Training to become a massage therapist will vary by state, city, or maybe even county. Each location has different laws and regulations.

If you are searching for massage therapist training to begin your career note that there are currently over 1,000 schools offering massage therapy courses in the United States.

More massage and massage therapist training Information:

A person who professionally provides massage therapy is most often called a massage therapist, although there are some other health care providers (such as chiropractors) who also have massage training. This Backgrounder mainly uses the term massage therapist. Most massage therapists learn and practice more than one type of massage.

To learn massage, most therapists attend a school or training program, with a much smaller number training instead with an experienced practitioner. Many students are already licensed as another type of health care provider, such as a nurse.

Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old...often referred to as bodywork or somatic therapy, refers to the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, vibration, rocking, friction, kneading and compression using primarily the hands, although massage therapists do use other areas of the body, such as the forearms, elbows or feet.

Massage therapists work in a variety of settings, including private offices, hospitals, other clinical settings, nursing homes, studios, and sport and fitness facilities. Some also travel to patients' homes or workplaces to provide a massage.

Massage therapy treatments usually last for 30 to 60 minutes; less often, they are as short as 15 minutes or as long as 1.5 to 2 hours. For some conditions (especially chronic ones), therapists often advise a series of appointments. Therapists usually try to provide an environment that is as calm and soothing as possible (for example, by using dim lighting, soft music, and fragrances).

We are always updating information so bookmark this site for more massage therapist training information as it becomes available.