Experienced massage therapists can transition from hands-on practice into education to extend their careers and shape the future of the profession. Two main paths include teaching in a massage school or becoming a continuing education provider, each with different requirements, responsibilities, and income potential. Important considerations include credentials, teaching skills, financial stability, and long-term goals. Teaching offers a way to share expertise, reduce physical strain, and leave a lasting professional legacy.
Key Takeaways
- Teaching is no longer just a “retirement option” and can be a fulfilling career move for massage therapists in the prime of their careers.
- Massage therapists can teach either as massage school instructors or as continuing education providers, each with distinct structures and levels of flexibility.
- State regulations, licensing requirements, and training in adult education are essential considerations before transitioning into teaching.
- Teaching offers greater income stability and reduced physical strain compared to full-time hands-on practice.
- Educators have the opportunity to mentor future therapists and make a lasting impact on the massage profession.
From delivering drool-worthy relaxation to providing clinical-level “fix-it” sessions, your expert knowledge and skills consistently deliver stellar results. As a seasoned massage therapist, you’ve collected stacks of continuing education certificates and built a rock-solid reputation. With significant potential as an educator, is it time to transition out of your treatment room and back into the classroom?
Breaking the “Retirement Only” Myth
For many seasoned massage therapists, teaching is a natural progression—an opportunity to share knowledge, mentor future professionals, and significantly influence the direction of the massage industry. But teaching has often been thought of as the ‘retirement’ option; when your body begs to step away from hands-on work, but your heart isn’t quite ready to leave the profession. Thankfully, this outdated thinking is changing, as more therapists are choosing to become educators in the prime of their careers. This shift is the shake-up and wake-up the massage industry needs, injecting it with fresh perspectives and cutting-edge teaching methods.
Two Main Paths to Teaching
If you’re ready to influence the future of massage and transition from client-centered service provider to teacher and mentor, there are two pathways to consider:
- Massage school instructor: teaching entry-level students the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their new career.
- Continuing education (CE) provider: developing and teaching advanced courses to experienced therapists who want to refine or expand their skills.
While both paths are rewarding in their own ways, there are significant differences in structure, income potential, and responsibilities. Before diving into the details of each path, it’s important to understand what credentials and qualifications you’ll need to become an educator.
Credentials and Qualifications
It’s imperative to understand the rules and regulations for the state you plan to teach in. Each state will have its own specific requirements, and understanding these is crucial to ensure you are well-prepared and compliant when transitioning to an educator role.
- Active massage therapy license: Most states require massage instructors to hold an active massage therapy license, ensuring you are practicing within legal and professional standards.
- Massage therapy instructor license, if required: Some states require a separate license, while others simply require proof of professional experience.
- Training in adult education: Even if not required by your state, completing a course on teaching adult learners is crucial to your success. The skills you learn will dramatically improve your effectiveness as an educator.
Teaching in a Massage School
Teaching in a massage school is often the easiest way to transition out of the treatment room and into the realm of education. It allows you to put your classroom management skills into practice, gain valuable experience by teaching multiple subjects, and utilize a range of teaching methods. With other instructors and school staff to lean on, you’ll have the support you need to build your confidence and expand your teaching skills.
School-based instructors typically teach from a pre-set curriculum, eliminating the time-consuming burden of writing lesson plans from scratch. Freedom to choose how you teach the lessons varies with each school; some prefer adherence to a rigid teaching method, while others offer instructors the freedom to modify their teaching styles as they please. Before applying for a teaching position, it’s a good idea to understand what is expected and to weigh that with what feels most comfortable for you.
Classroom vs. Clinical Instruction
Classroom education and clinical instruction require vastly different management and teaching skills. Naturally, massage students are most excited about clinical time versus the seemingly ‘boring’ book-based learning, which requires a strong ability to make lessons fun, engaging, and easy to remember. In the clinical classroom, keeping students focused on practicing their technical skills and professionalism is essential in creating a safe environment during trades. Both will require patience, excellent communication skills, and adaptability.
Advantages of Teaching in a Massage School
- Flexible schedules and short classes: Most schools offer multiple class options, ranging from mornings to evenings to weekends. And because classes are typically only a few hours each day, it’s easy to create a positive work-life balance.
- Ability to maintain a hands-on practice: Teaching doesn’t require that you give up the hands-on work you love, but provides an excellent segue to the next chapter in your massage therapy career.
- Guaranteed pay: Hourly pay isn’t tied to fluctuating appointments, giving you greater financial stability.
- Skill variety: the opportunity to teach a range of subjects in both lecture and clinical classrooms, as well as supervising internships, keeps your work interesting and provides excellent job satisfaction.
Pay and Stability
While instructors typically earn less per hour than their hands-on massage rates, income stability and drastically reduced expenses more than make up the difference. Nationally, hourly pay ranges from $22 to $50 per hour, depending on factors such as experience, whether the school is privately or corporately owned, location, and scope of your teaching role. Unlike private practice, you won’t be responsible for marketing, supplies, or self-employment taxes.
Becoming a Continuing Education (CE) Provider
If you love the complete freedom and challenge of entrepreneurship, becoming a continuing education provider could be a great option. This path combines everything you love about being a business owner with the ability to share your expert knowledge and create a profound impact across the massage industry.
State vs. National Approval
To get started, you’ll first need to determine whether your state requires approval by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) or if a state-level license is sufficient. NCBTMB continuing education providers have broader freedom to teach wherever they please, as approved courses are accepted by most states. A state-specific CE provider is restricted to teaching only within that state. When deciding which of these is right for you, it’s important to consider your long-term goals. While you can always change your provider status, it will cost additional time and money to do so.
Requirements
To become a CE provider, you’ll need to meet specific criteria, which may include a minimum number of years of experience as a licensed massage therapist, proof of education and expertise in the topics you plan to teach, and a demonstrated ability to teach adult learners. These requirements will be determined by your choice of NCBTMB Approved Provider or state-licensed provider. The NCBTMB application process is more rigorous, involving a detailed review of your qualifications and a commitment to maintaining high standards in your courses.
Independent CE Provider Path
Unlike school-based teaching, there are multiple options for CE providers. You can choose the complete freedom of an independent provider or the “safety” of being employed by a company. The differences are radically different, so let’s dive in.
Independent CE providers enjoy the most flexibility when it comes to job satisfaction, creative freedom, and higher earning potential. The responsibility of curriculum development is balanced with the ability to teach only what you’re most passionate about. Controlling when, where, and how often you offer classes gives you the freedom to schedule teaching around the demands of your life.
Along with this flexibility comes the need for strong organizational skills, as you’ll be responsible for adhering to state and/or national compliance requirements, handling registrations, enforcing policies, and managing all customer service issues.
Fully understanding the financial risks and rewards is crucial to the success and longevity of your continuing education business. In addition to typical business start-up costs, you’ll be responsible for the costs of venues, travel and lodging, supplies and equipment, and marketing your classes. You can offset these risks by controlling your costs, setting your class fees appropriately, and having solid cancellation policies in place. A little financial savvy combined with a heavy dose of discipline can lead to sold-out classes and plentiful profit.
Employee Path: Working with a CE Company
Teaching for a continuing education company or becoming a teaching assistant eliminates all of the risks and responsibilities outside of teaching and classroom management. The “safety” of this option is a guaranteed paycheck, though less than your potential as an independent CE provider. You’ll also have the support of other providers within the company to help you overcome challenges and expand your teaching skills. This safety is balanced with stricter policies and less freedom in what, how, and when you teach.
Choosing the Right Path
Choosing which pathway is right for you should be fully explored and not rushed. It’s imperative to understand the risks and rewards of each option and balance those with your personal and professional goals.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Whatever path you choose, transitioning out of the treatment room and into the classroom allows you to extend your career and leave a lasting legacy in the profession you love. As an educator, you won’t just teach—you’ll have the power to positively influence the future of the massage industry through caring, competent therapists.
About the Author
Melinda Hastings, LMT, BCTMB, MTI, is a business coach for massage and beauty professionals who owns Inspired Therapist Seminars. She has practiced massage since 1996 and is an NCBTMB-Approved Continuing Education Provider.
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