Education and Credentials Valued In the Massage Therapy Profession

The following is a compilation of data gathered by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) from U.S. government statistics, surveys of consumers and massage therapists and recent clinical studies on the efficacy of massage. These data provide an overview of the current state of the massage therapy profession, public and medical acceptance of the value of massage and increasing consumer usage of massage therapy in the U.S.

Education and Credentials Valued In the Massage Therapy Profession

• There are more than 300 accredited massage schools and programs in the United States.

• Today there are 90,000 nationally certified massage therapists and bodyworkers. To become nationally certified, a massage therapist must demonstrate mastery of core skills and knowledge, pass an exam, uphold the standards of practice and code of ethics of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork and take part in continuing education.

• Ninety-two (92) percent of massage therapists strongly or somewhat agree there should be minimum education standards for massage therapists.

• Massage therapists have an average of 624 hours of initial training.

• The vast majority of massage therapists (96 percent) have taken continuing education classes.

• Massage therapists take an average of 22 hours of continuing education per year.

• The most popular choices for continuing education are training for new modalities-techniques, advanced training for specific modalities, and massage for specific populations (e.g. pregnant women, geriatrics and athletes).

Become a highly valued professional at the Center for Massage & Natural Health in Asheville, NC in just 6 months, and find an enriching and rewarding career as a massage therapist.  Lifelong Job Placement with over 100 job postings available, exclusively to graduates of our COMTA Accredited Massage Therapy Certification Program.  

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