Louisiana Provisional Licenses

There seems to be a lot of confusion out there as to what a provisional license is and how to apply for one.  In Louisiana, a provisional license is a temporary license granted to a recent massage school graduate who agrees to work under the supervision of a licensed therapist until they complete their national and state board exams. This allows the therapist to quickly enter the workforce without a lengthy wait for testing.  Here is what you need to know:

You do NOT have to pass the NCE or MBLEX to get the provisional license - but it is good only for a few months to give you time to take and pass the exams.  Here's what you need to do:

1. Find a therapist who agrees to supervise you for 3 or 4 months.

2. Apply for the provisional license. To apply for the provisional license, you must submit your Professional State License application and your provisional license application together to the state board.  The fee for the professional application is $75 and the fee for the provisional is $25.  The provisional must be signed by a therapist who is licensed and in good standing with the board. This supervising therapist agrees to supervise the provisionally licensed therapist and be on the premises at all times that the provisionally licensed therapist is working on a client.  Basically, you will be working for this therapist or for the spa, company or service where they are employed. There is a blank on the application that asks for a date when you will take your state oral exam on the law - it is given on the last Friday of every month that does not conflict with a holiday.  Fill in this blank with the date of the last Friday that is about 3 months away.

3. In the past the provisional license was usually received in less than a week.  It may be faster now with the advent of the online applications through the state board website at www.labmt.org - I personally have not witnessed the online provisional application process.

4. Begin practicing under the supervision of the sponsoring therapist.

5. Now apply for your MBLEX or NCE.

6. Take the MBLEX or NCE before the oral exam test date you have chosen.  Keep the pass slip from your exam when you pass it.

7. Report for your LA State Oral Exam on the test date you have chosen, bring with you the pass slip from the written exam (MBLEX or NCE).  Take the oral exam.  Attached is a study guide we use at our school.

8. Pay the first year's licensing fee (now prorated for the remaining months in the current year).

9. Receive your professional license in the mail or online.

10. Begin practicing without any supervision.

Note:  I am not an attorney and the above is simply my interpretation of the existing LA State Law and Rules and Regulations from my experience as a former Board Member.  Opinions vary from board member to board member and it is best to check with the State Board Office about current interpretations.