Massage therapy offers both healing and health maintenance to clients. Through the art and science of massage, people experience improvements in their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Clients often seek out a practitioner who has received massage therapy certification. They want to be sure that the massage therapist is qualified, and has received the healthcare training, experience, and expertise required to deliver a beneficial massage. The Praxis Institute campuses in Miami and Hialeah, Fl, offer two stellar programs in massage therapy, and graduates of both programs are experiencing growing demand for their services.
More Clients for Massage Therapists
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 32 percent between 2020 and 2030. This is much faster job growth than projected for most other occupations. There’s a confluence of reasons behind this projected growth.
Healthcare practitioners are more aware of the health benefits of massage therapy, and they are more likely to include these services in their recommendations for patients, and their care plans. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) found that 63 percent of clients who received massages for health and wellness in 2021 were following medical advice. Healthcare professionals are more likely to recommend practitioners who have received massage therapy certification.
While insurance industry coverage remains limited in many cases, more clients are paying out of pocket for massage therapy. And the increased value placed on massage therapies by the medical establishment and their patients bodes well for the chances of increases in insurance coverage.
There is also evidence that more men are seeking out the health benefits of massage therapy. They are also more likely to discuss massage therapy with their healthcare practitioner. Relaxation and stress reduction are cited as the reason for over half of all massages received in 2021. But a quarter of men, as well as almost a third of women receiving massages that year, indicated that they were seeking pain relief and pain management.
Training and Massage Therapy Certification
Employers and clients are seeking massage therapists who graduate from accredited massage therapy programs, and who have obtained massage therapy certification. Students at The Praxis Institute choose between two massage therapy programs:
Therapeutic Massage Technician
This comprehensive program starts with human anatomy and physiology, incorporates a variety of techniques, and ends with the completion of 540 hours of lab and classwork. In addition, students perform 60 massage services as part of the training. After receiving the therapeutic massage technician diploma, students are prepared to apply for their Florida state license and complete the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
Advanced Therapeutic Sports and Clinical Massage
After completing 750 hours of theory, practice, and clinical training, as well as 115 services, graduates of the Advanced Therapeutic Sports and Clinical Massage program are prepared for the license exam in Florida and massage therapy certification. They can pursue certification with either the NCBTMB or the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). Additional certifications available in this program include:
- Deep tissue
- Neuromuscular therapy
- Sports massage
- Pathology
- Clinical rehabilitation
- Holistic manual lymphatic drainage
Job Opportunities for Certified Massage Therapists
Graduates of both programs at The Praxis Institute who have obtained state licenses and professional certifications have a variety of occupational choices. They may find work as solo practitioners in private practice, in spas or salons, at chiropractic offices, and in fitness centers or health clubs. Other options include assisted-living facilities, professional athletics organizations, hospital settings, and traveling massage therapy. There is a great deal of mobility in the massage therapy profession, and opportunities for advancement, specialization, and continuing education.
Apply to Massage Therapy School in the Miami Area
The Praxis Institute offers competitive pricing for our diploma programs in massage therapy. With our accelerated enrollment process, students can be attending class within a week of application. We offer the theory component of the curriculum in a digital format for convenient distance learning. Take advantage of this excellent educational and career opportunity at our campuses in Miami and Hialeah, FL. Contact us today for more information.
