Massage Schools in Massachusetts

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

How to Become a Masseuse in Massachusetts

From the serene shores of Cape Cod to the bustling metropolis of Boston, Massachusetts massage schools offer you a chance to become a certified massage therapist.

Graduates of massage therapy colleges in Massachusetts can work in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and even doctors' offices, in addition to the usual salons and spas that employ licensed practitioners. There are often opportunities for employment with sports teams and high-end hotels, too.

State License Requirements

Massage schools in Massachusetts provide a course of study that includes a minimum 650 classroom hours of instruction. Massachusetts is one of the few states in the nation that does not currently have a requirement that therapists pass a national certification examination, though this is always subject to change. Massage therapists who want a license in the state must provide the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy with two professional reference letters. One must be from a massage therapist or instructor, or a medical practitioner or health care provider with whom the candidate has had a professional relationship. This letter is to speak about the candidate's integrity and competence in the field of massage therapy. The second letter must speak to the candidate's business or professional integrity, but can be from any unrelated individual.

Education Details

Massage therapists in Massachusetts treat each patient individually based on the specific needs and concerns of the client, with a totally customized approach to each person. Goals of therapy may include rehabilitating an injury, managing stress or improving the immune system, among many others benefits of massage. The field of massage therapy is growing as people focus more on preventing illness and on their own well-being. A trained massage practitioner can be an effective partner with the patient to ensure lifelong health. Jobs in the profession should grow by 19% over the next several years, faster than many other career choices according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

License Renewal

To earn your massage therapy license in Massachusetts you will need to complete a program that includes a minimum of 650 hours of practical training. You will not need to take a written exam in this state. However, you will need to submit an application, along with a $225 fee for your initial license. Once you are approved, you will renew your massage therapy license every year, and submit a $150 fee with your application to the Board of Registration of Massage Therapy. There are no continuing education requirements in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Massage Therapy Careers

Licensed massage therapists in Massachusetts earn an annual mean salary of approximately $51,180 according to the 2019 report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not including tips. The national mean salary for massage therapists is $42,820. The metropolitan area near Nashua, NH and parts of Massachusetts ranks 10th highest in the nation for mean annual salary among all metropolitan areas. Licensed therapists in that area earn a mean annual salary of $59,400, or approximately $28.56 per hour - well above the national average.

The southwestern Massachusetts non-metropolitan area also ranks 1st in the nation for the highest concentration of massage therapy jobs and massage therapy job locations for all non-metropolitan areas. This area also ranks 3rd in the nation for highest mean annual salary for massage therapists working in non-metropolitan areas. Salaries in the southwestern Massachusetts area have an average mean of $63,090, or $30.33 per hour.

Contact the Massachusetts State Board of Massage Therapy