Massage Therapy Schools
Best Massage Therapy Schools In Arizona | Cost, Requirement & How To Apply
Massage therapy uses the power of touch, oils, and your hands to provide natural healing remedies for patients’ bodies. By enrolling in one of these massage therapy schools in Arizona, you can get your massage therapist license.
As the home of the Grand Canyon, magnificent scenery and exciting cities like Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona attracts a large number of tourists, which means great opportunities for spas and resorts.
If you are enrolled in a massage therapy program in one of the schools in Arizona, expect to complete at least 700 hours of training to learn a range of massage techniques.
Massage therapy schools in Arizona require that a portion of these instructional hours be practice hours under the supervision of licensed massage therapists.
Are There Massage Therapy Schools In Arizona?
There are about 20 massage therapy schools in Arizona recognized by state officials. Many are located in the metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson, while others are located in smaller cities such as Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott and Yuma.
Schools operate independently or on larger college campuses. Depending on the educational institution, students can receive either a professional certificate or an associate degree in applied sciences.
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How Much Do Massage Therapy Schools Cost In Arizona?
The estimated cost of Massage Therapy Schools Cost in Arizona is $13,500. It includes registration fee, tuition, books, consumables, technical fee, material fee and licensing fee. Federal student aid in the form of Pell Grants and student loans is available to eligible students.
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What Are The Requirements For Massage Therapy Schools In Arizona?
To become a licensed massage therapist in Arizona, you must complete 700 hours of massage therapy training.
If you graduated from a US Department of Education accredited school in Arizona, such as ASIS Massage Education, you will be eligible to receive your license upon graduation—you do not need to take an exam.
If your school is not accredited, you must take the NCETMB or MBLEx exams after graduating from massage therapy school.
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What Are The Best Massage Therapy Schools In Arizona?
If you want to practice massage in Arizona, you will need to complete the licensing requirements at one of the massage schools in the state.
There are some great Massage Therapy Schools in Arizona as you’ll see in the list below, and it’s easy to meet all the education requirements, don’t panic.
1. Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
This award-winning school in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix, was founded more than 25 years ago. It has four educational programs that award diplomas.
Professional massage therapist, 750 hours of study that take 11 months; Massage master, 1000 hours over 14 months; Master of massage with a specialty in aesthetics, 1000 hours over 14 months; and professional massage therapist, 1,000 hours over 24 months.
In addition to the core courses, the curriculum covers Aromatherapy, Baby Touch, Breast Health, Canine Massage, Skull Unwrapping, Deep Tissue Massage, Fibromyalgia Therapy, Medical Massage, Myotherapy, Polarity, Reflexology, Reiki, Yoga, Hypnotherapy, Nutrition and Natural Aesthetics.
2. Central Arizona College
A community college with campuses in the Phoenix area, CAC offers an associate degree and certificate program in massage therapy. To earn the certificate, students must complete 39-43 semester hours (735 contact hours).
Classes include relaxation massage, therapeutic massage, therapeutic massage for special populations, spa treatments, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, body mechanics, acupuncture, anatomy, pathophysiology, business skills, and complementary and alternative medicine.
The program includes chiropractic assistant certification. To earn an associate’s degree, students take the same courses as well as general education and advanced medical classes.
3. Arizona Western College
Located in Yuma, this school offers two programs: a professional certificate and an associate degree.
All students are trained in active and passive joint movement techniques, as well as techniques including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports, pregnancy and other specialized massage techniques.
Additional required courses for those seeking an AAS degree include English Composition, Mathematics, Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Physical and Biological Sciences.
4. Phoenix College
Students can earn either an associate’s degree or a certificate. To be eligible for the 61-68 hour degree program, they must have 15 previous credits in anatomy and physiology.
This credit inclues health care delivery, medical terminology, alternative medicine, and introduction to massage therapy. These are courses in the certificate curriculum.
AAS participants must also take general education courses in composition, oral communication, formal reading, mathematics, humanities and fine arts, social and behavioral sciences, and natural sciences.
There are four tracks: general, practical, 12 types of massage and physical activity. All students get experience in the school’s massage practice center.
5. Chandler-Gilbert Community College
This large public college in the Phoenix suburb of the same name is one of more than a dozen institutions of higher education in the greater Phoenix area that offer massage therapy programs. CGC is one of the oldest, its history begins in 1985.
To earn a massage therapy specialist degree, students receive 750 hours of instruction and training in classrooms and an on-campus clinic. They choose one of four types of degrees depending on their specialization.
6. Arizona School of Integrative Studies
Campuses in Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Mesa offer an 800-hour massage therapy program that takes 26 weeks for full-time students to complete. Correspondence students attend evening and weekend classes for 12 months.
Coursework covers Swedish Massage, Chiropractic Assistant Training, Neuromuscular Therapy, Sports Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Connective Tissue Therapy, Shiatsu, Hydrotherapy, Integrative Massage, and Polar Therapy.
Students also work in a clinic setting to gain hands-on experience and gain the skills necessary to meet licensing requirements. Financial aid, scholarships and individual payment plans are available.
7. Cortiva Institute-Tempe
This school offers several massage therapy programs that only take seven and a half months to complete. There are campuses in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson. The curriculum includes an internship at a state polyclinic.
Students automatically belong to the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), the largest such organization in the country. Membership includes free liability insurance.
The school advertises its professional development and employment services. Thousands of employers have hired Cortiva graduates. Some of them reimburse students.
8. Carrington College-Tucson
A small school in a medium-sized town, Carrington offers a 35-hour program that takes about seven months. Graduates receive certificates of achievement.
Anatomy and physiology classes; Terminology; Functions and structures of muscular, skeletal and internal body systems; and ethical, legal and business issues.
The final requirement is an externship to gain practical experience. Students also attend a career development workshop.
9. Arizona College-Glendale
The 35-week program here includes a curriculum that focuses on bodywork and financial skills. Students take anatomy and physiology classes where they study movement, postural alignment, and structural dysfunction.
They study massage techniques in classrooms and laboratories, as well as study business and marketing. The final component of the program is an externship to provide students with real-world work experience using massage tables, massage chairs, and hot stones.
The school offers flexible morning and evening class schedules, financial aid, individualized training and employment assistance. New classes start every five weeks.
10. GateWay Community College-Central City
Based in Phoenix, GateWay provides massage therapy certifications. The program consists of 700 hours of study, which take eight months.
The curriculum emphasizes structural massage, which the school describes as “the ability to combine and apply a deep understanding of anatomy with powerful tissue sculpting techniques to create radical changes in the body.”
Students learn to use their hands, fingers, forearms, knuckles, fists, and elbows while performing Swedish, deep tissue, Asian, sports, and pregnancy massages. There are also business classes.
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How Much Do Massage Therapists In Arizona Earn?
Median pay is more than $40,700 a year, or nearly $20 an hour in Arizona, slightly higher than just under $40,000 and just over $19 nationwide. The lowest earners earn nearly $21,000 (about $10 an hour) in the state, compared to $20,300 or more (about $9.80 an hour) nationally.
Arizona is one of the 12 states with the most massage therapists. The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale region ranks among the top 10 metropolitan areas for employment in this industry.
Officials predicted that the number of positions will grow from 3,130 in 2016 to 4,030 in 2026. That would be a growth rate of 29 percent, which is faster than the national average (26 percent).
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How Do I Become A Massage Therapist In Arizona?
To become a massage therapist in this state, you generally must first obtain a high school diploma. However, it is possible to begin vocational training in the final year at the Western Maricopa Education Center in suburban Phoenix. The program involves a competitive admission process.
The student must complete 700 hours of training at an approved massage therapy school. The state board mandates that the following be included in the curriculum: body structure and function, ethics and other professional standards, theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and practical experience.
In addition to the main coursework, individual schools develop their own curricula. Some of them are designing classes for students that aim to serve certain segments of the population, such as the elderly. Others provide training in specialized massage methods and techniques.
For example, there may be specializations in aromatherapy, tai chi, or the mind-body connection. Some students receive more than 1,000 hours of study and training, which can give them more career options and a higher salary. Financial assistance is possible.
Those who graduate from a school not recognized by the Arizona state board must pass an exam administered by either the Federation of State Boards of Massage Therapy or the National Board for Certification in Massage and Bodywork Therapy.
Massage Therapy Schools In Arizona FAQs
Massage therapists in Arizona are trained to promote the health and well-being of the state’s citizens through therapeutic touch and their knowledge of the body’s anatomy and function. As a student at a massage therapy school in Arizona, you will learn to provide individualized health care to each client using a variety of massage techniques. You’ll also learn about everything from legal and ethical issues to anatomy and physiology. Some of the most popular types of massage to learn are Swedish massage, sports massage, deep tissue massage, aromatherapy, hot stone massage, and pregnancy massage.
As an Arizona licensee, you must renew your license every two years before your birthday. Beauty license renewals cost $60. Arizona currently requires you to complete 24 hours of continuing education to renew your license.
The Phoenix/Mesa/Glendale, Arizona metropolitan area ranks 4th in the nation for employment of massage therapists. Arizona’s trained and certified massage therapists can enjoy working in a variety of locations throughout the beautiful, warm and sunny Southwest. Consider one of these accredited massage therapy schools in Arizona to start working toward a career in the sunshine state.
If you are enrolled in a massage therapy program, expect to complete at least 700 hours of training to learn a range of massage techniques. Massage therapy schools in Arizona require that a portion of these instructional hours be practice hours under the supervision of licensed massage therapists.
All massage therapists in Arizona must be licensed by the Arizona Board of Therapeutic Massage and certified by the National Board for Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Arizona uses the National Certification Examination in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) for licensing purposes. If all steps are successfully completed, the student becomes a licensed massage therapist.
Conclusion
The path to becoming a massage therapist begins with enrolling and successfully completing any of the massage therapy schools in Arizona. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to apply for a massage therapy license through your state board (this is a requirement to work as a massage therapist in most states).
References
- careerswiki.com – Massage Therapy Schools In Arizona
- beautyschoolsdirectory.com – Massage Schools In Arizona
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