How to Become a Certified Massage Therapist

Make no mistake—becoming a massage therapist is hard work, and it’s not a quick or easy side hustle. With that said, it’s an incredibly rewarding profession, and it offers the opportunity to work independently by starting up your own massage business.

Massage therapy is a career for most people in this field, and it takes time and dedication to get qualified. But if you’re motivated and you’re willing to invest a bit of time and money to getting started, then it could be a great way to break away from traditional employment and get paid to do something you love.

How long does it take to become a massage therapist?

Getting fully trained and qualified as a massage therapist is a long process, and it’s not the best side hustle or career option if your goal is to make money fast. Because of legal requirements for the number of training hours you need to complete, it generally takes anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to become a qualified massage therapist.

How long is massage therapy school?

Most massage therapy courses offer somewhere in the range of 500–1,000 hours of training. While some schools offer short and intense courses designed to fast-track your journey to becoming a massage therapist, others offer more flexible options.

If you’re studying full-time as part of an intensive program, you can complete your training in just a few weeks. On the other hand, if you’re not in any hurry or don’t have a lot of free time to commit to studying, you could study part-time and finish your massage therapy training in 1–2 years.

What do you need to be a massage therapist?

Because massage therapy is often a treatment for physical ailments and conditions, it is a regulated industry. To become a massage therapist, you need to undergo training and acquire the proper licensing in your jurisdiction.

Different states and jurisdictions have their own legal requirements for massage therapists. While you don’t need a massage therapy degree to become a massage therapist, you typically have to undergo training, get certain certifications, and gain practical experience before you begin working as a licensed massage therapist.

To give you a general idea, here are common massage therapist requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Complete a massage therapy training program at an approved institution
• Gain practical experience through an internship or other supervised work
• Pass an exam on massage therapy principles
• Undergo a background check and fingerprinting
• Acquire CPR and/or first aid certification

Some states have additional requirements as well, such as proof of citizenship, a Social Security number (SSN), massage therapist liability insurance, or even a recent physical exam or reference letters. You’ll usually need to submit an application and pay a fee, and you may be required to register with your state’s board of massage therapists.

It takes time and money to meet massage therapist requirements, but the process is relatively straightforward, and we’ll walk you through each step you need to take.

A massage therapist (sometimes also referred to as a massage technician, masseuse, or masseur) is what you call a person who gives massages professionally. These massages are therapeutic in nature, targeting muscles, soft tissues, and joints.

Professional massage therapists generally apply scientifically backed physical strategies involving movements like kneading, tapping, and stroking to achieve a desired result. Sometimes the goal is increased circulation or muscle tone, whereas other times it may be stress relief or another aim.

Massage therapists can work in a wide range of settings and have various specialties. There are countless different types of massages that they can perform, and systematic approaches to massage therapy vary by culture.

Specialties and career options

Beyond obtaining the general massage therapy license or credentials required by your state, you can also voluntarily pursue massage therapy certifications that qualify you to specialize in certain forms of massage.

Potential massage therapy specialties include:

• Reflexology
• Sports massage
• Neuromuscular massage
• Prenatal massage
• Lymphatic drainage massage
• Myofascial release
• Shiatsu massage
• Ayurvedic massage
• Geriatric massage
• Palliative massage

These popular specialty options only scratch the surface. You’ll find that many cultures have developed their own massage therapies. For example, take the Polynesian lomilomi massage or tui na, a form of traditional Chinese medicine.

Additionally, other massage therapies have been developed specifically for certain health issues, from chronic pain to nervous system disorders.

Where do massage therapists work?

There are many different fields, industries, and settings in which massage therapists work. Here are just a few of your options:

• Spas
• Salons
• Hotels
• Resorts
• Cruise ships
• Health and wellness centers
• Rehabilitation clinics
• Doctor’s offices, including physical therapy and chiropractic offices
• Gyms
• Nursing homes
• Hospice facilities
• Your own private business

You could even find yourself acting as a traveling massage therapist in certain cases, such as if you’re hired to provide massages to members of a sports team. Tangentially, there’s potential to find jobs teaching massage therapy to others.

Most states require massage therapists obtain a license or other credentials before they begin work. You’ll also need training and practical experience. Here’s exactly what you need to do to get started as a massage therapist.

1. Check your state’s requirements

The majority of states require you to hold a license before you can work as a massage therapist. To get this license, you’ll need to demonstrate your competency in massage therapy. Each state has its own rules for determining what you need to become a massage therapist, so the only way to know for sure is to check your state government’s massage therapy page.

Your state’s requirements for massage therapists will outline your first steps in your massage therapy career. In addition to checking your state’s requirements, also be sure to check your local laws. Some cities or counties may have their own requirements, such as certain insurance coverage for massage therapists.

2. Get massage therapist training

Massage therapy programs are offered both from massage-specific institutes as well as from community colleges. Beware that some states only accept qualifications from an accredited massage therapy training program. If that’s the case in your state, then you should start by browsing their list of approved programs.

Even if your school doesn’t need to be accredited, make sure it meets your state’s licensure requirements. For example, in New York State, massage therapists are required to attend a training program that includes at least 1,000 hours of instruction as well as 150 hours of hands-on massage practice.

Likewise, choose a program that will actively prepare you to take your state’s required exam for licensure. Some states have their own test, but 44 states use the national Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (known as the MBLEx test), administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB).

A safe bet is to choose a nationally accredited massage therapy school that’s recognized by an institution like the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) or the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). To browse approved schools or check whether a course you found has been accredited, check the NCBTMB directory and COMTA directory of approved massage schools.

3. Get practical experience

Most massage therapy programs include practical experience in your training. However, there are cases wherein you might need to prove additional practical experience beyond what was included in your training.

One such instance is if you’re applying for a massage therapy license in a state in which you did not originally complete your massage therapy training. In this case, you may need to prove that you’ve both completed a certain number of education hours in the past as well as gained a certain amount of practical experience in the field.

4. Get massage therapist liability insurance

Liability insurance is a must for massage therapists. Some states even require you to get this insurance before you can become licensed in massage therapy. Employers may also require you to have this insurance before you take up a position as a staff massage therapist.

If you’re starting your own massage therapy business, then insurance is particularly important. Even if you aren’t strictly required to get insurance, there are countless reasons why you should.

Unfortunately, accidents do sometimes happen in this line of work. Being properly insured will protect you from legal liability if one of your clients is injured or files a claim.

5. Apply for a state license

After you’ve completed all of your state’s requirements for licensure, you can submit your application for a massage therapist license along with any required documentation (such as proof of passing any required exams). Your license application will likely require a fee.

Exactly how long it takes to process applications for a massage therapist license varies from state to state. Once your application has been approved, you can finally start working as a massage therapist.

6. Explore specialty massage certifications

If you want to pursue work as a massage therapist in a specialty that was not covered in your original training, or if you just want to center your career on a particular type of massage, you could consider undergoing additional training and get a specialty massage therapist certification.

Like the case with a standard massage therapist license, specialty certifications often require that you demonstrate applicable knowledge, get hands-on experience, and pass an exam. It’s also equally important to ensure the organization administering your certificate is both legitimate and well respected in your chosen specialty.

Here are just a few examples of massage certifications you can pursue:

• Oncology massage
• Sports massage
• Massage therapy for integrative health care
• Pain and palliative care
• Clinical rehabilitative care
• Military veteran massage

7. Join a professional association for massage therapists

You don’t necessarily need to join a massage therapist association, but there are many reasons why you should. One of the biggest draws of these associations is the member benefits.

For example, you could get discounts on massage therapist insurance and relevant products as well as helpful tools and resources for running your own massage therapy practice. You’ll also gain access to industry events and join a community of professional massage therapists to network with.

Other associations offer continuing education opportunities and educational resources or award you a professional designation that can help further your career.

Here are a few massage therapy associations you may like to consider joining:

• American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
• Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)
• American Medical Massage Association (AMMA)
• National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
• Massage Therapy Foundation (MSF)

Many people who choose to become a massage therapist have a passion for helping others meet their health and wellness goals. But even though working as a massage therapist can be a rewarding career path, it’s not without its challenges.

Massage work is physically demanding and requires you to be on your feet for long hours. As such, you need to take precautions to avoid injury on the job. Fatigue and issues like carpal tunnel syndrome are common.

Working hours

Most massage therapists don’t give massages nonstop all day. Appointment-based scheduling is the norm in the massage therapy industry, and you can expect to have anywhere in the range of 5–35 massage hours per week. Between sessions, there’s usually down time to rest and recover.

If you’re planning on starting your own massage therapy business, you’ll have more flexibility when it comes to your work schedule. However, the hours may be longer, and you’ll need to handle administrative tasks like keeping track of appointments, processing payments, and marketing your services.

How you get paid

If you’re running your own massage business, you’ll get to keep 100% of your earnings, minus any business expenses. If you’re an employee at a facility or other business, then you’ll typically only receive a percentage of what the client paid. In many cases, 50% or more of the payment goes to the business.

Some employers pay a set hourly rate regardless of whether you’re actively providing massages, but others will only pay you for the time you’re with a client. Tips are also common in massage therapy. Massage therapists usually get to keep their tips, which substantially boost their overall take-home pay.

How much do massage therapists make?

Massage therapists in the US usually earn somewhere in the range of $30–$200 per hour. However, rates vary widely and depend on the volume of massage sessions. In most cases, a massage therapist’s salary works out to be around $30,000–$60,000 per year, but there’s certainly a chance you’ll earn more or less.

For example, you’ll earn less as a beginner massage therapist working for a facility that offers massage services. Your earning potential as a licensed massage therapist will substantially increase as you gain experience, and you’ll earn much more if you’re working independently and setting your own rates.

Becoming a licensed massage therapist comes with a lot of benefits. For starters, you get the satisfaction that comes with helping people feel better by relieving their physical and/or psychological discomfort.

A massage therapy career gives you the chance to work with your hands and interact with others on the job, making it well suited to empathetic or social people. Additionally, if you’re interested in working in health care, then becoming a massage therapist is a quicker and simpler alternative to spending years pursuing a medical degree.

That said, working as a massage therapist isn’t ideal for everyone. The work can be physically demanding, and you’ll sometimes deal with difficult clients. Additionally, scheduling can be unpredictable, which also means that your earnings may fluctuate.

Pros and cons of becoming a massage therapist

Carefully weighing up all the advantages and disadvantages of being a massage therapist will help you decide whether this is the right career path for you.

Job outlook for massage therapists

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for massage therapy is pretty good, with the profession expected to grow 18% between 2022 and 2032. This is much faster than many other occupations.

If you’re considering becoming a massage therapist, then now could be a great time to start training. However, it may be wise to consider eventually working independently to allow yourself better pay rates, more flexibility, and reduced risk of burnout.