Licensing in Las Vegas and the Valley

Most information on this page is dated from 2001, when I first applied for my license.  Some fees may have increased and it's a good idea to check before assuming my fee schedules are correct.

Massage licenses in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, are considered “Privilege Licenses”.  The applications are pretty straightforward.  However, you need to have a license for every part of the valley in which you want to work.  The City of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Clark County, and the City of Henderson all require a separate license each of which is renewable every six months.  If you are licensed in Las Vegas, Clark County and Henderson, licensing runs about $400 a year.  There is currently a bill in the state Senate to regulate massages on a state level, as well.  Which would bring the licensing costs up considerably (they can't decide if it's going to cost $25 or $150 for a state license).

The licensing procedure takes anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months, depending on where you went to school and if the investigating unit recognizes your massage school, how busy they are, and whether or not you are willing to grovel to get your investigation completed sooner.  It's a good idea to have a county license if you are ever going to do outcall in Las Vegas because most of the large casinos are located in the County.

City of Las Vegas (about a 10 page application).  Semi-annual license fee $100.00 ($200/year)  If you contact the City, they will give you a check-list of all information they need for you to complete your licensing process.

• Application includes 10-year background check ($150.00) done by the special investigation office of the metro police department.

• Application fee $30

• 2 Passport type pictures submitted with application.

• Certificate of Graduation from an accredited school.  If the MPD doesn’t recognize the school, they will ask you to have the school send it’s proof of accreditation.  You will also need your school transcripts.

• National Certification.  This is a requirement for a license in Nevada.  If you were licensed before  2000 this wasn’t necessary and anyone licensed before the laws changed are grand fathered.

• Health Card (TB Test) This is mandatory whenever working in the health, food or beverage industry.

• Birth Certificate

• Certificate of Insurance

• Work Card.  This is your sheriff’s card.  In order to work any place in Clark County you have to have one of these.

• Unless you own your home, you need permission from your landlord to hang your license in your residence.  A lot of mail box places will hang your license for a minimal fee.

• It's unlawful to conduct a massage business from your residence unless you live in Henderson.  Also, cross-gender massage is illegal in Clark County and Las Vegas unless you are working in an established massage business or are hired by a hotel spa to do an in-room massage.

Clark County (About a 15 page application) Semi-annual license fee is based on your income.  The license fee can be as low as $25.00 ($50.00/year) If you contact the County, they will give you a check-list of all information they need for you to complete your licensing process.

• Application includes 20-year background check ($300.00) done by the special investigation office of the metro police department.

• One interesting note:  In 2001 I applied for, and received, my City license first.  Because both city and county investigations are done by the same special investigation office, my $300 county investigation fee was refunded.

• Application fee $30

• 2 Passport type pictures submitted with application.

• Certificate of Graduation from an accredited school.  If the PD doesn’t recognize the school, they will ask you to have the school send it’s proof of accreditation.  You will also need your school transcripts.

• National Certification.  Two years ago this wasn’t necessary and anyone licensed before the laws changed are grand fathered.

• Health Card (TB Test) This is mandatory whenever working in the health, food or beverage industry.

• Birth Certificate

• Certificate of Insurance

• Work Card. 

• Unless you own your home, you need permission from your landlord to hang your license in your residence.  A lot of mail box places will hang your license for a minimal fee.

• It's unlawful to conduct a massage business from your residence unless you live in Henderson.  Also, cross-gender massage is illegal in Clark County and Las Vegas unless you are working in an established massage business or are hired by a hotel spa to do an in-room massage.

Henderson.  (About a 15 page application) Semi-annual license fee:  $78.00 ($156.00/year)

• Application includes 20-year background check ($150.00) done by the Henderson police department.

• Application fee $30

• Certificate of Graduation from an accredited school.  If the PD doesn’t recognize the school, they will ask you to have the school send it’s proof of accreditation.  You will also need your school transcripts.

• National Certification.  Two years ago this wasn’t necessary and anyone licensed before the laws changed are grand fathered.

• Health Card (TB Test) This is mandatory whenever working in the health, food or beverage industry.

• Birth Certificate

• Certificate of Insurance

• Work Card. 

• Unless you own your home, you need permission from your landlord to hang your license in your residence.  A lot of mail box places will hang your license for a minimal fee.

• Cross-gender massage is legal in Henderson.  At the time I received my license you could have a massage business in your home.  This may have changed in the past 4 years so it would be best to check with the city before trying to set up a practice in your home.

North Las Vegas.  I have no idea about the costs involved or what kind of applications you have to fill out for them.  I was not interested in getting a license there.  However, I do know that all the other stuff that applies to the City and County, applies to NLV.