Beauty & Personal Care

How to become a Massage Therapist

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

6–12 months

Typical pay

$42k–$65k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   6–12 months

   Complete an accredited program

   500–750 hours of anatomy, technique and supervised clinic.

   Course that covers thisHot Stone Massage - A Massage Therapy Certificate CourseUdemy · around $29.99 →
2. 2

   Pass the MBLEx

   The national licensing exam used by most states.

   ◆ MBLEx

3. 3

   4–8 weeks

   Get your state licence and insurance

   Liability cover is required almost everywhere you would work.

4. 4

   1–2 years

   Choose a setting

   Spa, clinical or your own practice. Clinical and sports work pay best.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Massage Therapist

   Browse jobs now →

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