How to Become a Massage Therapist
By: Jenn Hall | October 2025
Massage therapy is a growing career field, attracting individuals from all walks of life. What unites them is a passion for wellness and healing that they turn into a career. If that sounds like something you’re interested in doing as well, keep reading to find out the key steps you’ll need to take to become a massage therapist.
What education and training is required?
To become a massage therapist, you must first complete your high school diploma. This is the minimum requirement to enroll in a massage therapy training program, so it’s a must-have for this career path.
If you haven’t finished your high school education, don’t worry. You can easily jump back in with an online, self-paced program, like we offer at U.S. Career Institute. This program is suitable for traditional high school-age individuals (as young as 13 with parental permission), as well as adult learners who need an alternative pathway to earning their high school diploma.
Once you have your high school diploma, you will need to enroll in an accredited massage therapy training program. Your training should include both “classroom” learning and hands-on training.
Your training may include topics such as:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Kinesiology
- Medical terminology
- Foundational massage techniques, such as Swedish massage
- Massage contraindications and cautions
- Chinese medicine principles
- Ethics and professionalism
For example, U.S. Career Institute offers a hybrid, self-paced massage therapy certificate program that includes 450 online theory hours with 200 hours of in-person, hands-on training. Like all U.S. Career Institute programs, the massage therapy certificate program is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and approved by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board.
Students enrolled in the massage therapy certificate program will be prepared to take the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx), which we will cover in the next section.
What are the licensing or certification requirements?
With your training completed, the next step is to get licensed or certified so you can legally practice as a massage therapist.
Licensing requirements vary by state, but in most cases, you’ll need to pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). This is the most widely recognized exam in the U.S. and covers topic areas such as:
- Anatomy
- Kinesiology
- Massage techniques
- Pathology, contraindications, and areas of caution
- Client assessments
- Ethics, boundaries, laws, and regulations
- Professional guidelines
In addition to passing the exam, most states also require you to complete a background check.
Be sure to check your state’s regulatory board for more details about the specific requirements in your area before applying for your massage therapy license.
What can I do TODAY to get started?
So, what can you do right now to start your journey as a massage therapist?
- Finish your high school diploma (if you haven’t already).
- Enroll in a massage therapy training program
The good news is you can knock out both of these steps with U.S. Career Institute.