In order to become a massage therapist you need to attend massage school. Massage therapy, though a natural form of health care, is regulated like any other major health care practice. To become a massage therapist often requires certification or registration in your respective state. To become a registered massage therapist you must attend an accredited school. As more and more states require certification, these schools prepare you for an examination whose successful passing gives you the needed permission to work in that state. Massage therapist school can be just the beginning in the massage therapist you eventually become. There are dozens of different massage techniques. Massage therapist school will introduce you to many of them, but upon completion of certification, it will be up to you whether to pursue a given practice further. Massage therapist school typically lasts one year, though it can be shorter if done full-time. The school typically offers basic courses in anatomy so that the therapist understands the muscular world below the skin. Each portion of study involves teaching how to give that form of massage therapy, but students receive it as well. Understanding both sides of massage therapy is crucial for an in-depth understanding of the field. Massage school also includes the following courses: Physiology (the study of functions and vital processes of organs and their systems), Kinesiology (the study of movement), Pathology (the study of disease), Massage history and theory, Massage techniques and practical, Assessment (the study of regional orthopedic tests for client evaluation). Some massage programs may also include related topics like nutrition, ethics, and business, since many massage therapist are self-employed, independent contractors.

The following schools offer massage therapy training programs and can provide you with more information on how to become a massage therapist. Find the medical training school most convenient for you and click "Request more information" to learn more.