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| Step 1: Is Massage Right for Me?  Step 2: Get Certified Step 3: Massage Jobs Step 4: Launch Your Business
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Learn Massage TherapyHow Much Does it Cost to Become a Massage Therapist? Now you have decided that you want to learn massage therapy, you will be wondering about how much it is going to cost you before you can begin working as a massage therapist. See what our readers are saying about the cost to start their massage careers. There are a lot of components that make up the overall cost of becoming qualified. The first point that you have to remember is that there are actually three steps to becoming qualified:
Where to TrainThere are literally hundreds of schools across the country, and they offer various courses for you to learn massage therapy at a variety of prices. One way is to check that the school, or program, is accredited by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). This ensures that they have quality training courses. Of course, accredited programs usually require more hours of instructor training which can boost the overall cost. We cover choosing the best massage school in detail in Step 2 of our Massage Career Guide. While massage certification costs will vary from school to school, it is not unreasonable to expect it to pay $7000-$10,000 for a good accredited program. Obviously, you need to check with the specific schools that you are interested in attending. You may also qualify for student loans to help you to pay for your tuition costs while you learn massage therapy. The National Certification ExamAfter you have graduated from an approved school, you will have to sit a state-approved licensing exam. This is the National Certification Exam from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). It is a written exam that covers a variety of topics to test the knowledge that you have gained at the school where you learned massage therapy. This is what your coursework was preparing you for and, if you attended an accredited school, you should have acquired all of the knowledge needed to pass this exam. Passing this exam is a requirement in 33 states, before you can be a licensed massage therapist. The current cost of this exam is $225. What Do I Need to Be Licensed in My State?
Be aware that, even if they are listed as having no requirements at present, the move is towards all states having legislation in place in the near future. As well as graduating from a recognized school, and completing the National Certification Exam, some states require that potential massage therapists also pass a jurisprudence exam. This is to test your knowledge of all applicable laws. In rare cases, a practical exam may also be required, which tests your hands-on technique. After you have finished all of this, you can then apply for your license to practice massage therapy in that state. Due to the differences between the states, it is not possible to put an exact figure on the cost of meeting the licensing requirements.
Cost of Setting UpOnce you have obtained your license, the costs to actually learn massage therapy may have ended, but the costs of being a massage therapist have just begun! Depending on the environment that you are working in, you need to consider whether you require your own liability insurance. Your equipment, such as tables, linen, utilities, oils and other expenses; including advertising, transport, and a whole myriad of other items all need to be added to the mix. The exact number of these that you have to pay directly, or indirectly, will depend whether you work for yourself, as a subcontractor, or for an employer. Exactly how much you pay, on a regular basis will vary greatly, but you need to ensure that you consider everything.Continuing Education
As with most professions, you will always want to keep your skills updated by learning new massage therapy techniques. Sometimes you can save money by learning from your colleagues or you can take continuing education classes through your school or even online on the Internet. At the end of the day, becoming a massage therapist is less expensive than most other health professions. However, you need to budget for the costs. And if you are feeling overwhelmed with the costs to learn massage therapy, just remember that massage is a rewarding and fulfilling career, which gives you plenty of scope to meet new people, and to change people’s lives for the better.
Going to massage school is definitely an investment of both time and money. How much did you spend getting your first massage job? How long did it take? Massage Therapist Cost DiscussionsSee what other massage therapists are saying about the investment they made to start their massage therapist careers.
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Next Page: Choosing Massage Techniques Navigation Guide: Home Page / Learn Massage Therapy
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So, how do you know which are the best ones to choose? 
The actual licensing requirements vary from state to state, and if you want to learn massage therapy you need to be aware of the specific requirements for your state. A table is included below with the current requirements. 
