As one of the fastest-growing careers today, massage therapists have the opportunity to earn well over $30 hourly with the right education and training, and experience. Quality programs in massage therapy can afford this rewarding prospect to those pursuing professions in bodywork.



Standard training programs in massage therapy range between 300 and 500 hours. (A number of massage courses may exceed this time frame.) Typical subject matter involves education in anatomy, pathology, physiology, massage theory, communication skills, CPR and first aid, and kinesiology. Depending in which one of the many programs in massage therapy you choose to enroll, massage techniques and modalities may vary. Common modalities include hands-on instruction in Swedish massage, sports massage and deep tissue therapy.

More advanced entail diverse training in a wide assortment of bodywork methods like acupressure, Chinese medical massage, infant and prenatal massage, animal massage, geriatric massage, craniosacral therapy, Trager therapy, Trigger Point, esalen massage, Lomi Lomi, chair/seated massage, Indian head massage, cancer massage, and myofascial release, among many others.

Besides classroom experience, many offer real-world clinical training on clients under direct supervision of a qualified instructor. Upon successful completion of all required coursework, graduates earn a certificate or diploma of completion; and in some cases, may be eligible to sit for the National Certification exam through the NCTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork). National , however, can only be achieved by those students who have completed a minimum of 500 hours in any one of several accredited programs in massage therapy.

Graduates of programs in massage therapy who have become certified and/or licensed to become practicing massage therapists earn the personal satisfaction in having the natural health skills to help in healing patients. Some of the many benefits of massage therapy include back pain relief, blood pressure reduction, stress and tension relief, migraine relief, and relief of many other chronic health conditions and diseases.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding programs in massage therapy, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

*Occupational Resources: BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Programs in Massage Therapy - Healing Arts Today

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