Massage therapy schools in Louisiana can offer students lectures and textbook study in massage therapy theory, as well as hands-on practice with actual treatment of clients in a student clinic where they can gain hands-on experience to begin their professional career.
Louisiana massage therapy schools can offer a shortcut to a rewarding profession: one that allows practitioners to carve out their own careers and lifestyles.
The amount of education required to obtain a massage therapy license is a fraction of that required for physical therapy or family therapy. Education is still important.
Students usually receive a certificate or diploma. Day programs often take about nine months, evening programs take a little longer.
Are There Massage Therapy Schools In Louisiana?
There are 17 massage therapy schools in Louisiana. Students can choose from a menu of private institutions and public colleges. Campuses are located in cities such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as well as in smaller communities.
These schools award certificates or diplomas that require a year or less of full-time study. Learning takes place in classrooms and laboratories, as well as during supervised clinical training in real-world settings.
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How Much Do Massage Therapy Schools Cost In Louisiana?
The time to complete this educational training ranges from 3.1 months to 6 months depending on the qualification, with an average completion time of 6 months. The cost to attend massage therapy schools in Louisiana is $10,000.
As accredited institutions by the Accrediting Commission for Professional Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), these massage therapy schools in Louisiana offer a full range of financial aid options and payment plans to help you cover your tuition. Our financial aid administrator is happy to help you with this.
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What Are The Requirements For Massage Therapy Schools In Louisiana?
Students can consider the type and quality of practical experience. Students usually start with one-on-one practice. Some programs allow you to gain extensive experience working with members of the public.
Some programs in Louisiana are around 500 hours, others 750 or even 900 hours. A longer program will likely qualify for licensure in more states, but some states are exclusive!
Schools also vary in career/placement services. The school can offer help with things like resume writing and interview skills.
Some Louisiana schools are accredited by nationally recognized accrediting agencies such as the Commission on Accreditation of Professional Schools and Colleges. Prospective students can search for paid employment data.
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What Are The Best Massage Therapy Schools In Louisiana?
We’ve selected the best massage therapy schools in Louisiana below based on the programs they offer, accreditation, enrollment, graduation rate, and reputation.
Find a local licensed massage therapy training program at an accredited massage therapy school or medical school in Louisiana. Accredited schools have financial aid for eligible students.
Delta College Inc
It is a small institution with four campuses that offers dozens of nursing and allied health programs. Delta boasts that it is “one of the most affordable private schools in the area.”
Future massage therapists attend classes in Covington. They can earn certificates full-time or part-time, during the day or in the evening. The program provides 745 contact hours of teaching and learning. Students can graduate in just seven months.
According to the school, “classes at Covington are very hands-on, so you get real-world experience with new skills.”
Medical Training College
Formerly the Massage Academy of the South, this private Baton Rouge school claims to have “been the standard of excellence in massage education since 1992.”
The curriculum of 756 contact hours includes 277 lecture hours, 407 laboratory hours, and 72 clinical hours. It takes nine months full-time or 10.5 months part-time to graduate. All instructors are certified massage therapists.
Students master Swedish, sports, connective tissue, neuromuscular technique, reflexology and chair technique. They also learn spa therapies such as body wraps, salt glow, paraffin and mud treatments, hot and cold stone massage, wet table use and hydrotherapy.
Unitech Training Academy-Lafayette
UTA’s commercial vocational school trains massage therapists at its campuses in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, New Orleans, Houma and West Monroe.
The degree program has 66.73 quarter credit hours. Students attend day or evening classes. They study Swedish, clinical, sports, pregnancy, deep tissue and oriental therapies.
In addition to state-required coursework, classes include healthcare professionals, medical terminology, kinesiology, the art of palpation, specialized patient massage, spa therapy, mind-body health for the therapist, ethics and professional business practices.
At the on-campus clinic in Lafayette, students receive full-body massages.
Platt College-McCann-Monroe
Platt’s network of for-profit educational institutions has more than 30 locations across the country. The only campus in Louisiana is the McCann School of Business and Technology.
Diploma program of massage therapy provides 710 contact hours – 380 listening to lectures in classrooms and 330 practical classes in laboratories.
The educational program includes three tasks, with a total duration of 120 hours, massage for the population in the student polyclinic.
Courses include Swedish massage; Therapeutic massage; Kinesiology of the upper body; Kinesiology Lower body; hydrotherapy and aromatherapy; Special population groups; Somatic psychology; and law, business and ethics.
Blue Cliff College-Metairie
This private institution is part of a network of schools in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. The Metairie satellite campus in the Clearview Mall offers diplomas in massage therapy.
During the 750 contact hours, students complete state-required courses as well as hydrotherapy, therapeutic communication, tai chi, first aid/HIV, self-care, medical terminology, deep tissue integration, and reflexology.
There are also classes in Swedish, prenatal, chair and sports massage. The duration of the program is nine months for full-time students and 15 months for those attending evening classes.
Delgado Community College
A community institution in New Orleans, DCC prepares students for degrees in massage therapy at its Charity School of Nursing. The program teaches “topics such as history (MT), purpose, benefits; (and) its place in a holistic approach to wellness.”
Some of the courses in the 32-hour curriculum include: Swedish Technique, Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Business/Ethics/Law, and Special Populations Topics.
Students perform three clinical rotations. Classes begin in the spring and fall. The college’s selective admissions policy includes required courses, English and math testing, and a CPR certification requirement.
How Much Do Massage Therapists In Louisiana Earn?
Here, typical annual pay is around $19,430 or hourly pay over $9.30. This is significantly less than the US average of approximately $41,420, or almost $20.
The highest-paid tenth of Louisiana massage therapists earn more than $60,000 a year, or nearly $29 an hour, which is not as much as their counterparts nationwide (nearly $78,300, or more than $37.60).
Those in the lowest state earn about $16,300, or $7.85, compared to about $21,340, or $10.25, nationally. In 2016, there were 700 practitioners living in this state.
In 2026, that number will gradually increase to 830, if the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast proves accurate. That would be a 20% increase compared to the agency’s forecast of 26% nationwide.
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How Do I Become A Massage Therapist In Louisiana?
The process of becoming a massage therapist in Louisiana begins with high school graduation or a high school diploma. College preparatory courses in science, health and business give students a head start in their careers.
The state commission issues licenses only to graduates of accredited massage therapy schools that offer programs with at least 500 hours of teaching and learning.
The curriculum must include 325 hours of classes covering massage techniques and methods related to clinical practice. Another 125 hours are required to study anatomy and physiology.
Apart from these requirements, schools have considerable discretion in the education they provide. Some programs include a wide range of massage techniques, including Eastern and Western techniques. Others focus on clinical treatment or spa therapy. The amount of time students spend in real clinical settings varies by school.
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Best Paying Massage Therapy Jobs In Louisiana
Massage therapists can work in various establishments. They can also work for themselves. Having your own practice has its advantages, such as setting your own schedule. But massage therapy opens up a variety of rewarding and exciting career opportunities. They may include:
- Spas Day
- Resorts
- Health clubs and fitness studios
- Health centers
- Salons
- Sports teams
- Manual therapy offices
The salary range of a massage therapist is wide. Those in the tenth percentile in Louisiana earn $8.22; those in the 90th percentile earn $42.08. Half is over $14.59.
The average is $18.88. Massage therapy is a growing profession, with growth expected to be around 20% by 2020. Massage therapists have the opportunity to work in private practice or in other commercial programs.
The increase in employment opportunities for massage therapists is due in part to increased coverage of massage therapy by insurance companies and recognition of massage therapy by doctors, hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Licensed massage therapy school graduates can find a wide variety of employment opportunities in Louisiana health and wellness centers, spas, and resorts. Check out some of the exciting programs offered by massage therapy schools in Louisiana.
Massage Therapy Schools In Louisiana FAQs
A massage therapy school in Louisiana must provide at least 500 hours of instruction, 325 of which are devoted to the study of massage therapy techniques and skills related to clinical practice. A full 125 hours must be devoted to the study of anatomy and physiology.
For graduates of licensed schools of massage, there are vacancies in various fields. Massage therapy is a growing profession, with growth expected to be around 20% by 2020. Massage therapists have the opportunity to work in private practice or in other commercial programs.
If you want to get a massage therapy license in Louisiana, you will need to meet the licensing and renewal requirements to practice law in that state. The Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy reviews all applications for a $75 license. Renewals, which occur every year, have a deadline of March 31. The license renewal fee is $125. Louisiana also requires 12 refresher courses between each renewal period to keep your license active. The first step to success is finding the right 500 hour massage training program!
Programs usually introduce students to at least a few methods. Swedish massage is often considered the basis of Western massage. Other common techniques include deep tissue massage, neuromuscular therapy, shiatsu, chair massage, and reflexology. The program may emphasize massage therapy as health care.
Conclusion
Louisiana has many massage therapy schools to choose from and is a great state to live in. Louisiana is a huge state, it is divided into different regions, and depending on where you are, you can get a completely different experience.
It’s somewhat polarizing. But there are many opportunities for those who want to complete their education, start a business or work in a company.
In this article, we’ve explained everything you need to know about getting a massage therapy license, how to find the best schools, and what to do next.
References
careerswiki.com – Massage Therapy Schools In Louisiana
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What Is The Requirement For Message Therapy License In Louisiana?
If you want to get a massage therapy license in Louisiana, you will need to meet the licensing and renewal requirements to practice law in that state. The Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy reviews all applications for a $75 license. Renewals, which occur every year, have a deadline of March 31. The license renewal fee is $125. Louisiana also requires 12 refresher courses between each renewal period to keep your license active. The first step to success is finding the right 500 hour massage training program!
What Do Massage Therapy Schools In Louisiana Teach?
Programs usually introduce students to at least a few methods. Swedish massage is often considered the basis of Western massage. Other common techniques include deep tissue massage, neuromuscular therapy, shiatsu, chair massage, and reflexology. The program may emphasize massage therapy as health care.