Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Massage Therapists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at John C Calhoun State Community College, Southern Union State Community College, and Gadsden State Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Trenholm Tech, John C Calhoun State Community College, Wallace State, and Gadsden State Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Southern Union State Community College, Wallace State, Lurleen B Wallace Community College, and Trenholm Tech.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Southern Union State Community College, Wallace State, and Gadsden State Community College.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Trenholm Tech.
Working as a Massage Therapist in Alabama
Massage therapists use special techniques to cure a person suffering from pain and stiffness. They can specialize in more than eighty different types of massages, known as modalities. Deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, acupressure, reflexology, neuromuscular massage and sports massage are only a few of the countless approaches to massage therapy. Massage therapists also promote circulation in order to catalyze healing and regeneration. Read a detailed Massage Therapists job description and schools overview.
Massage therapists in Alabama can learn more about continuing education and public education opportunities, and enhance their career prospects through the American Massage Therapy Association, Alabama Chapter. The Alabama Therapeutic Massage Professionals also offers opportunities for professional networking.
State Requirements
The State of Alabama requires all massage therapists to be licensed by the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy. Licensing requirements include:
- Attending a minimum 650 hours of education program from an accredited massage therapy school
- Certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
- Evidence of a Personal Liability Insurance coverage of $1,000,000
Major Industries
Most massage therapists work for private offices, hospitals, and nursing homes. Other industries in Alabama include:
- Personal Care Services
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners
- Civic and Social Organizations
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Other Amusement & Recreation Industries
- Other Personal Services
Major Employers
A few major employers of massage therapists in Alabama include:
- Huntsville Hospital (General Medical and Surgical Hospitals)
- UAB Healthfinder (General Medical and Surgical Hospitals)
- Magnolia Wood Therapeutic Incorporated (Personal Care Services)100
- Brewer Porch Childrens Center (Offices of Other Health Practitioners)250
- Lakewood Club (Civic and Social Organizations)500
- YMCA (Other Amusement & Recreation Industries)
- Allright Parking (Other Personal Services)
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Gordon College • Wenham, AL
Studying Massage Therapy With A Minor In Spanish (completion in 2009)
"I learned a lot from in my program. For the money I paid, I thought I really gained a lot!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I loved it here! I had an awesome experience and actually miss it! |
| Program Reputation | 8 | This is a growing field that more people are coming into. I see a lot of people choosing Gordon, even more so than when I applied. |
| Program Quality | 9 | This is a new and growing field and Gordon does a great job of offering it as a program. I do wish there was less book work at times, but I know that it is important. |
| Instruction | 9 | All of my teachers were wonderful and made sure students were doing the work correctly. They made you feel in control and able. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It was difficult to remember all of the bones, muscles, joints, etc. in the body. However, I loved what I was learning so sometimes even the difficult stuff came easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Since this is a hands-on field, a lot of what we learned was hands on. However, we also had to hit the books and be knowledgeable about the body. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There were no weekend classes offered for undergraduates. However, the school does offer night, classes online classes, and many classes throughout the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Gordon is a very up-to-date school when it comes to technology and resources. There is a library filled with books, as well as great computers and printers. The school offers many study groups, tutors, and programs and special services for those who need them due to disabilities. |
| Social Life | I made a lot of friends while in college. We enjoyed attending and playing sports, whether they were club or collegiate. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | My school has a career help center to help you land your first real job. They are very helpful and open most of the day. They guided me towards my first and current job as an infant massage therapist in a local hospital clinic. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I do not take part in alumni stuff because I moved slightly further away from school. However, I do keep in contact with a lot of alumni and professors. |
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