Massage Therapists are employed in many places including health clubs, fitness centers, spas and resorts, beauty and hair salons, hotels, cruise ships, physicians' offices and clinics, nursing homes and hospitals, with sports teams and at special events.
Massage Therapists that choose self-employment can take their practice anywhere they go — the airport, office buildings, malls and bridal showers — with a portable massage chair or table and massage oils and lotions.
Healthcare & Massage Therapy Programs
Sports Massage Careers
Athletes of all types, representing all sports, have enjoyed the
benefits of sports massage therapy for years. Athletes use sports massage to
maintain physical health, prevent injuries and loss of mobility, boost
performance, and extend the overall life of their athletic careers. Each
sport and athletic event uses muscle groups in a different way.
Sports Massage
Therapists are familiar with each muscle, the muscle groups and how they
are affected by the specific movements and stresses of each sport.
Leisure Massage Careers
There are many benefits for Massage Therapists working in the spa and resort
industry. Massage
Therapists who work in spas and resorts can enjoy set work hours,
employment benefits, access to a network of seasoned professionals and
continuing education and cross-training opportunities.
Private Practice Massage Careers
A bonus to private practice is flexibility. You have the ability to
set your own hours. If you choose to practice portable massage therapy, you
can take your massage therapy equipment wherever you want and work whenever
you want. A lot of
Massage Therapists work part-time as they establish their private
practices. This allows them an opportunity to find work doing something else
while they build a client base to support a full-time massage therapy
private practice.
Certification for Massage Careers
Massage therapy classes are offered in a variety of formats. Some massage therapy colleges offer massage therapy classes online, while other massage therapy courses are offered in evening and weekend formats. Before enrolling in a massage therapy school, you should make sure the massage therapy program is accredited. The Commission on Massage Training Accreditation, a national accreditation agency, currently accredits 70 massage therapy training programs.
Massage Therapists are currently regulated and required to obtain a license in thirty states and the District of Columbia, and that number changes monthly.
Attending an accredited college of massage therapy is important because there are no uniform legal standards for massage therapy certifications. Massage Therapists are currently regulated and required to obtain a license in thirty states and the District of Columbia, and that number changes monthly. Most of these states require at least 500 hours of massage therapy training and a passing grade on a massage therapy state exam.
Healthcare & Massage Therapy Programs