GED or Diploma Required?
Question:
Are you required to have a GED or a diploma of some sort to become a massage therapist?
Answer:
The massage therapy training requirements to become a registered massage therapist differ from state to state and from country to country.
For example according to some states massage therapists need to be accredited by your particular state's Department of Health Professions review board; whereas in other states you'll need to be enrolled in an accredited massage therapy training school and then go on to pass their National Massage Certification exam. Regardless of which state rules apply to you, most states require that registered massage therapists be at least 18-years of age and they must complete a minimum of 25 hours in a massage therapy apprenticeship. Many states, such as Virginia , require their massage therapists to update their professional know-how bi-annually in order to maintain their certification.
There are now more than 800 schools across the country offering instruction in massage therapy. Programs can vary with some requiring fewer than 100 hours; while others require at least 2,000 hours in order to satisfy the certification requirements. Most schools fall somewhere in the middle offering 500 to 650 hour programs - which include core training in basic anatomy and physiology and class work on massage theory and practice. Most specialized massage therapy schools are privately owned, though a growing number of community colleges are adding massage training to their list of programs.
I would recommend contacting your local Massage Therapy association to find out what the massage therapy training requirements are in your state. They will also be able to provide a list of local accredited educational institutes in your area. In some cases, exceptions have been known to be granted. For example, if you have any previous massage experience you may be given advanced standing when entering a registered massage therapist program. However, it would depend on the location you reside in and on the educational institute.
The Massage Therapy 101 website has great links that can help you find out more information on associations and schools in your area. If you click on the Massage Therapy Mailbag section of this website, you will find questions and answers that will give you some insight into a massage therapist's potential income and some recommended prerequisite courses to take prior to enrolment in a community college or private school course.
Thanks and Good Luck with your search,
Karin
