Washington State Approved Massage Schools

Washington Extends Continuing Education Policydecember 2021 Update

12/10/2021

On November 5, 2021, the Washington Board of Massage met to discuss the ongoing difficulty in obtaining hands-on continuing education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy Number BOM 20-01.3 addressed the impact of completing CE requirements and pushed back the date for massage therapists to meet CE requirements until December 31, 2021. The Board reviewed the policy on November 5, 2021, and voted to further extend the CE requirement for renewal through June 30, 2022, with Policy Number BOM 20-01.4. This policy will be effective January 1, 2022, through June 30, 2022, or until the declared state of emergency issued under Proclamation 20-05 is rescinded, whichever is later. The policy will be reevaluated at the March 11, 2022, board meeting.

Licensees still need to complete 24 hours of continuing education however, eight hours of hands-on requirements may be substituted with any combination of hours detailed here. If you have questions or concerns, email .

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Massage Therapist Students Exceed State And National Pass Rates

For the past five years , 92.8% of Whatcom’s massage therapist graduates passed the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination on their first attempt, compared to 83.8% in the state and 72.5% nationally. Congratulations to our graduates and faculty! Passing the exam is essential for licensed practice of massage in the state of Washington.

Where Can I Study

The Washington State Department of Health approves schools with the following criteria: 130 hours of anatomy and physiology, 50 hours of pathology, 265 hours of theory and practice of massage, 55 hours of clinical/business practice and first aid certification with the American Red Cross.

Below are two approved schools in Washington to help you get started on what you may be looking for in a massage therapy education.

• Massage School and Wellness Clinic: Bringing heart and meaning to massage therapy, this schools goal is to provide the highest quality massage practitioner training in a holistically nurturing environment, to equip students with all the tools necessary to build solid foundations for careers as LMTs, and to bring out the true heart and humanity in each individual.
• Bellevue Massage School: Founded in 1977, this school was one of the first schools of massage therapy in Western Washington, and the first massage school on the eastside of Lake Washington. Interested students are welcome to attend a complimentary introductory class to determine whether the school is right for them.

Other education options include Body Mind Academy and Everest College.

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Ncbtmb Continuing Education Requirements

Jumozy is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork as a continuing education Approved Provider. Our Provider # is 452024-12.

NCBTMB advocates for professional development through quality lifelong learning, and requires continuing education as part of the recertification process to ensure you practice safely, competently, and effectively. Every two years, NCBTMB mandates 24 hours of massage therapy continuing education to maintain Board Certification.

According to NCBTMB:

Continuing education plays a critical role in NCBTMBs recertification program. those who select the CE option are required to earn credits from an NCBTMB Approved Provider. This ensures that certificants receive quality instruction of the highest standards.

Some recent changes have been made concerning certification by NCBTMB. On January 1, 2013, a new credential Board Certification was launched to establish a new national standard, replacing the National Certification.

The National Certification was only available through December 31, 2012. Effective January 1, 2013, achievement of this credential was retired and the Board Certification credential will be the highest credential available to the profession.

Go to for information on Board Certification.

NCBTMB Board Certified practitioners must renew their certification every two years.

To recertify as a Board Certified Massage Therapist, practitioners must:

S Necessary To Graduate From Washington Spa Academy & Gain Lmt License

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Video: Starting Your Own Massage Therapy Practice

Massage therapy is a field filled with entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, the lack of business knowledge currently available makes success as a massage practice owner very difficult. This course was created to help guide aspiring massage therapy entrepreneurs along the path of starting a massage practice. The basic layout of the course follows that of a business plan with the ultimate goal of being able to create a business plan for this future practice. In addition to the business plan creation, this course includes topics such as legal forms, marketing, funding, and the costs and benefits of owning a business.

Florida Massage: this course is approved as general hours. You will not receive hands-on credit for this course.

Presented by HomeCEUThis course is a video, on demand course.

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How Much Will I Earn

The average annual wage of a massage therapist in Washington was $56,841 in 2021. This is on the higher side of state earnings, with the average national salary at $53,222. Massage therapists who work in Bremerton-Silverdale have the opportunity to earn a higher salary, with the average for this city at $57,480 annually.

• The MASSAGE Magazine Interview: Diane Matkowski
• Emotional Energy Maintenance

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Process For Approving/denying Applications

We finish final review for approval after a credentialing specialist verifies that the application is fully complete, and complies with requirements in chapter 18.108 RCW and chapter 246-830 WAC. We complete background checks and make sure applicants have submitted required fees. Credentialing supervisors and lead workers have the authority to approve routine applications. The disciplining authority may conduct further review if the credentialing supervisor cant verify the applicant meets all requirements. Well formally notify applicants of a denial. Those applicants may request a hearing to appeal the decision.

Washington State Massage Board

This agency is a division of the state Department of Health. Its mission is to protect the publics health and safety, and to promote the welfare of the state by regulating the competency and quality of professional healthcare providers.

The board licenses massage therapists. It establishes educational, training, and exam requirements for licensure approves schools that offer programs meeting curricular and faculty standards and investigates complaints about schools and practitioners. The officials take disciplinary action ranging from fines to license suspension or revocation.

The board has four members, three of whom are licensed MTs with at least three years experience in the state. The other member represents the public.

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Clover Park Technical College

3905

Students at this public community college, founded in 1942, attend classes on the South Hill campus, about a mile outside Lakewood.

There are three massage therapy options. The 41-credit clinical massage practitioner and 44-credit Swedish massage practitioner certificate programs provide all state-required courses. Students learn clinical, pregnancy, sports and chair massage plus myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, hydrotherapy, and mini-spa applications.

The 103-credit associate of applied technology program adds classes in composition, psychology, communications, social science, quantitative reasoning, and social sciences. Business courses teach professional ethics, goal setting, insurance billing, marketing, resume writing, and interviewing.

• 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, Washington 98499-4004
• http://www.cptc.edu

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This award-winning community college, in a Seattle suburb, offers a pair of programs.

The school awards massage practitioner certificates to those who complete 50 credits in three quarters. At an on-campus clinic, students perform Swedish, deep tissue, pregnancy, hot stone, and sports massages as well as acupressure and myofascial release treatments.

• 3000 NE Fourth St, Renton, Washington 98056-4123
• http://www.rtc.edu

Elite Cosmetology Barber & Spa Academy

This Yakima school offers two certificate programs far exceeding the 500 clock hours that state officials require.

A 750-hour program meets the criteria for recognition by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. It entails 10 months of full-time study . The 650-hour alternative is part time for about a year.

Both programs involve the mandated courses, plus Palpation, Joint Function, Swedish Massage, Variation, Remedial, Body Mechanics, Hydrotherapy, and Terminology. Students perform 50 hours of clinical work, and take a field trip to the cadaver lab at Central Washington University.

• 2606 West Nob Hill Boulevard, Yakima, Washington 98902-5105
• http://elitecbsacademy.com

Founded in 1986 in Spokane, this is the oldest massage therapy school in the inland Northwest.

The 12-month, 750-hour MT program features the state-required courses plus Hydrotherapy, Reflexology, Acupressure, Trigger Point Therapy, Spa Treatments, Neuromuscular Therapy, Aromatherapy, Cranial Sacral Therapy, and Myofascial Techniques. Students also take classes in Swedish, infant/prenatal, on-site, lymphatic, sports, orthopedic, and cancer care massage.

The school has a cadaver lab where students view bodies in various degrees of dissection. Program participants administer 50-minute massages in a student clinic, and also practice their techniques at facilities in the community.

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Covid Response Extended Through June 30 2022 See Update Here

Policy Statement BOM 20-01 Continuing Education Requirements During the COVID-19 Response extended The Board of Massage issued a statement to address the impact COVID-19 response measures are having on licensed massage therapists meeting the hands on continuing education requirement. Massage therapists must still complete 24 hours of CE, but the board will accept any combination of hours in subsection of WAC 246-830-475 in lieu of the hands on CE.

360-236-4857

Please note that all courses taken with Massage CE Learning Tree can be used for NCBTMB recertification, NCBTMB Approved Provider #450015-06. Although we try to offer the most up to date information, massage licensing laws vary state by state and are continuously changing. It is the students responsibility to contact there licensing board to verify CE requirements for their state.

What Are The Requirements For Massage Therapy Schools In Washington State

Massage therapy schools in Washington State are a minimum of 500 hours. This is the number that will need to be displayed in the protocol. However, the school may note that there are significant requirements for extracurricular learning and practice.

The Washington Code requires programs to be completed in at least six months. Washington programs include at least 130 hours of coursework in anatomy and physiology.

Kinesiology is considered a subtopic this subject area must be at least 40 hours. The other 50 program hours, at least, will be spent studying pathology. Indications and contraindications for massage will be considered.

A minimum of 265 hours will be devoted to the theory and practice of massage. The student learns about the physiological effects of the presented methods. Other topics covered will include the body mechanics of the therapist. Up to 50 hours of this content area may be credited for time spent at the student clinic.

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Washington Massage Therapy 12

• Care for Special Populations 2
• Ethics for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork 3
• Introduction to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for Massage Therapists 1
• Massage Therapy for Sports Injuries 4
• Pathology of Chronic Conditions for Massage Therapists 2

These courses fulfill state-mandated requirements.

Ethics for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

Cultural Diversity And Professional Ethics 1 Ce

Your clients will likely include, not only diverse cultures, races, and ethnicities, but at times, those who are mentally and/or physically handicapped. To promote your skills and knowledge as a massage therapist to culturally diverse clients, your awareness of such differences and understanding the ramifications of bias, discrimination, and stereotyping is important.

Cultural awareness will help you to improve the quality of your massage sessions. This awareness will also prove effective in eliminating barriers regarding culture to provide a positive influence on behaviors and practices within the massage industry.

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Victorias Academy Of Cosmetology

This private school in Kennewick offers six certificate programs, including a 750-hour massage therapy curriculum that takes just eight months to complete.

Students learn these massage techniques: therapeutic, deep tissue, trigger point, Thai and Oriental, stone, elderly, pregnancy, infant, chair, and sports. Along with the mandated coursework, classes cover hydrotherapy, reflexology, aromatherapy, acupressure, Shiatsu, yoga, polarity, lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, EFT emotional release, nutrition, human behavior, and client interaction.

The school accepts high school graduates as young as 16 years of age. The massage program classroom has 15 beds in individual cubicles, and there is a student clinic.

• 23 W. 1st Ave., Kennewick, Washington 99336
• http://www.victoriasacademy.edu/

The company that owns this school has campuses in a number of states, including one on Pontius Avenue North.

Students can earn MT certificates in as little as seven and a half months. There are two options for the 815.5-hour, 53-credit program: day classes for 32 weeks or evening classes for 52 weeks. Students may take longer, but they must attend school at least half-time.

Among the required courses are Hydrotherapy & Spa Preparation,, Acupressure & Eastern Theories, Craniosacral Massage, Reflexology, Russian Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy & Techniques, and Shiatsu. Students take part in several internships.

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Washington State Department Of Health Contact Details

The licensing process is governed by the Washington State Department of Health. If you have any questions, need forms, applications, or anything else relating to your license I recommend contacting them.

Their contact details are as follows:

Washington State Department of Health

Tumwater, WA, USA

Website

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Best Paying Massage Therapy Jobs In Washington State

Once your massage therapy license application is approved and you receive your massage therapy license by mail, you are free to seek employment and offer massage services.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of massage therapists will grow by 22% between 2018 and 2028. Some of the places you can find work include spas, fitness centers, resorts, and medical facilities.

You can also use the knowledge and skills gained to start your own massage business or offer mobile massage services, serving clients in their homes. In this way, you will experience the business side of massage.

On the other hand, working in a medical facility, spa or salon allows you to get on-the-job training from more experienced colleagues. It also gives you access to a ready-made market and clientele without having to sell your services, as is the case with running a business.

Why Choose Washington For Massage Therapy Schooling

Washington state is probably best known for its beautiful scenery. You can find beaches, rainforests, farmland, desert, it has a lot to offer.

Its a great state to work and live in. There are plenty of opportunities for massage therapists too, so this is also a smart career choice.

There are plenty of schools to choose from as you will have seen above. The curriculum isnt difficult and any of the approved schools will be able to take you through the steps at a pace thats convenient for you.

Whether you intend to start your own business or work as an employee. Start your training and take the first step towards your new career sooner rather than later!

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Clever Park Technical College

Founded in 1942, students at this community college attend classes at the South Hill campus, about a mile outside of Lakewood.

There are three options for therapeutic massage. The 41-credit Clinical Massage Therapist and 44-credit Swedish Massage Practitioner certification programs provide all state-required courses.

Students study clinical, pregnancy, sports and chair massage plus myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, hydrotherapy and mini spa.

The 103-credit associate of applied technology program adds classes in composition, psychology, communications, social sciences, quantitative reasoning, and social sciences.

Business courses teach professional ethics, goal setting, insurance billing, marketing, resume writing, and interviewing.

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Washington Massage Therapy Continuing Education Courses

State Board: Washington Board of MassageCEs Required: 24/2yrsRequired Qualifications: Not notedAcceptable CE: 8 hrs direct skills training 4 hrs ethics, communication and WA state massage laws 2hrs professional laws and boundaries.Unacceptable CE: Not notedEntity Liable for Approving CE for State: Not notedCEs Allowed Online: 12Mandatory Number of Hands-on CEs: 12State Board Website:

Science Courses

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How Much Do Massage Therapists In Washington State Earn

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a licensed massage therapist in Washington is $66,110.

It is the 4th highest-paying state in the country, with 3 of the 10 highest-paying metropolitan areas: metro Mount Vernon , metro Seattle , and metro Portland-Vancouver .

Washington also claims one of the highest employment rates for LMTs, with the Olympia metro area ranking 2nd in the nation and Spokane 5th.

The state ranks third in the number of positions and employment opportunities for massage therapists, and fourth in employment among all states in the country. If you want to consider a career as a massage therapist, choosing the right massage school is a critical decision.

As more people turn to massage therapy for alternative pain relief and stress management, the job outlook for massage therapists in Washington looks better than ever.

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Endorsements In Massage Therapy

For an intraoral endorsement, you need 16 hours of education as follows:

• Cranial anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, and intraoral massage technique
• Safety, sanitation, and hygienic practice
• Pathology and contraindications

For animal massage endorsements, you need the below training:

• Animal Anatomy and physiology: 20 hours
• Animal kinesiology: 25 hours
• Animal massage techniques: 25 hours
• Handling techniques: 26 hours

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