Massage continuing education Washington: Shelby Von Oepen, RN, guiding a group Breathwork session

Massage Continuing Education Washington

Your call. Washington approves no CE providers, so you decide whether these 24 CE hours fit its rules.

Massage CE in Washington State: Key Facts

NCBTMB Approved Provider seal
State licensing boardBoard of Massage, Washington State Department of Health
CE hours required24 hours every two years.
Required split8 hours in person with direct application of massage, 4 hours in ethics or related topics, 2 hours in health equity.
NCBTMB Approved Provider hoursNot a state concept. The Board of Massage approves no courses and no providers, so the licensee decides.
Course hours24 CE hours, live and in person
ProviderLiquid Breathwork, NCBTMB Approved Provider #1003401
City and datesSeattle, September 17-19, 2027. Venue TBD.

Liquid Breathwork is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider.

Rules last checked: October 2026. Sources: Washington State Department of Health, massage CE page, WAC 246-830-475.

Does this count toward your Washington State license renewal?

Washington State approves no courses and no providers, so the decision is yours. In the Department of Health's words, licensed massage therapists "need to determine on their own which courses and providers meet the CE rules requirements."

Washington State massage therapists need 24 hours of continuing education every two years, including 8 hours in person with direct application of massage, 4 hours in ethics or related topics, and 2 hours in health equity (WAC 246-830-475).

The Board of Massage has not reviewed this course, and it reviews no one's. Read the rule and decide whether these hours fit. We make no claim about which category they fall under.

Who the 24 CE Hours Are For

Board Certified therapistsNCBTMB requires 24 CEs from an Approved Provider every two years.

Therapists licensed elsewhereIn a state that accepts NCBTMB Approved Provider hours. Your board decides.

Seattle Course Date

Seattle Weekend

September 17-19, 2027

Venue TBD. Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are handled case by case.

It runs on the same weekend as the Breathwork certification in Seattle training, with the same two instructors. All dates are on the main Breathwork certification page. Seattle is the one Washington State weekend. Bellevue, Tacoma and Everett are a morning drive. Olympia is farther down I-5, and from Spokane you are crossing the state, so plan to stay both nights.

What You Learn in 24 Hours

  • An extra layer of clinical safety. Shelby is a Registered Nurse, so client screening gets a clinician’s eye.
  • Ten breathing techniques for client use. The physiological sigh, breath holds and box breathing among them.
  • Ethical hands-on touch. Fully clothed, with consent, within your scope of practice.
  • A 6-phase session structure. Client screening, informed consent and supervised practice.

You receive a Certificate of Completion documenting 24 CE hours. Full attendance is required, with no partial credit. See the full schedule and course policies.

Who Teaches the Course

Ryan McBurney and Shelby Von Oepen, RN, teach the course together, and both teach every part of it. Shelby’s nursing background adds a layer of clinical safety. They co-founded Liquid Breathwork, a Breathwork practice based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Book a Call with Ryan & Shelby

Washington State Massage CE Questions

How many CE hours do massage therapists need in Washington State?

24 hours every two years. At least 8 must be in person with direct application of massage, 4 in ethics or related topics, and 2 in health equity, under WAC 246-830-475.

Does Washington State accept NCBTMB approved continuing education?

Washington State does not approve or require any provider status. The Board of Massage does not approve specific courses, curriculum or providers, so each therapist decides whether a course meets the rule.

Do these hours count as my 8 in-person hours?

We do not make that claim. The rule requires those 8 hours to be in person, directly supervised, and to involve the direct application of massage therapy as defined in RCW 18.108.010. You decide what meets it.

What does Washington State require of a CE instructor?

At least three years of practical experience in the subject, plus acceptable documentation of course completion for the student. That is the Department of Health's wording. Ryan McBurney has guided Breathwork professionally since 2018.

Where can I find massage continuing education classes in Washington State?

Liquid Breathwork is bringing a live, in-person 24 CE hour course to Seattle on September 17-19, 2027. The venue is not signed yet, so join the wait list and we will send it to you first.

More about the course: Breathwork continuing education for massage therapists.

Massage CE in Other States