Oregon Massage License Renewal FAQ: CE Hours, Ethics, and Cultural Competency Explained
If you're an Oregon-licensed massage therapist approaching renewal, chances are you have specific questions rather than wanting to read through the whole administrative rule. Here are the most common ones, answered directly from OAR 334-010-0050.
How many continuing education hours do I need to renew my Oregon massage license?
25 hours per renewal period. Of those, at least 15 must be contact hours (live instruction or Board-approved training). The remaining 10 can be contact or non-contact hours, such as self-study.
Do all 25 hours need to be in-person or live?
No. Only 15 of the 25 hours need to be contact hours. The other 10 can come from non-contact activities like self-study through books, periodicals, web-based content, or video — or from publishing an article on massage/bodywork, or presenting a course (credited once per renewal period).
How many of my CE hours have to be in Ethics?
At least 4 contact hours must specifically cover Professional Ethics, Boundaries, and/or Communication. These must be supervised — meaning there's direct interaction with an instructor, whether in person, through live discussion, or email exchange. A self-paced course with no instructor contact doesn't satisfy this requirement.
Bonus tip: If you complete more than 4 hours in this category, the extra hours roll over and count toward your next renewal period.
Is Cultural Competency training required every renewal?
Not every single renewal — the rule requires 1 hour of Cultural Competency once every other renewal period, per ORS 413.450. Look for courses approved by the Oregon Health Authority, since those are automatically accepted toward this requirement.
What's the Pain Management requirement, and how often do I need it?
This is a one-time requirement, not a recurring one. All licensees must complete a 1-hour online Pain Management module issued by the Oregon Pain Management Commission at least once, by their next required CE reporting deadline.
What subjects actually count toward my 25 CE hours?
Only courses in these categories are accepted:
Massage and bodywork techniques
Thermal modalities, topical preparations, mechanical/assistive devices
Stretching and gymnastics for soft tissue
Posture and movement assessment
Massage/bodywork business practices
Anatomy and physiology
Kinesiology
Pathology
Professional Ethics, Boundaries, or Communication
Cultural Competency
Body mechanics
Somatic education
CPR/First Aid
Pain Management
If a course doesn't fall into one of these, OBMT won't accept it — regardless of how relevant it feels.
What if I get audited?
OBMT randomly audits at least 10% of monthly renewals. If you're selected, you'll have 30 days to submit copies of your CE completion certificates. This is why keeping organized records matters — you should retain proof of every course (certificates, dates, hours, subject category, provider info) for at least 5 years.
What happens if I don't complete my hours in time?
You'll have 30 days from notification to come into compliance. If you don't, your license can be suspended, revoked, or denied renewal. Falsifying CE records is treated even more seriously and can result in license revocation.
Does the CE requirement apply to my first license renewal?
No — your first renewal is exempt from the CE requirement. Hours completed during that first period carry over and get submitted with your second renewal.
Ready to knock out your Ethics requirement?
Our Ethics in Massage Therapy: Professional Standards, Boundaries & Client Care course is a supervised, self-paced online program that satisfies Oregon's 4-hour Ethics, Boundaries, and Communication requirement — all from your own schedule. Enroll now and check this box off your renewal checklist today.
