Massachusetts Massage Therapy Schools

Those who are searching for an exciting career in the health services sector may find that massage therapy is a compatible fit. Massage therapists work hands on with clients to assist them in healing and recovering from a variety of physical ailments as well as mental and emotional stress. In Massachusetts, the first step in starting a career as a massage therapist generally begins with enrolling in a state-approved massage therapy school. Students are required to complete at least 650 hours of massage therapy education and receive a degree or a diploma from an approved institution before obtaining a license.

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Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements in Massachusetts

After graduating from an approved massage school, those who wish to practice massage professionally must pass the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork/ exam, also known as the NCETMB/NCETM, or the MBLEx, or Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam. The MBLEx was governed by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards while the NCETMB is governed by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. After successfully passing one of the two required exams, aspiring massage therapists must pay the $225 state licensing fee. A fee of $180 must be paid every year to maintain the license in an active status. Applicants must also obtain liability insurance before being granted a license.

Employment Outlook for Massage Therapists in Massachusetts

Salary and career outlook for massage therapists in Massachusetts is favorable. The average Massachusetts massage therapist earns slightly more than $40,000 each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most massage therapists tend to find employment in areas such as personal care services, traveler accommodation businesses, amusement and recreation industries, doctors’ offices, and other ambulatory service provider environments. Top earning massage therapists tend to work in nursing care facilities, technical and trade schools, physicians’ offices, specialty hospitals, and other ambulatory health care service settings.

For those who enjoy working hands on with clients and promoting healing and well-being, massage therapy may be a rewarding career. As massage therapy is further incorporated into Western medicine and other aspects of the modern Western lifestyle, more opportunities for massage therapists are expected to become available.