of transcutaneous electrodes and which mimic or enhance the actions possible by the hands; the term also includes determining whether massage therapy is appropriate or contraindicated, or whether referral to another health care provider is appropriate. Such term shall not include the use of ultrasound, fluidotherapy, laser, and other methods of deep thermal modalities.








What content is NOT acceptable for continuing education hours for LMT’s in Georgia?

The following is from the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy:




Please be aware that a continuing education (CE) course that is offered by a NCBTMB Approved Provider does not guarantee Board approval. All acceptable CE for Georgia licensees must also fall within the scope of practice of massage as defined in the Georgia Massage Therapy Practice Act (Title 43 Chapter 24A).




When selecting continuing education courses, it is important to review the O.C.G.A. §§ 43-24A-3(8-9) and 43-24A-19(a)(5-8) and Board Rule 345-4-.02 to ensure that you are taking courses which meet the Board's criteria.  

Other examples of courses that do not meet the definition of massage therapy in the state of Georgia includes any courses on: 

  • Aromatherapy

  • CPR

  • Light Therapy

  • Sound Therapy

  • Yoga 




As a result, courses on the aforementioned topics will not be acceptable to meet CE requirements.




As questions concerning new course titles and topics arise, the Board will perform due diligence in reviewing the course information as it relates to the statute and include the names or topics of any course which would not be accepted.




Does Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CST) count towards Continuing Education hours for LMT’s in Georgia?

No. To confirm this information for this post, I texted the President of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy. He said that they count CST as energy work with no physical basis. I know some very talented massage therapists who would debate this point, however as it stands CST does NOT count for CE hours in Georgia.




Does Ashiatsu count towards Continuing Education hours for LMT’s in Georgia?

Yes, Ashiatsu does count as an acceptable CE in Georgia as long as no energy work is included in Ashiatsu is massage therapy done with the massage therapist’s feet.




Can massage therapists perform intra-oral work (work inside the patient’s mouth) in Georgia?

Yes. Although the Georgia law is very vague, it does state that massage therapists can perform work on areas of the body unless they are illegal. With consent, trained massage therapists are able to perform intra-oral work for therapeutic purposes.




Do spa therapies such as scrubs and wraps count as continuing education?

Yes, as topical preparations are included in the definition of massage therapy (see above), continuing education in spa therapies DOES count towards continuing education in GA.




Why didn’t I get the PERG catalogue in the mail this year?

Unfortunately, the Professional Education Resource Guide (PERG) will not be sent to LMT’a in Georgia this year due to a change in the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy regulations, which made changes in it’s policy to protect the privacy of LMT’s. The creators of PERG will no longer have access to mailing addresses of Georgia LMT’s so it will not be sending out it’s catalogue as it has done in previous years.




Where can I find more places to take live classes?

  1. You can search CE Broker for classes which will count towards your Georgia renewal requirement. MAKE SURE TO CLICK “LIVE” IN THE SIDEBAR to show classes which are live in Georgia.

  2. Check back on the individual school or organization sites to see what they have on offer. For your convenience, I have listed several below:

3. You can search for specific continuing education topics or specialties. Instructors in these practices may travel to a location nearby, or you may want to take a business trip to take specific training with them. Examples of these specialties include the following:




How do I register for CE’s at Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage?

You can register for classes held at our campus in Watkinsville, GA by clicking here: www.oconeemassageschool.com/workshops.















Adrienne Permar
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How do I become a massage therapist in Georgia?