Massage Therapy Permit Requirements in Anchorage, AK
Complete permit and license guide for starting a massage therapy in Anchorage, Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska.
Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .
Federal — start here
1 stopEIN (Employer Identification Number)
Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.
Official government sourceFreeImmediate (online application)
Free
Immediate (online application)
State of Alaska
2 stopsAlaska Board of Massage Therapists — Massage Therapist License
Massage therapists in Alaska must be licensed by the Alaska Board of Massage Therapists within the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. Licensure by examination requires at least 625 hours of in-class supervised instruction and clinical work from an approved program, a passing examination score, at least two hours of bloodborne pathogens/universal precautions education, and a fingerprint-based background check. A separate Massage Establishment Registration is required for the business location.
Official government source$490 for the therapist license by examination ($200 nonrefundable application fee plus $290 license fee); a $75 fingerprint processing fee also appears on the form but the board has waived fingerprint cards for the 2025–2027 license period, resuming for 2027–2029 ($565 with it). Massage Establishment Registration is a separate $300 nonrefundable fee4–8 weeks
$490 for the therapist license by examination ($200 nonrefundable application fee plus $290 license fee); a $75 fingerprint processing fee also appears on the form but the board has waived fingerprint cards for the 2025–2027 license period, resuming for 2027–2029 ($565 with it). Massage Establishment Registration is a separate $300 nonrefundable fee
4–8 weeks
Alaska — No State Sales Tax
Alaska has no statewide sales tax. However, local municipalities (including Juneau and other cities) may levy local sales taxes. Check with your local municipality for applicable sales tax requirements.
Official government sourceFree (no state sales tax registration required)N/A
Free (no state sales tax registration required)
N/A
City of Anchorage / Municipality of Anchorage
2 stopsNo Anchorage General Business License (state license only)
The Municipality of Anchorage does not issue a general business license or business tax certificate. Nearly all businesses need only the Alaska state business license from DCCED/CBPL. The Municipal Clerk's Office separately licenses a short list of regulated activities — adult-oriented establishments, pawnbrokers, private detective agencies, roving vendors and ice cream trucks, tow operators, used-automobile display lots, teen nightclubs and cultural performance venues, circuses/carnivals/fairs, short-term rentals, and marijuana establishments — so check with the Clerk only if your business is on that list. Other Anchorage departments issue activity-specific permits (health permits, special land use permits).
Official government source$0 — no general municipal license fee; the Alaska state business license is $50 per yearN/A locally
$0 — no general municipal license fee; the Alaska state business license is $50 per year
N/A locally
Municipality of Anchorage — Zoning Verification and Certificate of Occupancy
A massage therapy practice in commercial space needs the location confirmed as properly zoned for personal service uses by the Municipality of Anchorage Planning Department’s Zoning and Land Use Review section (907-343-8332), and a Certificate of Occupancy on file for the intended use through the Development Services Department (Permits & Inspections, part of Planning, Development & Public Works, 907-343-8211). If the occupancy classification is changing, a Change of Use review is required.
Official government sourceNo separate certificate of occupancy fee is published. Change of Use is $175 per inspection with plan review at $175 per discipline-hour; zoning status certification is $135 per hour with a two-hour minimum under the Zoning Fee Schedule effective 8-13-20251–4 weeks
No separate certificate of occupancy fee is published. Change of Use is $175 per inspection with plan review at $175 per discipline-hour; zoning status certification is $135 per hour with a two-hour minimum under the Zoning Fee Schedule effective 8-13-2025
1–4 weeks
Terminus
Open for business — est. $200–$700 · 4–10 weeks to obtain all licenses
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Official Sources
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