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Want to be a Professional Massage Therapist? Here’s a Basic Guide

Do you still remember your first day at school when you were a kid? The experience of delving into the unknown may be overwhelming for a child. But as an adult, it can be equally intimidating. Let’s say that you are trying to establish a new career for yourself as a professional massage therapist. No matter which field of study you took up in college or if you’re fresh out of high school, you need to enrol in massage therapy school to achieve certification and start working in spas, hotels, clinics and similar establishments. Here, we will have a basic look at the things that you need to know if you would like to become a professional massage therapist.

 

A Basic Guide on Becoming a Massage Therapist

 

To give you an idea about how you can get started on your work as a massage therapist, take a look at the following list:

  • What kind of work is involved in becoming a massage therapist?

As you may already know, a massage therapist is someone who works on people’s bodies. The aim of a therapist is to offer healing and relaxation through muscle manipulation. This means that the main tool of a massage therapist is his or her hands. Through the application of different massage techniques, the therapist can help relieve pain, reduce stress, un-knot tense muscles and simply make people feel better.

 

  • Where can a massage therapist work?

After earning certification, a massage therapist can work at spas, clinics, hospitals, beauty salons, hotels and similar establishments. According to US News and World Report, in 2012, the median salary of massage therapists is $35,970 while the number of jobs is 30,900 for the same year. Unemployment in this field is quite low, with a rate of 3.7%. Similarly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment growth in the massage therapy field increased by 22.6% from 2012 up to 2022, which means there would be 30,000 more professionals in the field.

 

  • Which fields should I specialize in when becoming a massage therapist?

There are several massage techniques available when you start work as a massage therapist. The list includes deep-tissue massage, reflexology, acupressure, orthopaedic or sports massage.

 

  • How do I obtain a certification as a massage therapist?

To earn your certification as a massage therapist, you first need to enrol in a massage therapy school. The requirements and standards of training vary on a state-by-state basis. Generally, states require a professional massage therapist to complete a formal training program and pass the examinations. In most universities and colleges, the range of hours that a massage therapist has to complete is anywhere from 500 to 1,000 hours – or more. Other schools require students to learn the basics about human anatomy, kinesiology and physiology to familiarize them about the workings of the human body prior to administering a massage as a professional therapist. Finally, most states require professional massage therapists to renew their licences regularly, and to continue taking courses and training related to their field.

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