Is Massage Therapy a Good Career Choice? | AMC | Miami Massage School

Posted February 01, 2018 by Acupuncture & Massage College

Massage Therapy Career: An Overview | AMC- Miami Massage Therapy School

The healthcare industry is booming.  It is booming so much that it is considered one of the largest financial sectors in the U.S., which includes the entire cost of treating and managing diseases and illness.  While modern medicine includes a wide range of diagnostic tools, fancy machines, and expensive instruments, one of the simplest forms of healing medicine can simply come from the touch of your hands. 

Massage therapy is a holistic way to treat many conditions that are often treated with medications.  While medications are needed and are an important part of your health, massage therapy offers a unique way to treat and manage conditions without the potential for nasty side effects of drugs, or without the lifelong cost of prescription medications.  With that said, massage therapy is a good career to be in, especially since many patients are starting to move away from conventional medicine and more towards natural and holistic healing. 

So how do you get into massage therapy and what do you need to do to become one?

Massage Therapy School

If you are a caring person and are interested in the natural healing process with the use of touch then consider becoming a massage therapist.  However, in order to be a massage therapist, you will need to have an education.  Your education will be the basics of what you need to know, but you will certainly need to have a thorough understanding of human anatomy and physiology, as well some basic core classes that you get from formal massage schooling.  In order to be a massage therapist, you need to complete up to 1,000 hours of formal training, which is a combination of classwork and clinical rotations. 

Massage-Therapist-Miami-FL

However, the great thing is that massage therapy programs are designed to be completed in the year. For example, at Acupuncture and Massage College, our massage therapy program is 9-months in length. We also offer part-time programs, so that you continue to work and/or meet your family obligations.

Once you meet the hours for your coursework, you will then need to take your massage therapist licensing exam, which is a standardized exam that deems you competent to be a massage therapist upon passing the test.  Afterward, you will need to apply for a State license before getting certified. Regardless of the laws, you need to have formal education to be an effective practitioner.

Don't worry about which massage modality you want to eventually specialize in. Massage schools usually have a set curriculum and you will learn the most popular forms to make yourself marketable to employers and clients. 

If you're interested looking for a career change, then massage therapy may just be for you. Here are some places where licensed massage therapists work:

5 Career Path Options as a Massage Therapist

While it seems reasonable to find something right out of schooling, it is important to have an idea of your massage therapy options for your career.  Each path varies depending on where you live, what the offerings are, and the pay scale, but listed below is a standard category of career paths you can have as a massage therapist. 

1. Wellness Spas. This is a given and may be a luxurious option if you are able to get a job at a spa center.  The massage therapist who selects the spa setting should be able to make the environment as relaxing and peaceful as possible, which is also why you should have experience in both Eastern and Western massage therapy techniques.

2. Rehabilitation-A growing area in the massage therapy setting and in healthcare is in the rehabilitation setting, such as for those who suffered strokes, had knee replacements, and for those going through physical therapy.  Rather than using the money for a physical therapist to “massage” the patient, some companies incorporate massage therapy as part of the healing process. 

3. Gyms-Massage therapy is starting to make its way into gyms and clubs around, which is a way for the gym to offer more services to clients and as a way to make the gym luxurious.  This type of massage therapy is most likely going to be geared towards sports massage in addition to deep tissue and Swedish, so make sure to learn as much as you can about those modalities if you want to go down this path.

4. Office Settings- Really, corporate jobs now offer massages?  Yes, and this is great for the client and the massage therapist.  Typically, these settings are quite lucrative, as employees tend to make use of massages as long as the company pays for it.  In return, you provide your clients massages to reduce stress, tension, and anxiety, all of which can help to prevent heart disease, cancers, as well as weekly call offs due to illness.  The office setting massage is invaluable to the company and employees so consider this a pretty good and rewarding path.

5. Massage Therapy Clinics. You have seen these clinics all over the city and they are dedicated sites that offer massages and wellness services.  They tend to be the most cost-effective for clients and they are usually a chain company.  If you desire experience, this may be a good path for you to take.

So now that you have a bit about what career path you can take, now consider the benefits of massage therapy as a career.

Benefits of Massage Therapy as a Career in Miami, FL

  • Work Immediately Out of School- Unlike other professions, many massage therapy clinics hire you after earning your State license.  This is a huge bonus because it can be tough going through schooling to not find a full-time job.  If you want to work, this is a right path for you.
  • Career Flexibility-Massage therapy is designed such that you can easily be your own boss.  With only a little creativity and enthusiasm, you can quickly set your own hours and make your career just how you want.
  • Helping Others-Many clients go into massages with pain or with high stress levels, only to leave feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.  The massage therapist is responsible for this feeling and it is quite rewarding to say the least.
  • Professional Demand-One of the best things of being a massage therapist is that the profession is in high demand.  With more and more sports injuries, illnesses, and more people switching to holistic wellness, the demand of massage therapy is expected to rise.
  • Expand your Skills and Career. Massage therapy is great in that you can gain your base knowledge in school and follow that up in your career with continuing education.  Many continuing education programs offer classes and seminars geared at new methods and techniques to improve the experience for your clients.

If you are the type of person who enjoys helping people and want some flexibility in your career path then massage therapy can be a good option.  The schooling is not as long as other educational programs, which means you will not be tied down to student loans after graduating.  Also, massage therapy has competitive pay scales, which varies depending on the company for which you work. 

If you're interested in learning more about massage school and a career in a massage therapy, click below to get your free career guide. Acupuncture and Massage College is located in Miami, Florida.

Career In Massage

Subscribe to Email Updates

Sign Up for the AMC Newsletter

Recent Posts