Online massage therapist programs provide an efficient way of studying for a career in massage therapy. Courses are self-paced and can be completed from the convenience of your home, fulfilling certification requirements in your state or municipality.
Students interested in this field can earn an associate degree entirely online while bachelor’s degrees can be earned hybrid style by taking classes on campus and training at spas that partner with colleges.
Benefits
Rubmd allow students to work at their own pace and rewatch lectures and classes as many times as needed to fully grasp the materials. Furthermore, students no longer need to travel physically to attend classes, saving both gas money and expenses associated with attendance fees.
Working as a massage therapist provides many advantages, one being the flexibility in scheduling appointments with clients. While phone calls or offline methods may work fine for managing bookings, an online booking system for your massage therapy business will ensure more client bookings and make sure clients can find availability with you at all times.
Connecting with other sports massage therapists and instructors in your area may lead them to recommend you to their clients; furthermore, networking can give you fresh ideas and strategies for your practice.
Education Requirements
Long gone are the days when prospective massage therapists had to attend classes physically in order to earn their degrees. Now, many reputable and well-established schools provide students with opportunities to complete their studies online while still graduating in a timely manner. Some programs are free while others give students all of the skills needed for successful careers in massage therapy.
New York College of Health Professions takes great pride in offering their massage therapy program students all of the tools necessary for success, such as being able to complete many classes online (with the exception of their Academic Health Care Teaching Clinic, which must be attended in-person).
Online massage therapist courses range from professional certificate and diploma levels all the way up to bachelor’s degrees, with continuing education certifications also available to enhance one’s career and gain a competitive edge in their job market.
Job Requirements
If you’re hoping to become a massage therapist, enrolling in a nationally accredited school that provides certificate and associate degrees would be ideal for developing a well-rounded education and the required credentials for licensure. Furthermore, flexible schedule schools would make things even easier so that your education won’t interfere with other obligations in your life.
Most states regulate massage therapy, requiring certain hours of training and passing the MBLEx examination and continuing education courses to maintain your license. Furthermore, you will require strong customer service skills as well as the physical ability to stand for long periods while providing massage services.
Massage therapists can work in various environments, including retail massage centers, medical clinics and long-term care facilities. Some even set up independent practices offering in-home massage sessions for clients. When working as self-employed therapists they typically must also dedicate time and resources to reaching out to potential customers while managing marketing initiatives and performing other business related duties.
Salary
The salary associated with being a massage therapist varies significantly, depending on work setting, whether or not she’s employed full-time and how well she markets herself. Massage therapists employed in spa-like settings or private clinics usually come equipped with benefits such as health insurance coverage, retirement plans and paid time off as employee perks.
Massage therapists also receive tips from clients, which can amount to significant sums of money. Tips tend to be higher in resort areas and northeastern states where living costs are more costly.
Massage therapists who operate independently can deduct expenses such as massage equipment, supplies and mileage associated with travel to client homes or offices from their tax returns. Furthermore, self-employed massage therapists can use websites as marketing platforms in order to increase earnings potential and revenue streams.