Massage Therapy Permit Requirements in Charleston, WV

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. West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board — License

   Massage therapists in West Virginia must be licensed by the WV Massage Therapy Licensure Board. Requires at least 625 hours of supervised academic instruction (per the 2023 statutory amendment) and passing the MBLEx or another board-approved exam.

   Official government source

   $350 total for initial license ($50 non-refundable application fee + $300 two-year license fee)·4–8 weeks

   $350 total for initial license ($50 non-refundable application fee + $300 two-year license fee)

   4–8 weeks

2. West Virginia State Tax Department — Business Registration

   Before engaging in business activity in West Virginia every individual or business entity must obtain a Business Registration Certificate from the WV Tax Division (WV Code §11-12-1 et seq.), applied for through the Business for West Virginia portal at business4.wv.gov or on form BUS-APP. A separate certificate is needed for each business name and each location. The certificate is permanent — it does not expire — until the legal name, location or ownership changes, and it must be surrendered when the business stops operating in West Virginia. It also authorises you to collect the 6% state sales tax plus any municipal sales tax of up to 1%.

   Official government source

   $30 one-time Business Registration Certificate fee, per business name and location·1–5 business days when filed online through the Business for West Virginia portal (business4.wv.gov); longer by paper BUS-APP

   $30 one-time Business Registration Certificate fee, per business name and location

   1–5 business days when filed online through the Business for West Virginia portal (business4.wv.gov); longer by paper BUS-APP

1. City of Charleston Office of the City Collector — Business Registration / General Business License

   Charleston requires businesses within city limits to register with the Office of the City Collector and obtain a General Business License (flat $20 fee), plus pay the city's Business & Occupation (B&O) privilege tax on gross receipts (rate varies by classification) and a City Service Fee of $3/week per employee working within city limits. Renewed annually and displayed at the place of business.

   Official government source

   $20 flat General Business License fee, plus B&O gross-receipts tax and $3/week per employee City Service Fee·1–3 weeks

   $20 flat General Business License fee, plus B&O gross-receipts tax and $3/week per employee City Service Fee

   1–3 weeks

2. Charleston Zoning Approval / Certificate of Occupancy

   Before the Office of the City Collector processes a Charleston Business Registration Application, the applicant must obtain inspection and approval for occupancy of the premises from the Planning/Zoning Department (304-348-8105), the Building Department (304-348-6833) and the Fire Department (304-348-8130). For a massage therapy practice in a commercial space this occupancy approval is the Certificate of Occupancy; it is issued as the final inspection under a building permit where construction work is involved.

   Official government source

   No separate Certificate of Occupancy fee — occupancy inspection and sign-off are part of the $20 General Business License registration. Construction permit fees, if any work is done, follow the published Schedule of Permit Fees and are waived for total job cost up to $2,500.·1–4 weeks

   No separate Certificate of Occupancy fee — occupancy inspection and sign-off are part of the $20 General Business License registration. Construction permit fees, if any work is done, follow the published Schedule of Permit Fees and are waived for total job cost up to $2,500.

   1–4 weeks

Official Sources

• West Virginia Board of Massage Therapy — License
• City of Charleston Business License Division

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