Are you thinking about becoming a massage therapist? Whether you’ve just graduated high school or you want to make a career change, starting an education in massage therapy is an exciting step! While it’s an amazing feeling to start doing something you’re passionate about, learning more about the industry can involve a lot of research. You may even be coming from a career completely unrelated to beauty. Read our complete guide on massage therapy to learn more about massage therapy and how you can get started.
What Would I Do as a Massage Therapist?
Let’s start by explaining what a massage therapist is and what you could expect from a future in this profession. When most people think of a massage therapist, they imagine someone who provides calming services to offer clients a well-deserved break from their busy schedule. That’s just one part of what makes this career so satisfying for someone working in this industry! Along with knowing how to help a client with their emotional well-being, a massage therapist is also trained in special techniques that could offer physical benefits for a variety of chronic pain issues. As a massage therapist, your job will likely involve finding ways to help each individual client. From talking with them about what they want from their appointment to educating them on how they can continue restoring balance in their body after they leave, your job focuses on promoting wellness for the client.
Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business someday? A career in massage could allow you to do just that! If you want to help people and pursue a future in business, owning and managing a massage clinic could be a great way to combine your two passions. In our massage therapy program, we make sure that students understand both sides of this industry. Business development and retail knowledge are both covered in our program’s curriculum.
Why Should I Become a Massage Therapist?
If you love working with others and helping them feel great, then a career in massage therapy could be a perfect path for you! As a massage therapist, you will help clients improve both their mental and physical health in order to help them maintain their overall well-being.
The Massage Industry is Growing
Good news! The massage industry is expected to expand! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for massage therapists are expected to grow 22% from 2018 to 2028. According to U.S. News & World Report, massage therapy is also ranked #5 in best health care support jobs.
Help People Feel Better
Many people want to know that their job is making a positive impact on people’s lives. Not only do massage therapists help clients with immediate relaxation, but massage techniques also lessen long-term discomforts from stress and chronic pain.
Start Doing What You Love Sooner
Pursuing a career in massage therapy could allow you to start practicing what you love in less than a year. In our full-time massage therapy program, students can graduate in as little as nine months and only attend classes three days a week!
How Do I Become a Massage Therapist?
Now that you know some of the benefits of becoming a massage therapist, it’s time to start your new and exciting journey! Although it’s a great feeling when you finally decide to pursue what you love, it can also feel stressful trying to coordinate the best way to get started. That’s why we’ve created a list of everything you should do to prepare for this next stage in your career. Here are seven simple steps on how to start your future as a massage therapist!
1. Research Beauty Schools
The first step to becoming a massage therapist is researching beauty schools to find out which one best fits your personality and career goals. Looking up their website is a great place to start and it can give you a general view of what your future education could look like. You’ll be spending a lot of time with other massage therapists and instructors, so it’s important that you make sure the school has the right atmosphere for your future massage family!
2. Tour Beauty Schools
There’s only so much you can find out about a school from looking at their website. To get a more detailed look at your unique massage education, a tour could be a great next step! This is your opportunity to ask questions that directly relate to you and receive immediate answers. Here are some questions that could be important to ask on your tour:
- Do you offer financial aid?
- What will I learn in your massage therapy program?
- What is your school’s culture?
- What would my class schedule look like in your program?
- What will I learn in your program?
- What products will I be using?
During your research, it’s important to think ahead and make sure that the program has the required amount of hours that are needed to become a licensed massage therapist in Florida. Don’t forget to bring along a pencil and paper to take notes.
4. Start the Application Process
You’ve done the research and toured the schools and now it’s finally time to start the application process! At Aveda Institute, we have a step-by-step list that allows you to easily fill out forms to begin applying for your education. If you have any questions about the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Someone on our team will be happy to assist you!
5. Complete the State Licensing Requirements
In the state of Florida, students are required to complete 500 hours at a beauty school approved by the state board. At Aveda Institute, students can complete our massage therapy program in as little as 9 months with 600 hours of training! We truly care about our students’ success. It’s important to us that they not only fulfill the hours necessary for a future career but can feel prepared to sit for the exam and what comes after.
In our massage program, you can learn a variety of techniques through class time, live demonstrations, and practice on the clinic floor under the direct supervision of licensed professionals. Bonding with your beauty school family and learning all about the massage industry is a fun and exciting part of your path to a massage therapist career. We can’t wait to help you work towards this stage of your journey!
6. Pass the State Licensing Exam
After graduating from an approved beauty school’s massage therapy program, you’re ready to take the state licensing exam! The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) is a required test that’s offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. Usually, there’s an additional fee for those who wish to take this exam. This fee is covered by tuition costs for students who enroll in our program.
In this exam, you’ll be asked questions on different aspects of massage therapy that range from massage techniques to basic safety procedures. After passing, you’re qualified to apply for your massage therapy license. Congratulations, you’ve done all the hard work and are now ready to practice what you love!
7. Find Out What You Want to Do
Now comes the best part! Once you’re a licensed massage therapist, it’s time to start researching the massage industry to find out what could be available to you as a future career. With the massage industry growing, it’s no wonder that there are a variety of career options. It all depends on you and what you want most in a future occupation! We help you with career placement while you’re in school, too. You could already have a job before graduation!
Where Can I Work as a Massage Therapist?
Wondering what’s next for you in your future as a beauty professional? With so much available to you in the massage industry, it’s important that you research all your options to see where you want to work. It’s up to you to decide what working environment fits best for your unique personality. Here are some places you could work as a massage therapist:
- Hospitals
- Massage clinics
- Chiropractic clinics
- Mobile massage services
- Spas and cruise ships
- Medical facilities
At Aveda Institute, we include multiple massage techniques to help our students feel prepared to pursue whatever area of massage they’re most passionate about. Our students are part of the Aveda family, and we care about our family’s success during our program and after graduation!
What Could a Job as a Massage Therapist Look Like?
Massage therapists have an amazing opportunity to help people feel better both physically and mentally. In our program, students will learn a variety of healing massage techniques and how these techniques positively affect the mind, body, and spirit. While not every job available in the massage industry will look the same, here are some things you might experience during an average day as a massage therapist.
Flexible Scheduling
It can feel overwhelming to try and fit your life commitments around your career, which is why being able to plan out your work schedule can be a dream come true. Often, massage therapists will have the opportunity to set client appointments around their own schedules! You may even be able to choose whether you work full-time or half-time.
Chance to Travel
There are a lot of different places for a massage therapist to work, which means traveling for your job could be a possibility. This is a great career path for anyone who wants a future that allows them to experience different work settings. Working in another area of massage could also give you the chance to help people from different backgrounds, giving you the opportunity to interact with multiple types of personalities. Every day could offer you something new!
Positive and Relaxing Work Environment
Massage therapy is a great way to provide relaxation and help clients maintain balance. Working in an area that’s committed to creating a calming atmosphere is great for the client’s experience, but it can also be a great benefit to you as a massage therapist. You should feel excited to pursue a career. If you don’t like the energy you feel at work, then you might dread going every day. Since massage therapists want to help clients with their relaxation and health, most places work towards having an environment that reflects those valuable qualities!
Want to Start Your Massage Therapy Education?
After reading our complete guide to massage therapy, we think you’re ready to take the next step and start the application process! If you have any more questions about your future in massage, then feel free to reach out to us. A member of our admissions department would love to meet you and help you begin this exciting journey. We can’t wait to hear from you!
