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 Massage therapy is the fastest growing segment of natural health care, due largely to the growth in public demand for alternative approaches to health. But there are over 100 different massage therapy techniques available today, and it's hard to know where one should start. If you are uncertain of the type of bodywork you want to pursue, getting an education as a massage therapist first is a great way to begin and to set the groundwork for your future career. You can easily expand from your massage therapy training, and add new therapies to your practice in the future.
Developing Your Career as a Massage Therapist
There are many jobs available to recent massage school graduates in many diverse industries. Massage therapy is a profession on the rise. With substantial massage therapy career choices and opportunities to work in public or private practice, aspiring massage therapists face a bright future. Employment opportunities for massage therapists are expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate. Through 2012, massage therapists are likely to see a 20% to 35% increase in job opportunities.
Massage therapists are hired to work in a number of private and public settings:
• Airports
• Fitness Centers
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Private Offices
• Shopping Malls
• Sports Medicine Facilities
• Studios
Developing a rewarding massage therapy career can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. Most successful massage therapists reach a good practice level within two years, though some take longer. Your practice will thrive if you focus on these important elements:
• Strive for quality work with each client
• Get involved in the community you practice in – become genuinely involved
• Understand your ambition and goals
• Maintain positive energy levels
• Develop effective marketing and networking efforts
• Value your local reputation – word of mouth can increase your clientele
• Have a warm and friendly personality
Employment in a Rapidly Growing Health Industry
While the use of massage is growing, the reasons people are turning to massage therapy are also expanding. More and more people recognize it as an important element in their overall health and wellness. **
- Almost one-fourth of adult Americans say they’ve used massage therapy at least one time for pain relief.
- Of the people who had at least one massage in the last five years, 31 percent report they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, migraine control, or overall wellness.
- Eight-eight percent agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain.
- Eighty-seven percent agree that massage can be beneficial to health and wellness.
Healthcare providers are increasingly promoting the benefits of massage to their patients.
- In July 2008, thirteen percent of adult Americans reported discussing massage therapy with their doctors or healthcare providers.
- Of those 13 percent, more than half (57 percent) said their doctor strongly recommended or encouraged it.
- More than half of massage therapists (69 percent) receive referrals from healthcare professionals.
Massage therapy usage in hospitals is common.
- The number of hospitals offering massage therapy has increased by 30 percent in two years (from 2004 to 2006).
- Of the hospitals that have massage therapy programs, 71 percent indicate they offer massage for patient stress management and comfort while more than two-thirds (67 percent) utilize massage for pain management.10
- Sixty-seven percent of hospitals with massage therapy programs offer massage to their staff for stress management.
Massage therapists and consumers are in favor of integration of massage into healthcare.
- Over half of adult Americans (60 percent) would like to see their insurance cover massage therapy.
- Ninety-six percent of massage therapists agree massage therapy should be integrated into healthcare.
Salaries for Massage Therapists
Massage salaries can be varied depending a person’s industry experience, practice location or business proprietorship. Massage therapists earn a competitive annual income when compared to other health care support workers. Today’s massage therapist*:
• Charges an average of $58 for one hour of massage
• Earns an average wage of $39 an hour
• Earns an average annual income of $29,250 by providing 15 hours of massage per week
Choosing A School
 When choosing a school, there are many important factors to consider. Here are a few ways that MTTI makes it easier for you to make this important decision:
• MTTI offers both full and part-time studies and day and evening classes.
• You can visit the school before enrolling - meet students, administrators, tour the facilities, and sit in on a class.
• Las Cruces is a central location serving the areas of Southern New Mexico and West Texas.
• MTTI is fully accredited and licensed in the state of New Mexico.
• MTTI tuition is reasonable and competitively priced, and there is financial aid available (if qualified).
• MTTI courses are a full 720 hours for the same price that many other schools offer nation-wide with far fewer hours. At MTTI you get a better education for your dollar.
• At MTTI you graduate with real-world experience, having treated real injuries on athletes at New Mexico State University and given full massages to clients in our student clinic. We also offer employment counseling to help you find a great job after you graduate!
• Our students pass the national exam at a rate consistently higher than both state and national averages.
Passing the National Exam
After education and hands-on training is completed, a new massage therapist must pass the national exam certification for their massage license. MTTI has a strong record of producing graduates who are prepared to pass their national exam, and our student's rates of passage are consistently higher than those of both the NM state and national averages. The following statistics are provided by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork:
1/1/2012 - 7/1/2012
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MTTI Pass Rate
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NM Pass Rate
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National Pass Rate
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80%
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66%
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71% |
7/1/2011 - 12/31/2011
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MTTI Pass Rate
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NM Pass Rate
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National Pass Rate
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63%
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69%
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71% |
1/1/2011 - 7/1/2011
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MTTI Pass Rate
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NM Pass Rate
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National Pass Rate
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73%
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80%
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69% |
7/12/2010 - 12/31/2010
| MTTI Pass Rate |
NM Pass Rate |
National Pass Rate |
63.64%
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54.84%
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69.91%
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1/1/2010 - 7/11/2010
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MTTI Pass Rate
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NM Pass Rate
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National Pass Rate
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|
100%
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58.06%
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64.59%
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7/1/09 - 12/31/09
|
MTTI Pass Rate
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NM Pass Rate
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National Pass Rate
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75%
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57%
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61%
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1/1/09 - 6/30/09
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MTTI Pass Rate
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NM Pass Rate
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National Pass Rate
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77.78%
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60%
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5.426%
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7/1/08 - 12/31/08
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MTTI Pass Rate
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NM Pass Rate
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National Pass Rate
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100%
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68.63%
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60.01%
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1/1/2007 - 6/30/2007
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MTTI Pass Rate
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NM Pass Rate
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National Pass Rate
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100%
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77.14%
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68.87%
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*Statistics based on the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook.
**Statistics taken from AMTA Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet (2009).
*Information on this page is from College Info: Becoming a Massage Therapist.
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