Maryland Massage Therapy Schools
Are you ready to start pursing your career as a massage therapist? If so, you have come to the right place. As of 2013, there are a little over half a dozen massage therapy schools for you to choose from in Maryland and BeautySchools.com has compiled them to allow you to contact multiple schools easily.
In addition to these, there are also a number of higher learning institutions like the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) that offer massage programs. Depending on school or availability of curriculum options, you can complete a massage therapy program part-time or full-time within 6 to 12 months.
Find Massage Therapy Programs in Maryland
You must attend a school that is approved by your state to provide training in the discipline you want to practice. Check with the school and the state board to be sure that your program of study will prepare you for any applicable state licensure.
In Maryland massage therapy programs, you will take courses in subjects such as anatomy and physiology, learn massage and bodywork techniques, and get business tips and training as self-employed professionals. At the end of most of these programs, you will either receive a diploma or certificate in Massage Therapy. At longer, more sophisticated programs like CCBC, graduates get an Associate of Applied Science degree in Massage Therapy.
There are a number of massage therapy scholarships that are specifically available for students in Maryland, so it is recommended that you check these out to help with tuition costs.
“We learned to slow down in such a busy world and re-connect with ourselves.” -Leslie Washington, Maryland massage therapy student
Learn About Massage Therapy Licensing in Maryland
After completing the program, you will need to gain licensure as a License Massage Therapist (LMT) or Registered Massage Practitioner (RMP). To do so, you will have to pass the Maryland Jurisprudence Exam administered by the Board of Chiropractic & Massage Therapy Examiners from the state’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Before sitting for the Jurisprudence Exam, you must have already passed the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, also known as NCETMB. This exam is administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). You can also choose to take the MBLEx examination instead; this one is given by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.
The initial cost you will be required to pay to become licensed is $450. In addition, you will need to renew it every two years, which will cost $20o, but it will guarantee you are up-to-date on any new massage techniques.
Employment Outlook for Massage Therapists in Maryland
In 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, massage therapists in Maryland made a median yearly salary of $38,600, or $18.58 an hour. This is higher than the national median of $36,000, or $17.29. The bottom 10 percent of Maryland massage therapists made $19,500, while the top 10 percent made $71,800. The BLS reports that in 2010 there were 3,469 massage therapists in Maryland, which is 0.02 percent of the profession in the U.S. That number is expected to increase to 3,988, a 15 percent jump, by 2020, and you could be one.
Some of the top employers you can consider working for include Rejuvenations Therapeutic Massage & Body, Massage Envy Spa and Turning Leaf Wellness.