Massage practitioner registration (SorPorSor.14) — hours, documents and process
Short answer
To register as a health massage practitioner in Thailand (SorPorSor.14) you must complete an accredited massage course of at least 150 hours from an institution approved by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Health, then file your documents with the Provincial Public Health Office or the Department of Health Service Support. Certificates from courses under 150 hours cannot be used.
Every week someone calls us with the same sentence: “I studied elsewhere, but they told me this certificate cannot be registered.” That is money and time gone for nothing.
This page explains exactly what registration requires, so you do not pay twice — whether you study with us or anywhere else.
Why registration matters
- Licensed shops and spas hire only registered practitioners
- It is a condition for licensing your own health establishment
- It supports work visa applications and overseas job applications
- It protects you legally if a dispute with a client arises
- Registered therapists command higher pay because they are lower risk to employ
Eligibility
- At least 18 years of age
- Completed compulsory education (Grade 9) or above
- Completed an accredited massage course of at least 150 hours
- Free of the specified communicable diseases
- No convictions for sexual or narcotics offences
Documents to prepare
- Copy of national ID card
- Copy of house registration
- One-inch passport photo taken within the last 6 months
- Copy of educational qualification
- Original and copy of the 150-hour massage certificate
- Medical certificate
- Completed SorPorSor.14 application form
The five-step registration process
We prepare the paperwork and guide our students through every step, free of charge
- 1
Complete an accredited 150-hour course
The institution must be licensed by the Ministry of Education and the curriculum accredited by the Ministry of Public Health.
- 2
Pass the examination and receive your certificate
The certificate must clearly state the course name, contact hours, and the institution’s licence number.
- 3
Assemble the complete document set
Including the medical certificate and SorPorSor.14 form. Check that your name matches exactly across every document.
- 4
File with the responsible authority
File at the Provincial Public Health Office where you are domiciled, or the Department of Health Service Support for Bangkok.
- 5
Await approval and collect your registration
Once verified, you receive the credential that lets you apply for jobs and practise legally.
Traps that make a certificate unusable
Check these before paying tuition anywhere
- Courses under 150 hours — usable for job applications, not for registration
- Institutions without a Ministry of Education school licence
- Certificates that omit the contact hours or the institution licence number
- Fully online courses with no supervised practical hours
- Thai-only certificates, if you intend to work abroad
At Michael Thai Massage School this is handled for you
- Our 150-hour curriculum is accredited by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health
- Bilingual certificate stating contact hours and licence number in full
- We assemble and check your documents before you file
- If a filing fails because of our paperwork, we fix it until it passes
Questions about certification and registration
Can I really register as a licensed practitioner after graduating?
Can the certificate be used to work abroad?
This page is a general explanation. Requirements and documents may be updated by the Department of Health Service Support. Please confirm with your Provincial Public Health Office before filing.