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Exam Preparation
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General
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Massage Therapy Certification Information
What Is Massage Therapy?
It is is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissue and joints of the body.
This includes muscle, skin, tendons and associated fascia, ligaments and joint
capsules. Massage has many diverse physiological effects. The therapeutic use
of massage by a registered massage therapist affects all the systems of the
body - in particular, the muscular, circulatory, lymphatic (immune) and nervous
systems. Massage therapy has become an important part of general health care
for many people living in today's stressful world.
What are the requirements to be a registered
massage therapist in Texas?
Since massage therapy is a regulated health profession in Texas, massage
therapists must complete 300 hours of education at accredited school and have
extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology, assessment, bodywork techniques,
and pathology to know when massage is or is not suitable.
To become a registered massage therapist (RMT), the state requires you to
complete the 300 hours training and pass the state board examinations, which
consist of a written and a practical portion.
What is the potential of a career in massage?
The massage therapy market is experiencing an explosive growth. The New England
Journal of Medicine reports that Americans visit massage therapists 75 million
times each year. That represents nearly one-fifth of the 425 million annual
visits to alternative health care providers, and it's between two and four
billion dollar of business.
Massage is popular among consumers of all ages, with people ages 25 to 34
reporting the highest usage at 24% in the past 12 months. With more and more
people turning to natural forms of health care and with aging of the “baby
boomers,” the demand for licensed massage therapists continues to grow.
What can I expect to be paid after being licensed?
This question can have several answers depending on level of involvement - from
part-timers to full-timers to entrepreneurs with multiple employees. The
earnings of massage therapy practitioners may vary from $25 per hour for
beginning therapists in a spa or clinic to $75 per hour for an experienced
massage therapist with an established clientele.
The average salary base in the state of Texas for a Massage Therapist is
$33,130*, while the National Median is $28,040*. Earnings potential for this
career field nationally is $61,160*.
What are employment or business possibilities for
graduates?
Very good, the number of people in the United States that receive massage has
doubled between 1997 and 2000 while the number of active therapists has not.
According to Natural Health Magazine "Massage therapy has become the fastest
growing health care field in the country today."
The number of employers has risen, too. Here is a partial list of places that
employ massage therapists: chiropractors, health clubs, day spas, resorts, hair
salons, cruise ships, hospitals, sports teams, and massage entrepreneurs.
Many students start their own business or work in a preexisting clinic,
doctor’s office, hospital, spa, resort, salon, gym or one of the many other
existing alternative health opportunities.
What happens when I graduate?
After all the coursework and internship is completed, and tuition paid, you'll
receive your transcript. At this time you send an application to the Texas
Department of Health, Massage Therapy Program to take your State Board
Examination. The exam is given three times a year and you must travel to Austin
to sit for it.
After your application is received and processed, you will be sent a temporary
registration which will allow you to work as a temporary massage therapist
until the next test for which you qualify is given.
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