What is Massage Therapy?

Everyone loves a great massage! Perfect for relieving stress and tense muscles. But what exactly is the goal of massage therapy beyond just relaxing? Massage itself is the art of manipulating the soft tissues of the body through different techniques depending on your needs. Massage therapy is used as a tool to help promote overall health and wellness. It can also aid in potentially healing injuries and may provide relief from symptoms you are experiencing. There are numerous benefits to massage therapy such as the reduction of stress and anxiety, improvement of sleep and mood, lessening of pain and muscle tension, better circulation, and much more!

If you are interested in the health and wellness field and are looking for a way to help others in their journey, American Institute of Beauty’s Massage Therapy program may be right for you! Understanding our student’s passion and creativity is a top priority for our educators and staff in order to encourage students’ confidence and success! Bring your love for health and wellness to AIB, learn everything you need to know to prepare you for licensure, your new career, and live your best beauty dream!

What is a Massage Therapist?

A licensed Massage Therapist is someone who assesses and treats the soft tissues and joints of the body. Typically, they talk with their client about what symptoms they are experiencing, medical history, and evaluate painful or tense areas of the body. Massage Therapists help rehabilitate injuries that their clients may have and provide a relaxing, calming environment.  With your passion for helping others in mind, it is worth mentioning that the Massage Therapy field has a 20% projected job growth rate over the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is much faster than the 5% average job growth rate for all occupations.

There are many different types of massage, which are called modalities. Each has its own benefits depending on the desired result of the client. To name just a few there is Swedish massage, Chair massage, Deep-Tissue massage, Sports massage, Trigger Point massage, Myofascial Release, Lymphatic massage, and much more! Once you become a licensed Massage Therapist, you can also specialize in a specific type of massage such as prenatal/postnatal massage for new and expectant mothers. Maybe you’re interested in working with pets and would like to study animal massage. What about providing care to special populations such as the elderly? With continuing education in the massage therapy field, you could gain additional experience in those areas too! The world of massage therapy and bodywork is vast, and there are many career opportunities just waiting for you after successfully passing the MBLEx exam.

How Do I Become a Licensed Massage Therapist?

You are probably wondering: how do I become a licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Florida? After meeting the requirements to enroll at American Institute of Beauty, a board-approved massage school, you must first complete our Massage Therapy program, which is offered at our campus conveniently located in Largo, Florida. After successfully graduating from the program, you will then need to sit for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx), which our course can prepare you for. Finally, you will be able to apply for licensure through the Florida Board of Massage Therapy. The State of Florida requires you to complete a background screening and submit your fingerprints to a Livescan provider that is approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) when submitting your application for licensure.

For more information on how to apply for a Massage Therapy license, visit the Florida Board of Massage Therapy website here: https://floridasmassagetherapy.gov/licensing/licensed-massage-therapist-lmt/

How Long Does it Take to Become a Massage Therapist?

The Massage Therapist program at American Institute of Beauty can be completed in as little as 5 months*! We offer full-time and part-time day classes for ease and schedule flexibility.

*Based on a full-time schedule

What Career Opportunities Do Licensed Massage Therapists Have?

As a licensed Massage Therapist, you can choose to open your own business, whether that be at a storefront location, suite rental, or mobile massage.

Massage Therapists can also be found in:

• Medi Spas
• Salons and Day Spas
• Chiropractor Offices
• Physical Therapy Offices
• Oncology Offices
• Hospitals/Hospices/Nursing Homes
• Sports Teams
• Hotels/Resorts
• Cruise Ships
• Massage Clinics
• Franchise Establishments
• Health Clubs and Fitness Centers
• Yoga and Meditation Studios
• Dance Studios
• And much more!

Massage Therapists can specialize in different aspects of the industry that interest them the most. As previously mentioned, as a licensed Massage Therapist you can pursue additional training in animal massage or prenatal/postnatal massage, and you could have a fulfilling career in one of these areas.

Start Your Massage Therapist Program Today!

Are you excited to learn more about the benefits of a Massage Therapy license and want to experience them for yourself? In our Massage Therapy program, we cover a variety of different techniques to help you prepare for the MBLEx exam and take the next step in your career. Contact us to learn more about how you can get started. We can’t wait to hear from you!