It is essential for anyone interested in a career in massage therapy to complete a formal course of study. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) states that most states regulate the profession by requiring registration, licensing, certification, or a combination of these. Being available to your clients is essential for success, and with a primary job that is largely controlled by someone else (a boss or deadline), it can be difficult to be easily accessible to massage clients. According to The Globe and Mail, a Canadian company, there are 26,000 massage therapists in Canada and two-thirds of them are self-employed.
The most difficult challenge I faced when trying to have a successful second career as a massage therapist was (and still is) related to time management. My eldest daughter and son-in-law, who are also licensed massage therapists, have a mix of home-study work and work in an office an hour away from where they live. It is important to consider this information when deciding which area of massage you want to study and where you can anticipate getting your first job. People who are self-employed or own their own massage business can also attract additional customers and earn higher salaries.
Rather than starting a physical spa that would require large capital, many successful massage therapists have become private, self-employed contractors. Many massage therapists offer personal care services and work in salons, spas, and rejuvenation centers. I have also worked for a massage chain, but I also have experience in everything from babysitting to cold calling and sales, human resources and accounting. When there's time, massage therapists can also continue their education and expand their skills with webinars or online courses that can teach them new techniques. In addition to this, they must be physically fit as massage therapy can be surprisingly physically demanding and they must manage their time well.
Continuing education, location and workplace remain the most important factors influencing the salaries of massage therapists. It is quite clear that massage therapy has a strong demand for these services and a growing demand in the future.
