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To work as a massage therapist in Massachusetts, you should have a high school diploma/GED, be 18 years old and have a character in good standing.
The licenses are managed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy.
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Schooling Requirements
You must take a 550 hour accredited course, and gather 100 hours of job experience before applying for a license.
The program should cover:
Popular Programs
- 100 hours in Anatomy and physiology
- 45 hours in Pathology
- 45 hours in Kinesiology
- 300 hours in Massage therapy theory and technique except in reiki, acupressure, and reflexology
- 60 hours in Ethics and professionalism
If you attended a program in another state, you can send transcripts to the Board if the school you’ve studied in is accredited.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Bancroft School of Massage Therapy | 333 Shrewsbury St. Worcester, MA 01604 |
| Berkshire Community College | 343 Main St. Great Barrington, MA 01230 |
| Berkshire Community College | 1350 West St. Pittsfield, MA 01201 |
| Bristol Community College | 188 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 |
| Central Mass School of Massage Therapy | 200 Main St. Spencer, MA 01562 |
| Elizabeth Grady | 222 Boston Ave. Medford, MA 02155 |
| Lincoln Tech | 365 Westgate Dr. Brockton, MA 02301 |
| Lincoln Tech | 211 Plain St. Lowell, MA 08152 |
| Lincoln Tech | 5 Middlesex Ave. Somerville, MA 02145 |
| Mildred Elley | 505 East St. Pittsfield, MA 01201 |
| Salter School | 2 Florence Street Malden, MA 02155 |
| Salter School | 82 HArtwell Street Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Salter School | 515 Woburn St. Tewksbury, MA 01876 |
| Spa Tech Institute | 126 High St. Ipswich, MA 01938 |
| Spa Tech Institute | 59 Industrial Park Rd. Plymouth, MA 02360 |
| The Massage School | 1 Northampton St. Easthampton, MA 01027 |
How to Apply
You can download the application packet from the Board site.
You will need to submit official transcripts along with course descriptions, and send in a transcript analysis form with specifications in each of its sections.
You also have to submit a reference letter from someone you worked with, and another letter from someone who is not in your family.
The second letter will attest to your good character.
You will need a copy of the declarations page from the insurance, and have your professional licenses verified.
The applications need to be legalized, the submitted along with a passport-sized photo and a $225 fee.
If you answered positively to some of the health and background questions in the form, you may need to offer more details.
If certain info is missing from your application, you will also be requested for additional details.
The form will then be submitted to the Board office in Boston.
Generally, you will receive an answer within 4 to 6 weeks.
New certification cards typically also arrive after a month.
If you are a military spouse, you can get a license faster by sending in a ‘Relocated Military Spouse Affidavit Form’.
Liability Insurance
You will also need to have a $1,000,000 liability Insurance, and not having committed a sex-related crime in the past 10 years.
Other Info
As rules and regulations sometimes change, you should be aware of these changes at all times.
You can contact the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy for more details by using the contact info in your application form.
You will also be able to find industry resources by visiting the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association website.
Licenses have to be renewed every year in Massachusetts.
The median income for this profession in this state is also higher than in other states.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Boston | $57,793 |
| Worcester | $53,917 |
| Springfield | $53,508 |
| Cambridge | $57,793 |
| Lowell | $55,812 |
| Brockton | $55,453 |
| New Bedford | $53,968 |
| Lynn | $57,793 |
| Quincy | $57,793 |
| Fall River | $53,968 |
Regional Salary in Massachusetts
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | 100 | $55,710 | $26.78 | $90,940 | $31,460 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | ** | $58,600 | $28.17 | $92,890 | $38,540 |
| New Bedford, MA | 90 | $60,310 | $29 | $85,520 | $29,640 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 80 | $61,460 | $29.55 | $95,200 | $30,710 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 120 | $57,410 | $27.6 | $86,190 | $29,640 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 250 | $55,860 | $26.86 | $86,370 | $29,640 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapy by State