Are you seeking a meaningful change in your life or just additional income? A part-or full-time career as a massage therapist may be what you´re looking for. The number of individuals receiving massages has more than doubled in the last decade and the profession has consistently been one of the fastest growing in the country in recent years.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, massage therapy employment is expected to grow faster than average over the 2006-16 period as more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy.

Interested in a career in massage, but not sure where to start? AMC´s Massage Therapy program offers a comprehensive curriculum of massage techniques. The program is designed for students seeking a career in the field of bodywork as well as practitioners who want to offer additional modalities to their patients. The Massage Therapy program´s specialization in Japanese Shiatsu enables students to develop experience working with a range of techniques within Asian systems of medicine. Students complete courses in Shiatsu, Swedish and medical massage.

The Massage Therapy program is a 720-hour, 8 1/4-month program which includes 164 hours of hands-on supervised clinical practice. In the program, students learn energy work as well as structural bodywork modalities, Eastern as well as Western theory and technique and how to treat specific pain and dysfunction as well as promote health and healing.

AMC´s Massage Therapy program prepares students to holistically practice massage therapy in a variety of therapeutic environments. Massage therapists work in an array of settings including: private offices, hospitals, fitness centers, nursing homes, sports medicine facilities, airports, spas, physicians´ offices, cruise ships, clinics, and wellness centers.

Self-employed massage therapists consist of the largest group in this career field. However, new massage therapists should expect to work part-time in various settings until they can build a client base of their own.

Because of the physical nature of the work and time needed in between sessions, massage therapists typically give massages less than 40 hours per week. Most therapists who work 15 to 30 hours per week consider themselves to be full-time workers. Referrals are an important source of work for massage therapists; networking will increase job opportunities. Joining a State or local chapter of a professional association can also help build strong contacts.

According to Salary.com, the median salary for a massage therapist is $49, 865, with a scale range from approximately $41,000 to $58,000.

For information about Acupuncture & Massage College´s Masters of Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs call Joe Calareso at (305) 595-9500. For information about AMC´s Stop Smoking and PTSD acupuncture study programs, which are currently registering participants, ask for Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician.