Massage Therapy Schools in California

Browse our directory of massage therapy schools in California, or skip ahead to learn about the state's massage therapy licensing requirements and job outlook.

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2822 F Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301

(661) 437-4019
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy

731 West Shaw Avenue Suite A
Clovis, CA 93612

(559) 323-2802
Programs:
Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Massage Therapy, Nail Technology

75-030 Gerald Ford Drive Suite 203
Palm Desert, CA 92211

(760) 565-4988
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy

6500 South Mooney Boulevard
Visalia, CA 93277

(559) 302-5938
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Massage Therapy, Nail Technology
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American Beauty Institute - San Diego – Accredited

4625 Convoy Street Suites A & B
San Diego, CA 92111

American College of Healthcare and Technology - Huntington Park

6330 Pacific Boulevard Second Floor
Huntington Park, CA 90255

American College of Healthcare and Technology - Riverside

11801 Pierce Street Suite 100
Riverside, CA 92505

American Empire College – Accredited

1168 San Gabriel Boulevard Suites K, L, Q & R
Rosemead, CA 91770

American Institute of Massage Therapy

1516 Brookhollow Drive Unit C
Santa Ana, CA 92705

California Healing Arts College – Accredited

500 East Carson Plaza Suite 103
Carson, CA 90746

Carrington College - Stockton

1313 West Robinhood Drive B Suite B.
Stockton, CA 95207

Cerritos College – Accredited

11110 Alondra Boulevard
Norwalk, CA 90650

CET

24 East Alvin Drive
Salinas, CA 93906

Citrus College – Accredited

1000 West Foothill Boulevard
Glendora, CA 91741

Coastline Beauty College - Fountain Valley – Accredited

16151 Harbor Boulevard
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Coastline Beauty College - Hemet – Accredited

2627 West Florida Avenue Suite 100
Hemet, CA 92545

Cosmotek College – Accredited

2188-B Del Franco Street
San Jose, CA 95131

Diamond Beauty College – Accredited

10301 Garvey Avenue Suites 200-204-302
South El Monte, CA 91733

Downey Adult School – Accredited

12340 Woodruff Avenue
Downey, CA 90241

El Camino College – Accredited

16007 Crenshaw Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90506

Fremont College – Accredited

18000 Studebaker Road 9th Floor
Cerritos, CA 90703

Fullerton College – Accredited

321 East Chapman Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832

Healing Hands School of Holistic Health

125 West Mission Avenue Suite 212
Escondido, CA 92025

Healthcare Career College – Accredited

8527 Alondra Boulevard Suite 128
Paramount, CA 90723

ICOHS College

1770 4th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101

Institute for Business and Technology – Accredited

2400 Walsh Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95051

International Beauty College

1224 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94577

International School of Beauty - Palm Desert – Accredited

72261 Highway 111 Suite 121 B
Palm Desert, CA 92260

Irvine Valley College

5500 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618

Jasmine Beauty School

5911 University Avenue Suites 318 & 319
San Diego, CA 92115

Katie Skills Center – Accredited

415 East 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94606

Los Angeles College of Aesthetics – Accredited

1517 South Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90006

Monterey Peninsula College

980 Fremont Street
Monterey, CA 93940

National Holistic Institute

5900 Doyle Street
Emeryville, CA 94608

Neihule Academy of Beauty – Accredited

305 East 8th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014

North-West College - Anaheim – Accredited

511 North Brookhurst Street
Anaheim, CA 92801

North-West College - Bakersfield

3000 Ming Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93304

North-West College - Long Beach

3799 East Burnett Street
Long Beach, CA 90815

North-West College - Pomona – Accredited

134 West Holt Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768

North-West College - Riverside – Accredited

4550 LaSierra Avenue
Riverside, CA 92505

North-West College - San Diego

6106 Arosa Street
San Diego, CA 92115

North-West College - Van Nuys

14540 Haynes Street
Van Nuys, CA 91411

North-West College - West Covina – Accredited

2121 West Garvey Avenue North
West Covina, CA 91790

Pacific College of Health and Science - San Diego

7445 Mission Valley Road #105
San Diego, CA 92109

Paris Beauty College – Accredited

1655 Willow Pass Road
Concord, CA 94520

Pasadena City College – Accredited

1570 East Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91107

Rosemead Beauty School – Accredited

8531 East Valley Boulevard
Rosemead, CA 91770

Sacramento City College – Accredited

3835 Freeport Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95822

Saddleback Beauty Academy – Accredited

23565 Moulton Parkway Suite B
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

San Bernardino Beauty College – Accredited

600 North Sierra Way
San Bernardino, CA 92410

San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork

475 Valencia Street 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

Santa Ana Beauty College – Accredited

1926 West 17th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706

Santa Monica College – Accredited

1900 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Solano Community College – Accredited

4000 Suisun Valley Road
Suisun City, CA 94534

Southern California Health Institute

5646 Vineland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90604

Victory Career College – Accredited

19401 South Vermont Avenue Suite G100, L101 & L103
Torrance, CA 90502

West Valley College

14000 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Accredited School

You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.

Massage Therapy Schools Near Me

Cost of Massage School Across CA

Metro Average Tuition
Sacramento / Stockton / Modesto $17,745
San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose $16,190
Monterey / Salinas $15,249
Fresno / Visalia $14,700
Bakersfield $13,703
San Diego $11,457
Los Angeles $11,202

How to Become a Masseuse in California

California Massage Therapy Careers At a Glance
  • 500 education hours or 250 apprentice hours are required to become licensed.
  • You must renew your license every 2 years.
  • 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
  • The average salary for massage therapists in California is $35,060 ($16.86/hour). This is higher than the national average of $42,820 ($20.59/hour).
  • There is a predicted 29% job increase between 2016–2026 for massage therapists. This is higher than the expected national growth of 22%.

One of the most popular career choices across the nation these days is massage therapy. If you like to work with others in an intimate setting and enjoy a flexible schedule, then look into massage schools in California. To become a California massage therapist, successful completion of accredited vocational training program that includes basic theory and hands-on massage techniques are required, along with passing the state exam.

A massage therapist in the Golden State could work for themselves as a mobile business that travels to different locations, or seek employment at a healthcare facility, fitness center or day spa. The opportunities are as diverse as California itself - from Napa Valley to San Francisco Bay to Los Angeles.

State License Requirements

500 Education Hours OR 250 Apprentice Hours

Required to earn a massage therapy license

Becoming a massage therapist in California requires completion of training that includes both the theory of massage and hands on massage techniques. Students also must pass an exam regulated by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) called the NCETMB - National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. Unlike some other states, California has two different levels of certification. The first - Certified Massage Practitioner - requires 250 hours of training and education. It will be phased out by 1-1-2015. The other level of certification is the Certified Massage Therapist (CMT). CMTs in California take 500 hours of massage education and training and at least 250 of those hours must be at an approved California massage therapy school. The other 250 hours may be through a school or through a continuing education provider.

Education Details

Massage therapy is a very popular career choice across the country. You might enjoy becoming a massage therapist if you desire a career as an alternative medical professional. Massage therapists expertly apply pressure to the body to promote healing from injuries and relieve stress. Some of the procedures massage therapists in California learn to perform are Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, acupressure and neuromuscular massage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), massage therapists can specialize in over 80 different types of massages, called modalities. Most California massage therapists specialize in several modalities.

License Renewal

2 Years

License renewal period

0 Hours

Continuing education required

California requires massage therapists take a program with a minimum 500-hours of practical experience. Once you complete your training and obtain your license, you'll need to renew it every two years and pay a $150 fee with your application. California also has requirements for continuing education units. You must take 30 hours between each renewal period to keep your license in good standing. This is why it's critical to speak with massage therapy schools near you to make sure you're on the right track with training and licensure.

California Massage Therapy Careers

$35,060

Average yearly salary for massage therapy in California

California massage therapists can earn an average annual salary of $35,060 before tips. Most massage therapists earn a combination of wages and tips. Because most California massage therapists work by appointment their schedules and the hours worked each week vary widely. In addition to hours giving massages, massage therapists also spend time writing patient progress notes, scheduling client appointments and other general business tasks.

California massage therapists can either work for themselves by traveling to different locations or they can work at a healthcare facility, fitness center or spa. The opportunities are as diverse as the Golden State itself. California is ranked first in the country by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the highest current employment of massage therapists.

The state also has three of the top ten metropolitan areas with the highest current employment in the country:

  • #1 Los Angeles greater metropolitan area
  • #8 San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos
  • #10 San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City metropolitan area

Napa, California is rated #1 in the nation by the BLS with the highest concentration of massage therapist jobs and job locations.

Commercial_Combo_Program-Career-Geo
Massage Therapy
California

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Your State

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