Medical Massage Therapist Education Requirements And Courses

Medical massage therapist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, medical massage therapists don't need a college education. The most common degree for medical massage therapists is bachelor's degree with 33% graduates, with only 30% medical massage therapist graduates earning associate degree. Medical massage therapists who decided to graduate from college often finish Florida College or University of South Florida. Some good skills to have in this position include patients, patient care and physical therapy.

Popular medical massage therapist certifications include Medical Massage Therapy Certification, Massage Therapy Certification (MT), or Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). To improve medical massage therapist qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in medical massage therapist education paths.

What education do you need to become a medical massage therapist?

What degree do you need to be a medical massage therapist?

The most common degree for medical massage therapists is bachelor's degree, with 33% of medical massage therapists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 30% and associate degree degree at 12%.

Bachelor's, 33%

Associate, 30%

Master's, 12%

Diploma, 5%

Other Degrees, 20%

What should I major in to become a medical massage therapist?

You should major in business to become a medical massage therapist. 12% of medical massage therapists major in business. Other common majors for a medical massage therapist include somatic bodywork and medical technician.

Business, 12%

Somatic Bodywork, 9%

Medical Technician, 8%

Physical Therapy, 7%

Other Majors, 64%

Best majors for medical massage therapists

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	11.8%
2	Somatic Bodywork	9.0%
3	Medical Technician	7.9%
4	Physical Therapy	7.3%
5	Medical Assisting Services	6.7%

Show more common medical massage therapist majors

20 best online courses for medical massage therapists

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1. Deep Tissue Massage: Neuromuscular Therapy Certificate

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Neuromuscular Therapy is a highly effective form of Deep Tissue Massage for pain relief (2 CEUs)...

2. Deep Tissue Massage: Trigger Point Therapy Certificate

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Deep Tissue Trigger Point Massage Therapy is a proven approach for the relief of soft-tissue pain and dysfunction (2CEU)...

3. Massage Therapy

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Massage Therapy Course 101...

4. Professional Cupping Therapy Massage Certificate Course 4 CE

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Learn Cupping Therapy Massage Today to Treat Your Own Pains, Your Friends, Family Or Massage Clients Effortlessly!...

5. Bowen Therapy NO MASSAGE Healing Certificate Course (8CEU)

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An incredible NO MASSAGE remedial therapy for massage therapists or anyone else that wants to learn how to heal people...

6. Cupping Massage Mastery

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Master Silicone Cupping in 2023 and Become the Go-To Therapist for Chronic Pain and Athletic Recovery...

7. Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Certificate Course (6CEU)

4.7

(4,438)

Manual lymphatic drainage massage will change your massage practice. Learn how to do this powerful massage technique...

8. Deep Tissue Massage: Myofascial Release Certificate Course

4.7

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This course will change how you think of Deep Tissue Massage using a whole body Myofascial approach (2 CEUs)...

9. Deep Tissue Massage Certificate Course (5 CEU's)

4.7

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Master Deep Tissue Massage and Other Advanced Massage Techniques from This Bestselling Deep Tissue Massage Course...

10. Kinesiotaping For Massage Therapists Certificate Course 3 CE

4.7

(1,269)

Start using Kinesiotape in your massage clinic TODAY and see your massage clients get so much better, faster. (3 CEU)...

11. IASTM Deep Tissue Massage Certificate Course

4.5

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Learn instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), a popular Myofascial Massage treatment (2 CEUs)...

12. Aromatherapy For Massage Therapists Certificate Course

4.9

(420)

Transform your massage business by using aromatherapy essential oils and see incredible results with your clients!...

13. Acupressure and Meridian Massage Techniques

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Enhance your treatments with simple acupressure and meridian massage...

14. Acupressure Massage For Health Certificate Course

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Learn how to use acupressure massage to become healthier by treating your own health conditions naturally!...

15. Ashiatsu or Shiatsu Barefoot Sports Massage Therapy

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Let your feet do the work for you!...

16. Professional Cupping Therapy & Massage

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Professional and comprehensive course of cupping techniques and applications...

17. Sports Massage: Positional Release Certificate Course

4.6

(355)

Learn Sports Massage Positional Release Techniques to produce profound pain relief and improve bodily function (2 CEUs)...

18. Acupressure Massage For Pain Relief Certificate Course(5CEU)

4.6

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Use Mark's powerful acupressure massage system for pain relief. The easy step by step method that gives great results!...

19. Gua Sha Massage Certificate Course

4.7

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Learn the Traditional Healing Technique Gua Sha for the Modern World to give Pain-Relieving Massage Treatments (2 CEUs)...

20. Colombian Wood Therapy Course - Maderoterapia

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Learn how to use Colombian Wood Therapy to help your clients reduce cellulite and melt fat...

Average medical massage therapist salary by education level

According to our data, medical massage therapists with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $55,018 annually. Medical massage therapists with a High School Diploma degree earn an average annual salary of $51,443.

Medical massage therapist education level	Medical massage therapist salary
High School Diploma or Less	$51,443
Bachelor's Degree	$55,018
Some College/ Associate Degree	$51,398