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To work as a massage therapist in Louisiana, you need a license from the Board of Massage Therapy.
But, what are requirements? Read on to find out.
Article Table of Contents
Training Requirements
You need at least 500 hours of class, from which 325 hours on techniques and 125 hours in anatomy and physiology.
The additional 50 hours can cover topics of your choosing.
Popular Programs
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Blue Cliff College | 1505 Metro Dr. #I Alexandria, LA 71301 |
| Blue Cliff College | 3200 Cleary Ave. Metairie, LA 70002 |
| Blue Cliff College | 4436 Veterans Memorial BLVd. Metairie, LA 70006 |
| Blue Cliff College | 803 Barrow St. Houma, LA 70360 |
| Blue Cliff College | 120 James Comeaux Rd. Lafayette, LA 70508 |
| Blue Cliff College | 8731 Park Plaza Drive Shreveport, LA 71105 |
| Career Technical College | 1227 Shreveport Barksdale Hwy. Shreveport, LA 71105 |
| Career Technical College | 2319 Louisvile Ave. Monroe, LA 71201 |
| Delgado Community College | 2600 General Meyer Ave. New Orleans, LA 70114 |
| Delta College | 19231 6th Ave. Covington, LA 70433 |
| LA Institute of Massage Therapy | 3750 Nelson Rd. Lake Charles, LA |
| Medical Training College | 10525 Plaza Americana Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70816 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 3605 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy. Lafayette, LA 70503 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 1227 Grand Caillou Rd. Houma, LA 70363 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 3704 Coliseum Blvd. Alexandria, LA 71303 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 2829 4th Ave. Lake Charles, LA 70601 |
You need to attend 90% of classes to get credit and your program must be accredited by Board of Regents or the State Department of Education or by the Board of Massage Therapy.
Exam Criteria
The MBLEx is the most common massage therapy exam and covers:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Kinesiology
- Physiological effects and benefits
- Contraindications and cautions/ pathology and special populations
- Client assessment and treatment planning
- Professional practice standards
- Ethics and legalities
- Modalities and history
To apply, you need to read the candidate bulletin, pay a $195 fee and bring 2 IDs to the testing center.
You will then receive a Authorization to Test that gives you 3 months to take the exam.
Background Checks
The Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information will perform the check if you have been a state resident over the past 5 years.
If not, the background check will be performed by the FBI.
The background check must be taken half a year before applying for a license.
How to Apply
You have to provide detailed official transcripts directly from your school that describes the class hours.
If you gave a positive answer to questions related to your professional history or felonies, you will be required to offer more details or court documents,
You also have to include 2 passport style pictures and get the application legalized, along with a $75 fee.
To register your certification, you need to fill in a form and pay an extra fee.
In the first year, the license fee varies based on the season.
Other Info
You can contact the Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy by email for further details and info.
Another useful website is The Louisiana Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association.
Here you can find info on industry updates and changes, even if it is not associated with the license.
Unlike in other states, massage therapists from Louisiana must renew their license every year, by March 31st.
The median salary in this state is also a bit higher than in other parts of country, as the table below shows.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $50,832 |
| Baton Rouge | $47,609 |
| Shreveport | $47,076 |
| Metairie | $50,832 |
| Lafayette | $47,044 |
| Lake Charles | $46,399 |
| Bossier City | $47,076 |
| Kenner | $50,804 |
| Monroe | $46,831 |
| Alexandria | $45,366 |
Regional Salary in Louisiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 50 | $46,930 | $22.56 | $74,880 | $20,190 |
| Lafayette, LA | 30 | $33,060 | $15.89 | $55,990 | $19,010 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 100 | $35,410 | $17.02 | $60,120 | $18,780 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapy by State