Life is stressful, especially in modern times. Stress creates both emotional and physical tension. Getting a massage helps relieve stress and tension in a healthy way. Many benefits exist for going to a massage therapist school. How does someone become a massage therapist?
Massage therapist schools all have varied qualification requirements. Numerous professional massage techniques exist in the U.S. to help people relieve various physical and emotional issues. How long does it take to become a licensed massage therapist? How much do licensed massage therapists get paid on average? People in the U.S. need healthy ways to relieve pain and stress more than they have for decades. Massage therapists are able to help. Read on for information about the benefits of going to a massage therapist school and how to apply today.
What is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy is different from giving or receiving a massage at home to or from a loved one. Massage therapy involves the use of specific medicinal techniques in a variety of styles. Knowledge of the human anatomy is also important. For example, the body has pressure points on it in many multiple locations. Knowing when to activate or avoid these pressure points is part of massage therapy training.
Massage therapy also involves anatomical intuition and comprehension of how energy flows within, on and around the human body. This knowledge helps a licensed experienced massage therapist recognize and locate the source of a client’s pain, thus better relieving the client of his or her ailments.
Types of Training & Programs in Massage Therapist Schools
Multiple dozens of medicinal and therapeutic massage types exist in the world today. Swedish and deep tissue massages are the most popular and commonly known massage types among U.S. clients. Some massage therapist schools specialize in teaching only one style of massage. Many others teach a wide variety of massage techniques. What different types of training & programs are taught in massage therapist schools? Some of the many types of massage techniques taught include:
- Swedish.
- Deep tissue.
- Fascia stretching.
- Cupping.
- Hot stone/hot towel.
- Feldenkrais.
- Craniofacial/Craniosacral.
- Breema.
- Bioenergetic.
- Hellerwork.
- Lomi Lomi.
- More.
Massage School Costs, Qualifications & Term Lengths
How long does it take to graduate from massage therapist school? The answer to this question depends on state certification requirements, the amount of time you have available to dedicate to taking classes and the number of massage techniques you are learning. Most massage therapist schools require approximately one year to be completed. Most states require between 300 and 1,000 hours of experience combined with in-class training before issuing massage licenses. Longer programs do exist for students studying multiple extensive techniques and/or looking to go into business for him or herself. Schools combining massage therapy training with business skills take longer to complete. It is possible to study massage therapy and business at separate times. This is one of the benefits of attending massage therapy school as discussed in more detail below.
How much does massage therapist school cost? The cost of attending massage therapist school also varies per state and based on school policies. The cost also varies based on what courses are included beyond specific massage technique training. Massage therapist tuition at certain community colleges is sometimes as low as $5,000. More advanced and extensive massage therapist schools charge up to $20,000 for a one-year training program.
The more massage therapy techniques you learn the better your chances are of satisfying a larger client base. A larger client base translates to earning higher salaries or hourly rates. Therefore it is often beneficial to receive as much training as is affordable to you. Longer programs involving business degrees and combined educational programming have qualification requirements similar to colleges teaching other subjects. Financial aid via Federal Pell Grants and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is possibly available to help reduce your tuition expenses.
Benefits of Going to Massage Therapist School in 2021
People in the U.S. are under a currently high amount of stress. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. BLS) predicts the massage therapist job growth rate to increase by a massive twenty-one percent through 2029. This rate is higher than for many other occupations in America through the same period of time.
Benefits of becoming a massage therapist involve helping people get rid of dangerous stress and tension. Financial benefits of going to massage therapist school are numerous, however. The median entry-level salary of a massage therapist averages in the mid-forty thousands per year. Financial benefits of a massage therapy career expand way beyond those entry-level numbers. Independent massage therapists are capable of setting their own hourly rates and payment terms. Rates as high as $90-$100 per hour and higher are common in larger cities and surrounding regions. Granted, when starting out, it is possible you might have to work for a different business owner who takes a portion of your wages per client. Massage therapists also commonly receive tips, however, which increase wages significantly.
One huge benefit of becoming a massage therapist is the ability to work part-time hours and still make high wages. This is especially true if you own your own business. For example, working 20 hours per week while making $60 per hour yields you $1200 per week part-time, minus expenses. Working part-time as a massage therapist making good money also affords you the time and ability to extend your schooling to learn business management, marketing and more. Going to massage therapist school for one year essentially opens up the path to pursue multiple other career and income-expanding opportunities for you in massage therapy and wellness-related vocations.