Massage Therapy Permit Requirements in Indianapolis, IN

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Indiana Professional Licensing Agency — Massage Therapist License

   Massage therapists in Indiana are licensed by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). You must complete a 625-hour massage therapy training program — not 500 hours — and pass an accepted national exam: the MBLEx, the NCETM, the NCBTMB examination, or the NBCA National Certification Examination. Licenses expire on May 15 of every fourth year (2025, 2029, 2033).

   Official government source

   $100 initial application fee; $150 renewal every four years.·IPLA publishes no processing time. An application is abandoned if all requirements are not submitted within one year of the filing date, so have transcripts and exam results ready before applying.

   $100 initial application fee; $150 renewal every four years.

   IPLA publishes no processing time. An application is abandoned if all requirements are not submitted within one year of the filing date, so have transcripts and exam results ready before applying.

2. Indiana Department of Revenue — Registered Retail Merchant Certificate

   Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property at retail in Indiana. Indiana charges a flat 7% state sales tax with no additional local sales tax. Register online via INBiz.

   Official government source

   $25 one-time registration fee·Immediate (online via INBiz)

   $25 one-time registration fee

   Immediate (online via INBiz)

1. Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services — Business License

   Indianapolis (Marion County) has no general business license and no product called a 'Commercial Zoning Certificate.' DBNS licenses only specific business types by ordinance (e.g., massage establishments $177, kennels/pet shops/stables $200, hotels, pawnbrokers). Most business types listed here do not require any Indianapolis business license — check DBNS's Business Licenses list for your specific type.

   Official government source

   N/A for most business types; specific licensed types have individual fees (e.g., $177–$200)·N/A

   N/A for most business types; specific licensed types have individual fees (e.g., $177–$200)

   N/A

2. Zoning / Certificate of Occupancy

   The City of Indianapolis/Marion County does not issue a Certificate of Occupancy (the contractor files a Certificate of Completion and Compliance with DBNS after construction instead). Separately, massage establishments in Indianapolis DO require a Massage Establishment license ($177, Municipal Code 912-5) from DBNS — confirm zoning compliance and obtain this license before opening.

   Official government source

   $177 (Massage Establishment license, Municipal Code 912-5)·1–4 weeks

   $177 (Massage Establishment license, Municipal Code 912-5)

   1–4 weeks

Official Sources

• Indiana Professional Licensing Agency — Massage Therapist License
• Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services

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