How do I become a massage therapist in Georgia?
How do I become a massage therapist in Georgia?
Attend an approved massage therapy training with a minimum of 500 in-person supervised clock hours. In Georgia, no online or distance learning is acceptable for massage therapists’ entry-level training.
Apply to take the MBLEx, which is the national licensing exam for massage therapists. The cost for this exam is $265, which needs to be paid with the application. Your massage school will need to verify that you are qualified to take the MBLEx after you submit your application.
Pass your exam! The exam is 100 questions, multiple choice, taken at a Pearson Vue testing center. The exam content can be found here. It includes material on Anatomy & Physiology; Kinesiology; Pathology, Contraindications, Areas of Caution, Special Populations; Benefits & Effects of Soft Tissue Manipulation; Client Assessment, Reassessment & Treatment Planning; Ethics, Boundaries & Laws; and Guidelines for Professional Practice.
Apply for malpractice and liability insurance. Normally, you will have student insurance through AMTA. You may take advantage of their introductory offer of $89 for the first year after graduation or obtain insurance through another provider such as ABMP.
Apply to the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy for a massage therapist license. The cost of submitting a paper applications $125 + an additional $10 processing fee, totaling $135. You must submit a photo ID, sealed original transcript from your recognized massage therapy program, and a certificate of insurance. The application MUST be notarized before it is sent in, so don’t sign your application and affidavit of citizenship until you are at the notary. UPS has notaries available in most locations. You bank may also notarize documents for you.
Get a background check. You will need to apply for a background check via FieldPrint (https://www.fieldprintusa.com). The cost of fingerprinting is around $75, and must be done after the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy has received and processed your application to become a massage therapist.
What training do I need to become a massage therapist in Georgia?
In Georgia, you must attend an in-person entry-level massage therapist training. You can find a list of all recognized programs by visiting the Secretary of State’s license verification site and searching “RMP” in the License Number box.
Here is the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy’s Rule (Law) about what is required for massage therapy programs in Georgia:
Rule 345-8-.01. Curriculum Requirements. Amended.
In order to be a Georgia Board recognized massage therapy education program, the program must have a minimum curriculum of five-hundred (500) total clock hours of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction. For purposes of this rule,"supervised" means the supervisor is physically on-site, qualified and immediately available. The minimum required subject matter and activities and the minimum required hours are as follows:
(a) A minimum of one hundred twenty-five (125) hours of in-class supervised instruction in human anatomy, physiology and kinesiology;
(b) A minimum of forty (40) hours of in-class supervised instruction in pathology;
(c) A minimum of two-hundred hours (200) in massage therapy theory, technique and practice, which must include in-class supervised instruction of clinical techniques and hands-on clinical practice and must include, at a minimum, the following subject matters: effleurage/gliding; petrissage/kneading; compression; friction, tapotement/percussion; vibration; direct pressure; superficial warming techniques; pumping; stretching; jostling; shaking; rocking;
(d) A minimum of one hundred twenty-five (125) hours of in-class supervised instruction in contraindications, benefits, universal precautions, body mechanics, massage history, client data collection, documentation, and legalities of massage, professional standards including draping and modesty, therapeutic relationships and communications;
(e) A minimum of ten (10) hours of in-class supervised instruction in ethics and business (to include a minimum of six (6) hours in ethics); and,
(f) Of the five hundred (500) total clock hours, the curriculum must include a minimum of fifty (50) hours in supervised student clinical practice, but no more than sixty (60) hours in supervised student clinical practice. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prohibit a massage therapy school that has a curriculum greater than five hundred (500) hours from having more supervised student clinical practice so long as it has at least four hundred and forty (440) hours of in-class supervised instruction.
(g) If an applicant transfers from another massage therapy education program into a massage therapy education program recognized by this Board and any of the clock hours from the original program(s) are accepted as a part of the program to which the applicant transferred, the name of the original program and the clock hours accepted from that program must be identified on the transcript provided to the Board. If the transferred hours are not from a board recognized massage therapy education program, the hours may not be used to satisfy the curriculum requirements of this rule.
How do I choose a massage therapy school?
Type of School. Think about what kind of school experience you want to have. Some massage therapy training programs are part of a larger college or technical school and some are independent. An independent school may be more intimate, limited in class size and more specialized in its training, whereas a program that is part of a larger school may have more student resources available.
Style of teaching and modalities taught. At Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage, we teach in a hands-on student-centered way. We have small class sizes and aim to teach what is most relevant, rather than teaching to the test. We focus on orthopedic treatment, deep tissue, and myofascial skills. Some schools focus more on neuromuscular therapy and teach in a more traditional academic setting. You need to decide what is important to you in choosing your massage therapy school
Program schedule and duration. Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage is an intensive, full-time program which is completed in four months. The great this about this is that our students get immersed in the material, and out into the workforce quickly with a lot of awesome skills that employers want. The downside of our program is that it is an intensive, challenging program, and it’s difficult to work during school. Other schools may have a more flexible schedule or less intensive program which takes longer, but may be more suited to your situation.
Location of massage therapy training. Determine which schools are near enough for you to be willing to commute to for the duration of the program.
Cost and Financial Options. Some schools may be able to provide federal loans, scholarships or grants which can help you get the career you want. Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage is one of the least expensive massage therapy trainings in the state. We have zero-interest in-house payment plan options. As well, we have a partnership with Fynn credit, a private student loan company which offers options for students seeking a full-time career in massage therapy.
Job placement services. No school can guarantee job placement, however, some schools may offer more support for find a job after graduation. At Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage, we have successfully found jobs for 95% of our graduates right after graduation. We have received excellent feedback from employers about our students, and employers are still eager to hire upcoming graduates.
Do I need to attend an in-person training to become a massage therapist in Georgia?
Yes, you need to attend an at least 500 supervised clock hours of instruction in entry-level training to become a massage therapist in Georgia.
Can I do online training for massage therapy?
No. In Georgia, all entry-level training to obtain your initial massage therapist license must be done in-person.
How do I know if massage therapy is the right career for me?
After being in the massage therapy field for a long time, we’e figured out five ways to know if massage therapist is a good fit for someone like you:
You want to make a difference in people’s lives. You can help people live free seem pain, reduce their anxiety and improve their health.
You like working with your hands (not sitting at a desk all day).
You like working in a supportive environment, calming environment.
You want to have a great-paying job that doesn’t require you to work 40+ hours/week.
You want to have a flexible schedule and be in control. You can often set your own schedule. You don’t need to work evenings and you can prioritize time with your family or for your hobbies outside of work.
You enjoy problem-solving and being creative in your work. You can choose what techniques you enjoy and think will be most effective for each client.
You want to leave your work at work. Massage therapy is a low-stress job which rarely requires you to work from home or carry the stresses of the day into your family life.
How much does it cost to become a massage therapist in Georgia?
Your total cost for becoming a massage therapist in Georgia ranges from $10,200 - $15,000. Here are the expenses you will incur to become a licensed massage therapist in Georgia:
Tuition. Your first expense on your way to becoming a massage therapist is your tuition for an in-person massage therapy training. This can cost anywhere from $9000 - $13,500. The training can be as little as four months or can take a year or more.
Student Fees. Most schools have some student fees associated with the program. Expect between $700 - $1,500 in student fees. These fees may cover textbooks, oils, tables, and fees associated with licensing depending on the school’s policies.
Additional expenses. Additional expenses may be at your discretion. Some schools will require you to provide your own sheets or oil or a table for practice outside of class. Some schools’ student fees may not include required or suggested textbooks. These additional expenses could run from $50 - $500.
Licensing exam. To apply for the MBLEx national licensing exam, the fee is $265. This fee is not refunded if you do not pass your exam.
Malpractice insurance. Your initial insurance is $89 from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) for initial malpractice insurance.
Application to the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy. At Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage, we recommend applying via a paper application. The application fee is $125, with an additional $10 processing fee. You can send them a check or money order for $135, made out to eh Georgia Board of Massage Therapy.
Background Check. You will be required to have a background check completed, which costs $75.
What Does it Cost to Become a Massage Therapist in Georgia?
Tuition: $9,000 - $13,500
Student Fees: $700 - $$1500
Other Expenses: $50 - $500
Board Licensing Application: $135.00
Fingerprinting: $75.00
Initial Insurance: $89.00
Licensing Exam: $265.00
Total Cost: $10,314 - $16,064
How much do massage therapists make?
Massage therapists earn on average $30 - 40 per massage treatment, and then receive tips on top of that. Including tips, massage therapists are often earning between $45 - $75 per hour, depending on where they work. Some of the graduates of Oconee School of Therapeutic Massage have found jobs at high-end resort spas earning $75 + per 50-minute treatment. We recommend that massage therapists perform no more that 20 hours of hands-on treatment per week.
Assuming on the low end you earn $45 per 60-minute treatment and perform 20 hours per week, that works out to $3600 per month. Working 50 weeks per year, that’s an annual earning of $41,400. This number could be higher if you work at higher-paying locations or work for yourself. Also consider that performing 20 hours/week of massage therapy means working a total of 30 - 35 hours/week including breaks, set-up, and cleaning time. Most jobs that pay $40,000+ per year are not that flexible.
Here are some statistics about massage therapy as a career:
There is a serious nationwide shortage of massage therapists, and employers must find and hire massage therapists ASAP to keep their businesses running.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of massage therapists is expected to grow significantly from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for any other career.
The median massage therapist salary in Georgia was $38,050 in a year and is still rising. Many massage therapists work part-time and set their own schedule.
Top 10 percent of massage therapists earn more than $62,650.
Massage therapists often work part-time and can set their own schedules. Demand for massage therapists is so high that many employers will hire you for whatever hours you want to work. You can be in control of your schedule and career.
If you are interested in finding the fun, flexible career you’ve always dreamed of, get in touch with us! You can find out more about out programs here.
