How to Become a Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is a popular occupation today. It is also gaining in popularity as alternative medicines become sought after more and more. Many doctors will even offer referrals for massage, and some insurance companies will cover some of the sessions. If you love to help people and enjoy massage, you might want to learn to become a massage therapist.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Accredited massage school
• <br>Supplies (sheets, oil, lotion, massage table)
• <br>National certification
• <br>State or town license (depending on location)
• <br>A desire to help others
• <br>A strong body
• <br>Patience
• <br>A place to work or a business plan

1. 
    
   School

   Research schools. Once you have located the accredited school you want to go to, make plans to attend. Rearrange your schedule to include enough time to learn the book information, practice massage and work part-time (if that is your plan). Try your best in school and ask a lot of questions. Practice massage until you get down your routine and add in extras as you learn.

2. 
    
   Research

   While in school, research jobs and determine what type of employment you want to have once you become a full blown massage therapist. If you are unsure of which avenue you want to take while in school, keep your mind open and think about your options as you progress. Massage therapists can work for themselves or for others. Working for yourself requires more marketing and advertising, plus it will cost you for supplies, but you can make more per hour. Working for someone else will pay you less per hour, but will eliminate the hassle of trying to find clients or buying your own sheets and lotions.

3. 
    
   Contact

   If you decide you would like to work for someone else, contact potential employers and let them know you are attending massage school and would like to know if they would be hiring. If you want to work for yourself, perform the research necessary to open your own business. You may wish to work part-time performing another job other than massage, or to work for an employer performing massage until you get your business up to the level that you want and that will pay the bills.

4. 
    
   Certify

   It is a good idea to become nationally certified, whether or not your state requires it. Obtain information on becoming certified by visiting the regulating body for massage website (see Resource link below).

5. 
    
   Licensed

   Make sure you find out the license requirements needed in your state. Some states have a statewide license, such as Connecticut, while others go town-by-town, like Massachusetts. For a state like Massachusetts, you would need to determine the town you wish to practice in before you obtain your license. Some states do not have specific requirements. Contact your state or town board of health on requirements to practice massage in your area.

Tips & Warnings

• Massage is hard work and you need to be physically strong and up to the challenge. While in massage school and before you begin your massage career, it would be a great time to work out. Do cardio to improve your endurance and do toning (especially the shoulders and arms) to strengthen and prepare your body for massage. Make sure to stretch as well, especially before and after you begin a massage session.
• <br>Use your legs and lower body and move your whole body forward as you massage. Avoid putting all the pressure on your hands and arms. Otherwise, you can burn yourself out! Also, get massage yourself so your muscles feel good, too! It will renew you so you can better help your clients.
• Having a massage career that can pay all your bills takes time, patience and effort. Make sure you have some other means to make money until your career gets to the level that you want.