What Are The Requirements To Become A Massage Instructor And Why Is It A Good Career To Pursue?

Massage Instructor, getting your certificate and license as a massage therapist may open up a world of possibilities for you – now or even later.

Most qualified massage therapist go the conventional way and find a job at a massage facility.

Some massage therapists specialize in a niche while others provide general massage therapy.

In either case, there is good money to be made in the field and there is ample scope for building a successful long-term career as a massage therapist.

On the other hand, there are some massage therapists who don’t want to work for a business.

Instead, they look to branch out and try something different.

They seek work in places where massage therapists are in demand but aren’t the first names that come to mind from a client’s perspective.

Some good examples of such establishments are spas, health clubs and cruise ships.

All of these establishments are always looking for qualified massage therapists as their clients need relaxing and distressing massages on a regular basis.

For some people, this is a more exciting option than working at a massage facility.

Because of everything else that these establishments offer.

This is why many therapists join one of these facilities.

Then, there are those massage therapists who want to be their own bosses.

Instead of working for someone else, they seek to set up their own business.

The scale of the business may vary but.

The ultimate aim for them is to maximize the money they can make from their craft.

Rather than getting a fixed wage at the end of the week or month, they want to maximize their opportunities.

There is plenty of scope for this as well.

Regardless of whichever career option you seek in the massage therapy industry.

It is a given that you are going to feel exhausted and stressed out in a few years.

Even though you would gain some experience in the industry, keeping up with the demands of the job can be difficult.

This is why many massage therapists don’t work for more than a few years professionally.

If this makes you feel that massage therapy isn’t a field worth getting into, think again.

It is definitely a great industry to work in.

You just need to know how to properly take care of yourself to ensure healthy longevity.

Just because you sometimes will get tired of working doesn’t mean you cannot work anymore.

Moreover, you can also try your hand at instructing people on how to give massages.

There are many people who want to learn how to give massages at home, especially couples.

One of the ways you can work in the massage therapy industry without falling prey to the almost unavoidable burnout and exhaustion is by becoming a massage instructor.

You may already know what an instructor does having studied under a few at massage school.

If this is an option you feel is exciting, you can try your hand at it.

How hard can it be to work as an instructor? You have to give lectures and instruct students on the correct way to perform massages.

In other words, you have to teach them the ropes of the trade, just like your instructors did for you.

What Massage Therapy Instructors Do

Before you can consider becoming a massage therapy instructor.

It is important for you to understand who they exactly are and what they do.

Every massage school in the US has a panel of instructors who have vast experience and knowledge of the massage therapy industry.

They have studied for years to obtain their certificate and license and then worked professionally as well.

Hence, they know the ins and outs of the trade very well.

Besides knowing everything there is to know about the field.

They are passionate about teaching aspiring therapists.

It is this passion which drives them towards becoming instructors.

Generally speaking, a massage therapy instructor will have around 10 years of experience working in the industry.

Some of them might have even worked longer (or lesser) than a decade.

But the point to note is that they know how to deal with clients, and give massages in the right way.

Moreover, they have obtained a Bachelor’s degree, the minimum, in the field of massage therapy and some may even have a Master’s degree.

Also, it is common for instructors to know about all the different types of massages and how to perform the various modalities.

They are familiar with the tools and equipment used for the job as well.

As you can see, only the best of the best are qualified enough to become massage therapy instructors, and for good reason.

They are responsible for teaching the massage therapists of the future.

The integrity and sustainability of the industry depend on their capabilities.

Which is why the requirements to become an instructor are usually stringent.

Massage students often go on to work in different fields and it is imperative that they are prepared for the various situations and circumstances they will face in their careers.

The Requirements to Become a Massage Instructor

As mentioned above, the requirements to become a massage instructor are quite stringent.

First and foremost, you need to have qualified and graduated from an accredited massage school.

You must also have worked in the field for a considerable period of time.

It is a good idea for you to seek advanced education in the field as well, such as a Bachelor’s degree or even a Master’s degree.

You could continue your education to earn more credits or take up courses that relate to adult education.

You also need to be certified by the state board to work as a teacher.

To become a massage instructor, you need to cover a few courses including:

  • Classroom Activities
  • Learning Strategies
  • Online Learning
  • Lesson Planning
  • Theories of Massage
  • Massage Technology
  • The Teaching Process
  • Advanced Massage Modalities

There are certain accredited massage schools in the US that provide education for massage therapists aspiring to become instructors.

You can research them using our comprehensive database for free and enrol in a program when you feel you are ready.

When you graduate, you will be ready to start working as an instructor.

Note: Use our extensive database of massage schools near you to request additional information from the 100% for free.

Take your time to go through the requested information to determine whether the school fits your needs.

If it doesn’t, you can use the database to locate more schools and obtain information for free as well until you find a school that meets your needs.

Why Become a Massage Instructor

In conclusion, here are some good reasons to become a massage instructor:

  • Decent pay
  • Avoid the risk of a burnout
  • Give back to the industry
  • Earn the respect of your peers
  • Put your knowledge and experience to good use

If you ever come to a point in your career when you no longer want to practice massage but still have a passion for the profession or industry, pursuing instructorship can a great option to continue a successful, profitable and rewarding career in massage.

Neal Lyons is a founding member and volunteer contributor at the MTSI Institute, an information based portal dedicated to guiding and assisting aspiring massage therapists establish a successful career in massage. Neal is a published author and has collaborated on several mobile applications that serve the massage profession. You can view his published work on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Sony and Kobo. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter and on Google+

23 comments on “What Are The Requirements To Become A Massage Instructor And Why Is It A Good Career To Pursue?
  1. If I am a practicing LVN & I am DSD Certified & take a Massage Therapy course, work in the field do I still need a Bachelor’s degree to become an instructor?

  2. Christiane Coty says:

    I’ve had my MAT for over 10 years BEO for 15 years. I live in Hawaii and am looking for a course to obtain either a bachelors degree to start teaching. Thinking of starting my own school.
    I was winderimg what is the best way to go about this.

    • Neal Lyons says:

      Christiane, we have a full series coming out on how to start your own massage therapy school. There are many institutions in Hawaii where you can obtain a degree from. What are you specifically struggling with? Sounds like a straightforward process.

  3. Staci says:

    Im a LMT in Texas. Ive been so for 3yrs but Im wanting to have a baby soon so Im thinking about becoming an instructor (5yr plan!) Does Texas require me to be certified to teach too? Im assuming there are CE courses on being an instructor but as far as a Masters or Bachelors degree I was unaware of when I was in school. I went to a private school from Steiner Education tho, not a college, which is very common around here. I was also told that the board for massage therapists has changed in Texas–not sure of other states but my husband is a psychologist and he said we are now on the same board, which is a good thing! Would I need to take the National test to be an instructor or just take the instructor CE’s? Or both?

    • Neal Lyons says:

      Staci – congratulations first of all. all good questions. we have a detailed article coming out on TX requirements to become a massage teacher. please check within 30 days. we are releasing a state by state series. how has your experience in massage been? please share with our readers.

  4. Melissa L Hadder says:

    I have been practicing massage for 20 years, and I have started teaching informally. I’ve done single session classes, a 2 day workshop, and an 8 part series. I am still doing massage, but I am ready to teach, and I am ready to take that to the next level. What are the steps to get there?

    • Neal Lyons says:

      Melissa, your question is very timely. Requirements to become a massage instructor differ with every state. We are in the process of releasing a 50 article state by state series on this. Check back in just under 30 days as we will have the website updated with this info. How do you like teaching compared to practicing? Why did you decide to go into teaching?

  5. nicole says:

    can someone that has had his massage therapy license less than a year become an instructor in Michigan? And will his license in Lara indicate he is an instructor?

  6. Doreen Nicholas says:

    I too am interested in teaching massage. I would like information on instructor requirements in Va. I’ve been practicing over 10 years, and my hands need the change. I have a BS in biology and I love anatomy, I find the working knowledge of muscles and bones to be very useful and informative.

    • Neal Lyons says:

      Doreen – we are working on articles that will explain exactly how to teach massage. please stay tuned. we also have some good articles coming up on the human body / anatomy / physiology

  7. Kirk says:

    Great article – i underestimated how much was involved with balancing the classroom admin and personal practice and growth.

    I love what I do and it is very rewarding!

  8. Tanya Baker says:

    Can a LMBT work in the public school system like a PT or OT does one on one?

  9. Nadya says:

    If you are looking to teach massage techniques to couples, rather than aspiring massage therapists, what are the requirements?

  10. nicole Clevenger says:

    I was going to take a massage therapy class when the instructor demanded that I first experience a Swedish massage by him. I set up my appt a week before class was to begin. During the massage the instructor began cracking my neck and my back and pushing my legs up to stretch them. I felt something like a pinched nerve in my shoulder blade. Long story, short, he ruptured 2 discs in my neck and had to have a disc surgically replaced asap. Come to find out, this guy had only had his massage therapy licence for less than 6 months. The school he came from allowed him to open up a satilite school under them and instruct with less than 6 months of experience. Can I get some thoughts on this??

  11. Kaitlin says:

    Hi Neal,
    Thanks for sharing this post. I wondered if you had any information or knowledge about: if once become a massage therapy instructor, can you teach and practice massage in any state as a private entity? Can you take a seminar “on the road”, is there a licence for this? Or is it state by state?

    Thanks, KB

    • Neal Lyons says:

      yes you can Kaitlin! it’s really up to the hiring school but in most cases you should be good. give us an update on where you are and what you are doing now days?

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