About Massage Therapist Classes

General Information

It is necessary for a certain amount of training hours and classes to be completed in order to become a massage therapist.  Institutions and colleges offer programs that provide a classroom setting and hands-on training that will prepare you for your massage career.  The number of training and classroom hours to be completed depends on the state you wish to practice in.  Hours can range anywhere from 400-1000.  Some states require that you pass a national exam and obtain a license, while others only require a number of training hours to be completed. 

 After Course/Training Completion

When you complete all massage therapy requirements, you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of places including salons, spas, recreational centers, hospitals, hotels, airports, sports teams, etc.  There are a lot of different paths one can take with an education in massage therapy.  Some will open their own business and work full time hours, while others may choose to work part time hours at an establishment.  The work hours can be flexible but the job can be emotionally and physically demanding.  Masseuses will often move their hands for an hour straight without a break and stand long periods of time of their feet.  Because of this, many will work less than 40 hours a week or part-time.  More people are going to massage therapists as a natural way of healing tense muscles which makes the job outlook very promising.  Employment in massage therapy is expected to increase 20 percent by 2016.