To be licensed in New York City or elsewhere in New York, massage therapy professionals must complete 1000 hours of massage therapy school training, as well as successfully pass the state exam for New York. Most states require massage therapists to be licensed before they can practice their trade. This means completing an accredited massage therapy program and then passing a nationally recognized exam. Programs range from 300 to 1000 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training.
This can translate between a few weeks and two years, depending on the structure of the program you enroll in. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, massage therapists receive an average of 667 hours of initial training. Massage therapy school typically lasts one to two years of full-time study. Unlike many other careers that require years of schooling and training, the path to becoming a massage therapist is quite fast.
You must complete a training program at a massage therapy school that qualifies you to practice at the location of your choice. Our program requires a total of 750 program hours and takes 12 months to complete. Once you have completed the massage therapy program, you are prepared to pass the MBLEX certification exam to become a licensed massage therapist. Some of the institutions issue vocational training certificates, which take between six months and two years to obtain.
There are also associate degree programs that last two years or more. Real-World Instruction and Training Prepares Graduates for a State Exam to Become Licensed Professionals. You are connected to an approved massage school, community college, or university in your area that offers hybrid options (online and hands-on training). Through this hybrid program, in as little as six months (depending on state requirements), you can be ready to take your boards and get started.
This innovative new program can even be completed part-time with much of the classroom learning and training completed online (where approved by the state). In addition to state-required courses, students take biology, medical terminology, professional development and ethics, sports massage, reflexology, myofascial release therapy, craniosacral therapy, medical massage, polarity therapy, Thai massage, English composition, introduction to psychology, and oral Communication. Courses are divided into manageable weeks, with curricula focusing on the anatomy and science of therapeutic massage, as well as marketing, business and ethics. In addition to the usual core courses, there are Small Business Management; Yoga; Advanced First Aid, CPR and AED; Swedish Massage; Health for Massage Therapists; Medical Massage; Shiatsu I & II; Law and Ethics; Complementary and Alternative Therapies; TM Research; Composition I & II; and Introduction to Psychology.
They do this by using their hands, arms and elbows to massage the muscles, either in the specific area of concern to the client or across the entire back, shoulders, arms and legs. The months spent in massage therapy school provide that first-hand experience and knowledge to jump-start the career of a professional massage therapist. Administer Swedish massages, deep tissue therapy and specific muscle treatments to the public in an on-campus clinic. Courses cover the basics of several modalities, including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, reflexology, stretching, hydrotherapy, myofascial massage and more.
This Albany institution offers “alternatives to medical treatment through massage therapy, acupressure and natural medicine. Along with the usual courses, they take Energy Palpation and Reflexology, Kinesthetic Awareness through Movement, Shiatsu I and II, Connective Tissue Therapy, Essential Oils and DanSe of Massage. Professional massage therapists did more than fill out an application at the local spa, they underwent hours of training sessions and educational courses to assume the level of licensed masseuse or massage therapist. While there will be some questions about the technique, licensing exams tend to focus on knowledge and theory of massage therapy rather than methods.
To become a massage therapist in New York, a school graduate must obtain a state license by applying online and paying a fee to the state office. When you have completed your degree or certificate program, you will be trained in a variety of massage techniques. If you are interested in learning more about careers in massage therapy and exploring if NYIM is right for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information. .
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