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Massage Therapy

An allied health career, Massage Therapy is a hands-on treatment used to relieve pain and restore flexibility to painful, compressed, and stressed muscles. As alternative medicine has become popular, the appeal of massage therapy has widened, resulting in the growth of professional training programs. Massage Therapy programs today are offered at colleges and career schools throughout the country. Training typically ranges from 9-month certificate or diploma programs up to 2-year associate degrees, depending on the depth of instruction and your education goals.

Massage therapy clients may seek treatment for personal pampering and relaxation purposes or for medical benefit, and there is a wide range of massage treatment available to meet these two different needs. Massage intended to relax or rejuvenate clients is different from that which aims to heal injuries or improve physical health, so training for these two types of massage therapy differs as well. Massage therapists can specialize in over 80 different types of massage requiring different techniques and skill. In addition to technique, you’ll also learn anatomy; physiology, the study of organs and tissues; and kinesiology, the study of motion and body mechanics. Many programs also offer business skills that will help you communicate with insurance companies or run your own massage business.

Massage therapy treatment standards and training requirements still vary greatly by state, but there is a certification exam, National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), that awards a nationally recognized massage therapy professional credential. With the right education and certification, you may find work in a variety of settings or build a steady group of regular clients. Many massage therapists are self-employed, and may be cross-trained in Holistic Health.