Find Massage Therapy Programs in the United States and Canada. Presently, students have many diverse massage therapy programs from which to choose. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 1,300 massage therapy programs throughout the United States alone.

In typical massage therapy programs, training begins with anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology, range of motion, business and ethics. Because there is such a wide variety of massage techniques, massage institutes and schools often differ in instructional methods. For example, base training in massage therapy programs usually includes practical instruction in Swedish massage, deep tissue massage and sports massage. However, several healing arts schools offer expanded variations of these techniques with additional training in other natural healing modalities.

While most massage therapy programs range from 300-500 hours, a number of these courses exceed 1,000 training hours. Students who prefer to examine unique massage methods find that elective and focalized training is available. For instance, were you aware that there are over 60 styles of massage therapy? In addition to traditional bodywork therapies like sports, deep tissue and Swedish massage, students can enroll in massage therapy programs that provide training in specific modalities like acupressure, Trager therapy, Thai massage, reflexology, polarity therapy, prenatal massage, myofascial release therapy, canine/equine massage, chair massage, Tuina, Lomi Lomi, Structural Integration, and Zero Balancing, among several others.

Successful graduates may be eligible to take an exam through the NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) to become nationally certified. Requirements for taking this exam include a minimum of 500 hours training from one of a number of accredited, state-approved massage therapy programs.

Health insurance companies are beginning to cover natural healthcare treatments provided by qualified massage therapists. This, along with the fact that massage therapy is gaining in popularity, are some of many excellent reasons why prospective students may wish to enroll in any one of several massage therapy programs to achieve gainful and rewarding employment as professional massage therapists.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding massage therapy programs let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

*Occupational Resources: BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Massage Therapy Programs: Career Training Opportunities Today
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