Massage School

WRITTEN BY Sarah Mattie | EDITED BY Jessica Santina | UPDATED ON 09/19/2024

Massage therapists spend their days literally hands-on with their clients, manipulating muscles and soft tissue to relieve pain, promote relaxation, and promote overall wellness. If you're considering a career in massage therapy, then you're in luck—in this article, we explain what to expect from attending massage school, taking your exams, starting work, and more!

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What Do You Learn in Massage Therapy School?

A massage therapist needs in-depth knowledge of the human body, strong communication skills, and interpreting clients' medical history. In addition to core classes, you may also take courses in kinesiology and nutrition, health psychology, medical terminology, and more.

At every level, expect hands-on learning, which means practicing massage techniques on real clients.

You may also take elective courses such as business management, pregnancy massage, or sports massage. Some courses may touch on holistic practices, including herbalism, yoga, and tai chi.

Massage Programs: Certifications, Licenses, and Degrees

Massage therapy requirements are often regulated at the state level, where they're broken down into two types: certifications and degrees.

Confirm that the program you choose is accredited, as many states require you to have attended an accredited program to get licensed. In addition, federal financial aid programs will only provide funding if your school is accredited.

Be sure to consider how much time you're willing to invest in your schooling, and remember that the minimum education required for employment varies by state.

Do I Need a Certification or License to Practice Massage Therapy?

Most states require certification or licensure to practice massage therapy. However, states—and even cities—can set unique requirements. As of 2024, Kansas doesn't require licensure statewide, though specific towns do.

Should I Get a College Degree in Massage Rather Than a License or Certification?

Your education level depends on which direction you would like your career to take. There are three different levels of massage therapy education:

Diploma and Certificate Programs in Massage

These programs focus on basic knowledge and skills. At this level, you'll likely learn about different massage techniques, anatomy and physiology, and business topics to help you better navigate the field.

Associate Degree for Massage

Because this is a general education degree, the curriculum will typically have requirements that are not specific to massage therapy. In addition to the above, you will be required to take courses in English, psychology, and sociology, among other general electives.

Advanced Degrees in Massage

Graduate-level degrees in massage therapy are uncommon, but it is possible to find master's programs in somatic psychotherapy that combine bodywork with counseling skills. There are currently no doctorate programs in massage therapy in the US.

Massage School Enrollment Requirements

Before you can enroll, you must meet a few requirements:

Have a high school diploma.
Submit official transcripts for any college coursework completed.
Pass a criminal background check.
Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) over 2.0.
Meet any other school requirements.

Can I Specialize in a Certain Type of Massage?

When picking a massage therapy program, you may want to choose a specialty. A few popular types of massage therapy techniques include:

Swedish Massage Therapy

Swedish massage focuses on relaxation. Massage therapists in this field use lotion, oil, and kneading movements.

Hot Stone Massage

This relaxing practice involves placing hot stones on the body to loosen tight muscles and restore balance.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

This involves digging deeply into muscles. Many clients are athletes, clients with pain, and those using this as part of a medical treatment or physical therapy plan.

Reflexology

massage therapist massaging someone's foot

This focuses on the feet, using pressure points to relieve internal organs of various issues.

Thai Massage

This realigns the body through stretches and compression, with some pressure-point work. Thai massage aims to improve a client's range of motion and flexibility.

Aromatherapy

This supplement to massage therapy uses a variety of scented oils based on a client's specific needs. Aromatherapy can help fight stress, increase energy, and help with healing.

Medical Massage

This involves specific treatments targeted to a patient's medical issues, administered after a thorough assessment.

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How Long Does It Take to Become a Massage Therapist?

Your time in massage school depends on the program and location. State regulations vary, and program length is affected by this. For example, in Delaware, you need only 300 hours of training to work as a certified massage technician, but you must complete 500 hours and pass an exam to become a massage therapist. Meanwhile, New York and Nebraska each require 1,000 hours. Furthermore, in some states, the requirements are determined by your municipality or the type of job you're seeking.

How Much Does Massage School Cost?

Massage school tuition can vary significantly based on the above factors. However, you may qualify for scholarships or other forms of financial aid depending on the type and length of your program. Some places of business even offer tuition reimbursement for students after graduation.

Getting Your Massage License

The requirements for obtaining a massage therapy license vary by state and usually include passing an exam, undertaking a minimum number of training hours, and paying license fees.

Most states' massage therapy licenses are only valid for a year or two, after which you must renew the license to keep practicing in that state. In many states, you must also complete continuing education hours as a condition of license renewal.

Working as a Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is not always a nine-to-five job. Evening and weekend hours may be expected depending on your employer. Some positions may be found in rehab centers, nursing homes, or hospitals, while salons, spas, resorts, cruise ships, and homeopathic offices also offer massage career opportunities. You could also provide at-home or mobile massage services!

A Massage Industry Pro Offers Tips on Selecting Schools: Q&A with Jacqueline Leibler

Jacqueline Leibler has studied anatomy, physiology and biomechanics since 2011, and as of spring 2019 completing her education in massage therapy. She has worked as a personal trainer and restorative exercise specialist.

Summarize what, if any, differences there are between schools that a prospective student should evaluate to make their decision about which school to enroll in.

First, every state differs when it comes to their requirements for licensure and practice, so academic offerings will change from state to state in minute ways. I don’t believe the differences are huge (how many hours you need before you sit for the licensing exam, how many practicum hours you need, etc.) but students should research this and take it into consideration when choosing a school.

Next, there will also be differences in the teaching staff. Some schools hire massage therapists with no teaching experience, and this can present challenges – especially when teaching adults who have already been in the workforce for a while and may desire a more structured approach to teaching rather than “this is how I do it”, or a teacher who just reads from a PowerPoint.

I would recommend asking the admissions team about this and doing research on whether the teachers are trained to teach/instruct. I know this sounds nitpicky, but it makes a huge difference in my experience.

I would also recommend asking how much time the curriculum spends on business practices and licensure requirements. The reality is that as a massage therapist you are selling/marketing yourself, even if you work in a clinic or spa, and schools should have trained instructors who can walk you through how to be in business for themselves.

What factors did you personally consider when you were deciding which massage therapy school to attend?

Location was a big one for me, as well as the reputation of the school. I called around to spas and clinics and asked them how they felt about graduates of the school I chose. I wish I had known to ask more questions or had audited a class before I enrolled, because my answers to the previous question are the result of learning the hard way what I wish I’d asked first. I also was working while in school, so a school that offered a night program was very important, as was price.

Different schools offer a range of degrees, from a diploma to an associate degree. What are the differences in what students learn in different degree levels? In other words, what do you learn in an associate degree program that you wouldn’t learn in a diploma program?

I honestly don’t think there is much difference in curriculum, but I do think the teachers would be trained/certified to teach, which I believe makes a huge difference.

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