1. What are the requirements for being a massage therapist?

2. How much money do massage therapists make?

3. Will I need to take more education after I graduate?

4. Do I need insurance?

5. What do I need to buy and how much do supplies cost?

6. Can I perform massage in different states?

7. What is an accredited school?

8. Do I have to get massage while I’m in school?

9. Do all schools offer the same classes?

10. What is the average tuition for a school and can I get financial aid?

 1. In the U.S. massage therapists are regulated primarily at the state level. States have a variety of requirements for student eligibility and regulations in place for professional therapists. Most states have basic requirements for students meeting the following criteria:

• minimum of 18 years of age
• high school diploma or GED
• never convicted of a felony
• complete a minimum 500 hour state approved training program
• pass a licensing exam upon graduation
• complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years

Some states require more- some less. For all requirements please visit our ???????????? page for detailed information on your state.

 2. Massage therapy salaries (like most service industry salaries) varies greatly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that massage therapists salaries range from $16,000-$70,000/year with the median income just over $39,000. The location, facility, total hours worked, employed versus self-employed, and services offered all factor in to the wide gap between the lowest and highest earners.

There are three basic methods for compensation in massage therapy:

• Per massage: By far the most common, massage therapists are practicing at facilities as independent contractors and receive a percentage of the total cost of the service (usually 50%) plus gratuity. This can be beneficial if you practice in a high volume facility but it offers no guarantees if the clientele is sparse.
• Per hour: Some facilities (typically chiropractic or physical therapy offices) offer a guaranteed hourly rate as an employee. The hourly rate is usually lower than the hourly rate per massage and if you practice at a high volume facility you could be overworked and underpaid. The benefit is obviously knowing that every day you will earn a set income regardless of limited scheduled clients or cancellations.
• The “Split”: The “Split” is by far the best option when working for a business. This is a combination of the other two- receive a guaranteed hourly rate plus a percentage of every massage performed. This allows for stability and room for income growth.

 3. Most states require massage professionals to complete continuing education from an approved provider. These courses cover subject matter including ethics, sports massage, chair massage, Lomi Lomi, Shiatsu, myofascial release, assessment, and many more. Some continuing education courses can be completed in person while some are available through on-line/distance learning.

The reason for the requirement is that massage and bodywork are such vast fields with constantly changing research findings and modalities that a therapist’s educational growth is vital to the growth of the industry. Continuing education is not an obligation, it is an opportunity.

 4. Most schools provide coverage for students practicing while at the school’s facility and at related school massage therapy functions. Minimum personal liability insurance for professionals should be purchased for any therapist unless it is provided by their employer. Depending on the provider, yearly rates range from $99-$265. The following organizations provide such insurance:

• Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals
• American Massage Therapy Association
• American Massage Council
• Hands-On Trade Association

 5. Most schools provide you with the materials you need to practice with at their facility while you are a student. Once you become a professional you will need to purchase some basic items and may desire to purchase others.

At the center of all supplies is the massage table. It should be a simple enough process but buying a table is similar to buying a car. Table options typically include:

• Stationary, hydraulic, or portable
• Width (26”-32”)
• Length (60”-84”)
• Weight (22 lbs.- 45 lbs. for portable)
• Frame material (wood, composite, aluminum)
• Rounded versus squared edges
• Side arm extensions, arm sling
• Adjustable versus stationary face cradle
• Thickness of padding (1”-4”)
• Carrying case versus rolling cart
• Prices range from $100-$700 (for portable)

If you plan on practicing almost exclusively through traveling you would want to purchase a smaller, lighter, easily portable table. If your practice is at a fixed location you’re inclined to buy a larger, heavier, and stronger table. Be sure to inquire about the retailer’s and manufacturer’s warranty.

Linens, table cleaner, and hand sanitizer are also basic supplies that you should purchase. Some additional, optional materials you may want to purchase would be:

• Music/CDs $10-$30
• Eye pillow $5
• Essential oils $5-$100
• Hot stones w/heating element $50-$200
• Heat pack/cold pack $10-$200
• Rolling stool/chair $25-$50

For products like the hot stones and essential oils that are used as extra treatment tools during the massage, the therapist should charge an additional fee to the client.

 6. Most states have their own licensing process including state fees paid annually. For the majority of states a therapist will have to apply for and pay for multiple licenses; some states may even require an additional exam even if one was completed for the therapists initial license. Visit ??????????? for more details.

 7. An accredited school is one that an independent body has approved or validated as meeting the guidelines and requirements set by industry standards. There are two main accrediting bodies are the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) and the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Both are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as independent bodies that are equipped to oversee and approve programs that meet specific criteria ranging from hours and facilities to textbooks and curriculum.

A massage therapy school that has not been accredited rarely adheres to the basic standards set forth by the majority of educational providers governing the field.

8. Every school has its own policies on classroom activities; be sure to check the school’s manual prior to enrollment.

Receiving massage therapy treatments from fellow students as well as faculty is vital to your growth as a massage therapist. Different forms of touch which you may construe as “pleasurable” or esthetically pleasing may not be for the client. Receiving massage allows you to empathize with client’s by reversing roles from healthcare provider to healthcare recipient. Never receiving a massage is equivalent to cooking without ever tasting the food.

9. Massage therapy schools can be incredibly diverse in their methods of training and core curriculum. In the West there are two basic styles of massage therapy that schools focus on:

1. Wellness/Spa/Relaxation
2. Specific tissue therapy that borders on physical therapy

Most schools offer elements of both but shift the bulk of the curriculum to one or the other. Try to find a school that presents a reasonable balance because even though you may think your massage therapy career will follow a certain path, you shouldn’t limit your options for the future.

Some schools were designed for specific modalities. There are massage/bodywork schools that have the majority of their courses focused on Thai, Shiatsu, or energy bodywork. Where most schools offer a basic introduction to these styles, certain schools puts the primary emphasis on one method.

 10. A massage therapy school’s tuition may not be a direct reflection of the quality of the program. To begin, look at cost per clock hour. Just because one school offers their program at $5,000 and another at $8,000 does not mean there is a disparity. If the first program was 500 hours and the other (more expensive) program was 900 hours, it is actually cheaper (per hour) to attend the $8,000/900 hour school.

The next step is to factor in every possible cost of your attending the school and ascertain what is and is not included in the price. Some “hidden” costs may be:

• Registration fee
• Tables
• Sheets
• Textbooks
• Scrubs/Clinic attire
• Insurance
• Tutoring

Location should be another determining factor. Factor in you cost and time of commuting and the school’s accessibility.

As far as a national average for hours and clock hour costs the rates vary dramatically. A broad average shows accredited schools offering 600 hour courses from $6,500-$11,000 ($10-$18/clock hour) with most of the fluctuation based on rural, suburban, and urban campus locations.

Federal financial aid and loans are available for those who qualify. The school should have a financial aid department that can assist you or you can visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov for more details and the free application.