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Indiana requires those who plan on becoming massage therapists to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma/GED.
There are also certain education requirements you can learn more about below.
Article Table of Contents
Massage Therapist Criteria
You need 500 hours of class by an accredited facility.
The program must be approved by the State Workforce Innovation Council, or be provided by a higher-level facility.
Popular Programs
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| American College Massage School | 100 South Main Street Crown Point, IN 46307 |
| American College Massage School | 131 East Franklin St. #10 Elkhart, IN 46516 |
| Blue Heron Academy | 2420 Viridian Drive #B South Bend, IN 46628 |
| Carmel School of Massage & Healing Arts | 240 S. Rangeline Rd. #4 Carmel, IN 46032 |
| Charter College of Health & Massage Therapy | 714 East Winona Ave. Warsaw, IN 46580 |
| Indiana Therapeutic Massage School | 7780 Michigan Road #D Indianapolis, IN 46268 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | 3800 North Anthony Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46805 |
| Northern Lights Massage Group | 3604 North Wheeling Ave. Muncie, IN 47304 |
Test Requirements
The certification exams in Indiana are:
- Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
- National Board Certification Agency National Certification Examination (NBCA NCE)
- National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage
The MBLEx is the most common and requires a $195 fee and training confirmation.
The exam is a multiple-choice style.
The NBCA NCE exam offers a Level I Examination for students who finished 600 hours of training and is registered with the American Medical Massage Association.
You will also need to show transcripts to take this test.
Background Checking
You need to submit your fingerprints for a Livescan at Identogo by Morphotrust facilities.
If you are from another state, get an FBI FD-258 fingerprint card and have it processed by Identogo.
Before taking the exam, you need to become a member of Identogo.
Those with rape, sexual misconduct, or prostitution convictions are not allowed to take the exam.
Professional Liability Insurance
In Indiana, you need to have professional liability insurance, recorded as “additional insured”.
How to Apply
Get a form from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, legalize it and submit it along with an ID style photo.
You will also need a liability insurance copy and to pay a $100 fee.
If you worked in another state you need to send in a license verification.
Massage Therapists from other states or countries
If you hold a license in another state, this license will only be valid if the state’s standards match those in Indiana.
The International Education Research Foundation, Inc. will evaluate candidates who have a certification in other countries.
Other Info
Contact International Education Research Foundation, Inc. by email for additional info regarding licensing, as rules sometimes change.
You can also reach out to the Indiana Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association if you need info on industry updates.
Currently, the license must be renewed every 4 years.
Below you can also get an idea of the median salary for this career, in major cities around Indiana.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $50,019 |
| Fort Wayne | $47,768 |
| Evansville | $48,396 |
| South Bend | $47,865 |
| Carmel | $49,957 |
| Fishers | $47,312 |
| Bloomington | $47,165 |
| Hammond | $50,999 |
| Gary | $50,999 |
| Lafayette | $49,711 |
Regional Salary in Indiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN-KY | 60 | $60,250 | $28.96 | $87,390 | $35,980 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 120 | $53,660 | $25.8 | $72,800 | $36,980 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 540 | $54,260 | $26.09 | $81,570 | $35,670 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 40 | $56,360 | $27.1 | $79,910 | $38,480 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 30 | $42,640 | $20.5 | $53,840 | $27,240 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapy by State