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When House Bill 328 passed, Alaska joined 45 other states that have set rules for the massage therapy profession.
Massage therapists in Alaska might get their licenses either after an exam or endorsement.
Article Table of Contents
License by Exam
To qualify to sit through a licensing exam, candidates must first complete their education.
Education
Future massage therapists must complete a minimum of 500 hours of education, at an approved training school.
Popular Programs
The education must include 4 hours related to safety:
- Bloodborne pathogens
- universal precautions
These schools can either be:
- in state and authorized by Alaska’s Commission on Post-secondary Education
- out of state, but received accreditation from an agency recognized nationally.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Alaska Career College | 1415 East Tudor Road Anchorage, AK 99507 |
| Kindred Spirits School of Massage | 3175 College Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99709 |
| Oriental Healing Arts Center | 2636 Spenard Rd. Anchorage, AK 99503 |
Additionally, an apprenticeship program can be accepted for the exam, instead of a training program.
Examination
The exams are organized only by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), for both the initial massage therapy license or entry-level practice.
Their multiple-choice exam is recognized in most states.
To take the exam, the candidates must submit:
- an application they can find online
- the $195 fee
Once they’re authorized to take the test, the candidates have a 90-day eligibility window to schedule the exam with Pearson Vue.
Those who want to get the Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCETMB) need to pass the Board Certificate Examination organized by the NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork).
This certification is not mandatory as it represents the highest possible level a professional can achieve in this field.
If you want to obtain your license based on an endorsement, you have to first make sure the Board accepts it.
If you have a license from a different state, make sure it is in good standing.
Requirements
To get the license, you must be at least 18 years old.
Candidates also need to pass a background check, no matter how they want to obtain their certification.
Candidates will have to submit their fingerprints for the criminal background check, at the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
It’s up to the Board whether they reject or accept a candidate based on the results of their background check.
Obtaining a CPR certification is also mandatory.
Salary Information
You might want to know how much you’ll earn once you start working.
Your earnings depend on your skills and experience, and even on location.
Below, you can find the average salaries in Alaska’s major cities.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Anchorage | $57,000 |
| Juneau | $56,441 |
| Fairbanks | $56,897 |
| Wasilla | $56,232 |
| Sitka | $55,673 |
| Ketchikan | $55,673 |
| Kenai | $56,232 |
| Palmer | $56,232 |
| Bethel | $56,232 |
| Kodiak | $56,232 |
Regional Salary in Alaska
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 320 | $102,000 | $49.04 | $150,230 | $32,530 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 40 | $111,860 | $53.78 | $183,650 | $48,220 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Currently, the median salary an Alaskan massage therapist can earn is around $57,399 per year.
This salary is higher than the median national salary for this profession, which is $51,203 per year.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapy by State