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The massage therapy licenses in New York are managed by the Office of the Professions.
You can get a license by either education or examination.
The requirements in New York are more strict than in other states.
Article Table of Contents
License by Education
To get licensed in New York, you need 1,000 hours of education.
Popular Programs
The program must be approved by the State Education Department and cover:
- 200 hours of anatomy, physiology, and neurology
- 150 hours of instruction in myology and/ or kinesiology
- 100 hours of pathology
- 150 hours of general massage therapy theory and practice
- 50 hours in each of the Eastern and Western traditions
- 75 hours in hygiene and infection control, first aid, and similar practices
- 325 hours in advanced massage technique, from which 150 hours of practice
CPR training is also credited if you got your training less than 3 years ago.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| American Center for The Alexander Technique | 39 West 14th Street Room 507 New York, NY 10011 |
| ASA College | 383 Pearl Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 |
| Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage | 3 Cerone Commercial Dr. Albany, NY 12205 |
| Finger Lakes Community College | 3325 Marvin Sands Dr. Canandaigua, NY 14424 |
| Finger Lakes School of Massage | 1251 Trumansburg Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 |
| Finger Lakes School of Massage | 272 North Bedford Rd. Mount Kisco, NY 10549 |
| Mildred Elley | 855 Central Ave Albany NY |
| Morrisville State College | 80 Eaton Street Morrisville, NY 13408 |
| New York College of Health Professions | 6801 Jericho Turnpike Syosset, NY 11791 |
| New York Institute of Massage | 4701 Transit Road Williamsville, NY 14221 |
| Onondaga School of Therapeutic Massage | 302 North Goodman St. Rochester, NY 14607 |
| Onondaga School of Therapeutic Massage | 719 East Genesee St. Syracuse, NY 13210 |
| Pacific College of Oriental Medicine | 915 Broadway, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10010 |
| Qi Gong Institute of Rochester | 595 Blossom Rd. #307 Rochester, NY 14610 |
| Queensborough Community College | 222-05 56th Ave. Bayside, NY 11364 |
| Swedish Institute | 226 West 26th Street New York, NY 10001 |
| Trocaire College | 360 Choate Ave. Buffalo, NY 14220 |
Candidates in shorter programs
You can apply for a license once you finish 500 hours of training.
The remaining education hours will be left at the Board’s discretion.
You can also choose to enroll in a license-qualifying course as an advanced student, however, you will get a new diploma upon completing it.
This type of program requires you to get extra education hours because, in this state, massage therapy facilities only accept 250 hours of transfer credit.
If you attended a program but did not complete it, the rules above apply.
Testing Criteria
You will be evaluated in a state-specific licensing exam that covers the topics in the training program.
Treatment skills make more than half of the exam.
The exam is available 2 times a year, and requires a prior application as well as having your education verified.
The test costs $260 and is available in New York City, Syracuse, and Buffalo.
It is administered through CASTLE Worldwide.
How to Apply
You will need to have your training reviewed by completing the related application form, as well as provide details on your child support and professional background status.
You also need to pay $108 and have your form legalized.
If you need a temporary permit, you have to fill in a different form and pay a $35 fee.
License by Endorsement
If you have experience as a massage therapist in other states, you can apply for a license by examination in New York.
If your experience ranges from 2 to 4 years, you must meet the 1,000 hours education requirement.
If you worked as a massage therapist for 5 years, you can get licensed with only 800 hours of education.
If you trained for 12 hours a week over 52 weeks, it will count as one year of experience.
Other Info
New York is one of the few states in which the renewal of the license happens every 3 years.
You can get more info regarding licensing if you visit the Office of the Professions website.
For extra industry resources, check out The New York Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association.
The median income for massage therapy professionals in New York is pretty high.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $61,956 |
| Hempstead | $56,005 |
| Brookhaven | $55,335 |
| Islip | $55,438 |
| Oyster Bay | $58,403 |
| Buffalo | $48,967 |
| Babylon | $55,438 |
| Rochester | $50,476 |
| Huntington | $58,403 |
| Yonkers | $59,021 |
Regional Salary in New York
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 200 | $63,360 | $30.46 | $91,970 | $31,200 |
| Binghamton, NY | 40 | $57,100 | $27.45 | $86,500 | $27,460 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | 250 | $62,820 | $30.2 | $88,400 | $27,460 |
| Ithaca, NY | 40 | $61,170 | $29.41 | $95,250 | $29,000 |
| Kingston, NY | 70 | $78,000 | $37.5 | $100,120 | $32,750 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 5,220 | $63,610 | $30.58 | $97,690 | $36,900 |
| Rochester, NY | 230 | $59,400 | $28.56 | $94,380 | $29,890 |
| Syracuse, NY | 90 | $59,750 | $28.73 | $89,360 | $30,310 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapy by State