Learn how to become a massage therapist in 5 steps

Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues in our body to release tension and reduce pain. This is performed by a massage therapist. Studies have shown that massage therapy has many other benefits including stress reduction, increased relaxation, and immune system improvement.

A massage therapist is a professional trained in massage techniques or modalities to address a client’s somatic concerns. They work in a variety of settings and usually provide their massage services in sessions, which can vary in length.

The length of a massage therapy program depends on the number of hours you must practice. Legal minimum hours for obtaining a massage therapy license vary by state, and these minimums range from 300 to 1,000 hours.

Depending on how your program is structured, you can obtain your license in a matter of weeks, or it might take you up to two years. Always check with your state’s health board to find out the number of hours you need to complete in order to become licensed.

While you’ll learn the basics of massage therapy as part of the foundation of your education, you can also pursue specialized training in different areas such as sports massage, myofascial release therapy, prenatal massage, reflexology, infant massage, and many more. Through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), you can receive professional credentials in a number of these specialty areas.

Massage therapy has played an important role in healing for thousands of years. Different techniques (called modalities) achieve different results, such as pain management, injury recovery, stress reduction, and relief from muscle tension.

And there are a variety of jobs and environments where you can practice these skills, from modalities based on Eastern medicine and energy flow to intense muscle and bodywork such as sports or medical massage. Recent growth in the industry is partly due to more customers seeking out massage both therapeutically and for relaxation.

The rise in the popular notion of “self-care” has also spurred an increased demand for all types of massage, expanding job opportunities whether you want to work in a posh spa, on a cruise ship, or in a more medical setting. If you want to focus on modalities that are medicinal or therapeutic, experts recommend you select a school and program with a heavy focus on anatomy and science.

When researching schools, you’ll want to consider things like course content, faculty experience, graduation rate, the school’s pass rate for state/national licensing, and the cost of tuition. You should also take into consideration the focus of the educational program and your intended goals as a massage therapist.

“Regardless of the program, anatomy and physiology are important,” says McNeil. “The program should have a significant number of hours dedicated to the palpitation, knowledge and understanding of what comprises connective tissues, how it functions and where it is located.” A visit to the school can also help you understand the vibe of the campus. Do you feel welcomed and comfortable in the school environment? Does the school representative communicate how their program can prepare you for the profession?

“It’s also important to find out how long the massage school has been around,” says Taffie Lewis, director of membership outreach at Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), a massage therapy association. She also recommends that you ask for information about graduate success on any state or national exams that are required for licensing.

While tuition for massage therapy schools can range widely, it’s generally much less than a traditional two- or four-year education, with some programs as low as $5,000–$7,000. Most programs require between 500 and 1,000 hours of training, and it’s likely that tuition will be higher the more in-depth your curriculum is.

Keep in mind that as a massage student, you’re not just paying for tuition: There are books, supplies, and even potentially a massage table if that’s not included in your tuition price. (Be sure to ask!) Financial aid is often available, especially if your school is accredited.

When you’re deciding which school to attend, one of the many factors you’ll need to consider is whether your school is accredited. This is quality control of sorts that’s overseen by outside agencies that evaluate a program based on certain criteria and determine whether a school has met those standards.

Some experts say that accreditation is the number one consideration when sorting through schools. Others advise that many good schools are not accredited simply due to the length and complication of the process, nevertheless, it can come with some advantages when it comes to getting financial aid.

For many types of education, taking online classes can be a good solution for organized students who need to complete coursework on their own time or don’t have easy access to a campus. With the nature of massage therapy, however, and the hands-on practice you need in order to graduate and become licensed, taking online classes becomes more complicated. You may be able to take some of your classroom coursework online but will still need to complete hands-on training in person.

As with most other careers, the salary you can expect to earn varies widely depending on factors such as where you live, what type of massage you practice, how much experience you have, and the setting in which you work.

There may be some discrepancy in salary due to the fact that most massage therapists work part-time (an average of around 27 hours per week) and, if self-employed, don’t get paid for the non-massage activities involved in running a practice.

Understand the work settings that tend to pay the most and, if they’re right for you, seek employment that takes you to these places. Massage therapists who pay visits to clients’ homes or work for resorts and cruise ships tend to make the most per hour, while those working in massage therapy franchises or chains make the least.

A massage therapy career is an appealing option for many people. Massage school is often more affordable and much quicker to complete than a traditional college degree. What’s more, after earning a massage license, many massage therapists find employment quickly—usually within a matter of weeks—and report high job satisfaction.

These are just a few of the benefits that draw people to the field, but it’s important to weigh all the pros and cons in order to decide whether massage therapy is right for you.

A recent survey of nearly 1,200 licensed massage therapists points to strong job satisfaction rates: 88% of respondents reported feeling either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their jobs. Only 7% selected “neither satisfied nor dissatisfied,” and 5% felt “dissatisfied.” A tiny proportion—just 1%—were “very dissatisfied.”

But how does the massage therapist satisfaction rate measure up to other occupations? It turns out that massage therapists are significantly happier with their jobs than many American workers. In comparison, only 51% of U.S. workers reported feeling overall satisfaction with their careers in a recent survey by The Conference Board.

They vary by place of employment. Some massage therapists are self-employed and work out of their homes or private offices. They’re autonomous, set their own hours, and buy their own equipment and supplies. Other massage therapists find jobs in spas, health clubs, massage studios, or the offices of physical therapists or chiropractors.

Each setting has a different look and feel. A spa may offer a calm, intimate setting with dim lights and soothing music, whereas a medical clinic or sports facility might use bright overhead lighting and provide massage therapy in the same room as other patients receiving care.

The massage therapist job outlook is bright, and students who graduate from massage therapy school are often able to find a job quickly. In the survey, 57% of respondents “strongly agreed” that they were able to get a job easily after becoming a licensed massage therapist, and another 29% “agreed.”

The survey also indicates that massage therapy graduates don’t have to worry about long periods of unemployment and job searching: 84% were offered a job in 1 month or less after getting licensed. Another 5% said it took just 2 months to land a job.

Unlike some types of college graduates who have few marketable skills, massage therapists are often well-prepared for a specific career path that’s in high demand.