Things You'll Need:
- Massage therapy license or certification
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Step 1
Apply to an accredited massage therapy school (see Resources for list). These schools teach anatomy, theory of massage, kinesiology and elective topics, and include supervised training in the practice of massage. Training takes about 500 hours and is generally completed in less than a year's time. In certain states, including New York, a longer training time is required.
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Step 2
Get the appropriate license, certification or registration for the state you plan to practice in. Some states require a fee and will issue a license. Other states require a national certification examination. The exam from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork tests massage therapy skills and competency. In California, where there are a number of celebrities, a new law will take effect in fall 2009 that requires 250 hours of training and the passing of an exam on massage practices for certification.
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Step 3
Apply for positions at upscale resorts and spas where celebrities visit, or work with a massage company that caters to celebrities, such as Dr.Dot. Dr. Dot hires massage therapists throughout the world who are certified in their state (see Resources for link). As you gain experience working for others and develop a celebrity clientele, you may want to consider opening your own practice.
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Step 4
Be prepared to work flexible hours as a celebrity massage therapist. Celebrities often perform late at night and may need a massage to relax them after a performance. You may also be hired for a long-term engagement with a celebrity and travel with him, so your schedule will be on an as-needed basis.
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Step 5
Keep things confidential and professional as you work as a massage therapist. If you want to continue to be hired and recommended, you'll need to keep your client's information to yourself.
