• Placement rate: 90%
• Length of program: 300 to 1,100 hours (six months to two years), depending on the state where you plan to practice.
• Where you'll work: spas, gyms, chiropractor's offices, sports medicine facilities, private homes
• Typical courses you will take: anatomy, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage
• Typical hourly wage: ranges from $15 to $30 per hour, with private practitioners earning even more.

Massage Therapy: An Exciting Career

The need for massage therapists is expected to grow faster than average over the next 10 years. In the last year, more than one in five adults received a professional massage. Stress relief is the number one reason people get a massage, followed closely by pain relief. Doctors now often prescribe massage therapy as a way to manage chronic pain.

Massage Therapy Education Through Distance Learning

Distance learning with online courses is a great way to begin your massage therapy education. Courses such as anatomy, physiology, and modalities of massage therapy are easily taken online. However, your study will require several hours of hands-on training as well. By taking as many courses as you can online, you can tailor your study to your current work or child-care schedule.

Sources:

American Massage Therapy Association
U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Associate Degree in Massage Therapy
• Certificate Program in Massage Therapy
• Bachelor Degree in Massage Therapy