Massage programs usually train individuals for a professional career in massage therapy. If you’re already employed in the healthcare field, completing a massage program can help polish your professional skills and knowledge. Numerous colleges and technical institutions in the US offer this program. A few examples of noteworthy institutions that offer Massage programs are:
- Fox Valley Technical College offers Technical Diploma in Therapeutic Massage
- San Jacinto College offers Certificate of Technology in Massage Therapy.
- Northeast Technical College-Wisconsin offers Technical Diploma in Therapeutic Massage
- Ridgewater College – offers Massage Therapy Program.
- Keiser University – offers an Associate of Science in Massage Therapy.
- Harper College – offers a Massage Therapy Certificate.
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College – offers Massage Therapy diploma.
What Is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy is generally defined as a type of treatment where a trained and certified medical professional uses several touch techniques to manipulate the soft tissues and muscles of your body. Massage therapy utilizes varying degrees of pressure and movement to provide relief.
What Can You Do with Massage Programs?
Massage programs can help you work as a Massage Therapist in various work environments such as massage salons, spas, hotels, chiropractor offices, gyms, fitness facilities, recreational facilities, and so on. Some of the possible careers have been explained below and the salary data of these jobs were reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Massage Therapists
After completing a Massage program, you can get employed as a Massage Therapist in several different settings. Massage therapists usually provide massage therapy services to treat clients. They perform massage therapy by using touch to manipulate soft tissues and muscles of the body.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $42,820 | 22% | $47,180 | California | 16,330 |
| Alaska | $77,080 |
Physical Therapist Assistants
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $58,790 | 27% | $58,520 | Texas | 7,550 |
| New Jersey | $69,480 |
Physical Therapist Aides
Physical Therapist Aides are closely supervised by either a physical therapist or a physical therapy assistant. They only carry out tasks that are delegated to them with specific instructions. Their duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $27,000 | 23% | $29,180 | California | 7,220 |
| Alaska | $47,800 |
What to Expect from a Massage Program?
Completing a Massage program will typically prepare you for a career as a Massage Therapist. However, you may choose an alternate career closely related to that of a Massage Therapist as explained above. The courses in the curriculum of a Massage program can help you identify your future career. For instance, the curriculum of the Therapeutic Massage Technical Diploma offered by Fox Valley Technical College includes courses like,
- Therapeutic Massage – Musculoskeletal Anatomy
- Introduction to Therapeutic Massage
- Therapeutic Massage – Anatomy & Physiology
- Therapeutic Massage, Pathology
- Therapeutic Massage – Kinesiology, and so on
For details on the curriculum of a specific Massage program, please visit the official website of the selected institution.
How to Choose a Massage Program?
While deciding what Massage program would suit you best, you must look at the following points before making a final decision.
- The relevance of the curriculum with your career goals
- Program’s duration
- Mode of delivery (online/on-campus)
- Program’s accreditations
- Admission and graduation criteria, etc.
The graduation criteria differ for all Massage programs and depend on the institution as well. For example, the Certificate of Technology in Massage Therapy offered by San Jacinto College requires its students to complete 24 credit hours to graduate.
Massage Programs Admission Requirements
Just like the curriculum and the graduation requirement, the criteria of admission vary for each Massage program. For example, if you want to apply for the Therapeutic Massage Technical Diploma offered by Fox Valley Technical College, you must,
- Submit an online application
- Submit transcripts of High School or equivalent
- Pass a background check
For specific details on a Massage program, please see the official website of the selected institution.