What a Massage Therapist Does

What type of work does a Massage Therapist do?

Massage Therapists perform a variety of duties including (but not limited to):

  • Conferring with clients to discuss medical history and problems with stress and pain to determine the type of massage that may be most helpful
  • Maintain treatment records
  • Develop and propose treatment plans
  • Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment
  • Provide clients with guidance and information on techniques for postural improvement, stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative services
  • Use complementary aids when necessary
  • Consult with other healthcare professionals in the development of treatment plans for clients

Where do Massage Therapists work?

Massage Therapists traditionally work in variety of settings. Some of these settings include Spas, Fitness Centers, Health Clubs, Doctors’ Offices (or other similar healthcare practices), Hospitals, and on Sports Teams.  Massage therapists in the State of Michigan must obtain licensure in order to pursue gainful employment in this field.  Dorsey College has determined that its Massage Therapy program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only. No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district or US territory in regards to licensure requirements.

Will I be able to find a job?

It’s important to note that no school can guarantee employment. Here at Dorsey College, we offer career services assistance to all completers of the Massage Therapy program, however, job placement is not guaranteed by Dorsey College. You can learn more about the assistance our Career Services team offers by visiting our Career Services for Students and Graduates page.

How much can I expect to make as a Massage Therapist?

Here are some helpful websites that will allow you to view information on Wages & Employment trends:

Are there other jobs I may be able to obtain as a Massage Therapist?

Massage Therapists may work under other occupational titles such as Massage Therapist, Clinical Massage Therapist, Certified Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Therapist, Bodywork Therapist, Integrated Deep Tissue Massage Therapist, and Medical Massage Therapist. It’s also important to note that licensure is required to obtain gainful employment as a Massage Therapist in the State of Michigan. When looking at any position, it’s important to evaluate the duties of the position along with the required skills and knowledge to determine if a candidate may meet the requirements set forth by the employer.

Dorsey College has determined that its Massage Therapy program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only.  No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district or US territory in regards to licensure requirements.

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Becoming a Massage Therapist

How might I determine if this is a good career choice for me?

In choosing any career, it’s important that someone look at a variety of factors, some of which include:

  • Can I see myself doing the work that this position/occupation performs and am I going to be happy performing those tasks in that type of work setting?
  • Do I have the skills/traits/characteristics that one may need to be successful in a position like this?
  • How is the employment outlook/trends for this position?

I have no medical background or experience in healthcare or with massage therapy – can I really do this?

You can! Many Massage Therapists have little to no formal experience prior to beginning their training. That’s why it’s very important for someone interested in becoming a Massage Therapist to evaluate their school and training options closely.

What type of training is needed?

Education and training requirements for Massage Therapists vary greatly by State and locality, so it’s very important for those interested in pursuing a career in Massage Therapy to research the requirements in their specific area. In the State of Michigan, one of the requirements in order to obtain licensure is to attend a supervised curriculum that is approved by the State of Michigan Board of Massage Therapy. The Massage Therapy program at Dorsey College is an approved supervised curriculum by the Michigan Board of Massage Therapy. To learn more about the requirements in the State of Michigan, you can visit the Michigan Board of Massage Therapy’s website at: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-72600_72603_27529_53660—,00.html.

Dorsey College has determined that its Massage Therapy program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only.  No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district or US territory in regards to licensure requirements.

How long do I have to go to school?

As previously mentioned, the requirements for Massage Therapy training vary greatly state by state, so it’s important to do your research in advance. You can read more about specific guidelines in the State of Michigan by visiting the Board of Massage Therapy’s website: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-72600_72603_27529_53660—,00.html.

What are important characteristics for Massage Therapists to have?

While this isn’t a full list of important characteristics, Massage Therapists should have good communication skills, decision-making skills, physical stamina, empathy, and possess good physical strength and dexterity. If you’re lacking in one or more of these areas, it doesn’t necessarily mean you wouldn’t be a good Massage Therapist, and it may be an area you wish to focus on as part of your training.

Is Certification/Licensure required to obtain employment as a Massage Therapist?

It’s always important to check if the State in which you want to work has specific requirements for Massage Therapists to obtain employment. In Michigan, Massage Therapists are required to be licensed in order to obtain gainful employment in this field. In order to assist our graduates, Dorsey College will pay the cost one time for graduates of this program to challenge a certification exam as selected by Dorsey College, contingent upon the graduate meeting Dorsey College’s exam preparation requirements.  To learn more about the licensing process in the State of Michigan, you can visit the Michigan Board of Massage Therapy’s website at: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-72600_72603_27529_53660—,00.html.

Dorsey College has determined that its Massage Therapy program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only.  No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district or US territory in regards to licensure requirements.

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The Dorsey College Massage Therapy program

What will be covered in the program?

The Dorsey College Massage Therapy program offers instruction in both a classroom setting as well as a hands-on environment by way of the Massage Therapy clinic at Dorsey College. Students enrolled in the Massage Therapy program will be exposed to a variety of topics including (but not limited to):

  • Introduction to Massage Therapy
  • Introduction to Anatomy for Massage Therapy
  • Kinesiology
  • Chair Massage
  • Sports Massage
  • Spa Applications
  • Eastern Modalities
  • Business Applications for Massage Therapists
  • Ethics for Massage Therapists
  • Pathology for Massage Therapists
  • Participation in the Massage Therapy Clinic
  • And more…!

Is your program hands-on?

Yes! Students will have opportunities to practice the skills they are learning in class and in the Massage Therapy clinic on campus at Dorsey College.

What’s the Massage Therapy Clinic and why is that important?

The Massage Therapy curriculum requires students to take part in unpaid clinic participation as part of their training. This portion of the training may occur outside of traditional class hours and may take place in the evenings or on Saturdays. During this supervised clinic training, students will provide massage services to the public who may be charged for services rendered by students. The Massage Therapy Clinic provides students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have been learning throughout the Massage Therapy training program.

How long is the Dorsey College Massage Therapy program?

The Dorsey College Massage Therapy program is designed to be completed in less than one year.

Who are the instructors?

Our instructors are caring individuals that possess experience and expertise in their respective field. Our instructors meet or exceed State of Michigan and accreditation criteria, guidelines, and qualifications. It’s not uncommon for students of Dorsey College to see their instructors as their coach and mentor throughout their studies.

Why should I choose Dorsey College over another school?

Students choose Dorsey College over other Career Training Schools for a variety of reasons. You can learn more about by visiting The Dorsey Difference page.

Which Dorsey College campuses offer the Massage Therapy program?

The Massage Therapy program is offered at the following Dorsey College campus locations:

How do I enroll?

If you’re interested in enrolling in the Massage Therapy program at Dorsey College, the first step you should take is meeting with one of our Admissions Representatives.  Request information online and a member of our team will be back in touch with you shortly.  You can read more about our Admissions process on our Admissions information page.

Does your program include certification?

While actual certification is not included in the curriculum of the Dorsey College Massage Therapy program, graduates may go on to challenge a certification exam. For those who wish to challenge a certification exam, Dorsey College will pay the cost one time for graduates of this program to challenge a certification exam as selected by Dorsey College, contingent upon the graduate meeting Dorsey College’s exam preparation requirements.

Will your program prepare me for certification?

The Dorsey College Massage Therapy program is designed to prepare students to go on to challenge a certification exam, specifically, the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEX).

Is your school accredited?

Yes!  You can read more by visiting our Accreditation page.

What is the tuition and fees for the program?

The current tuition and fees for the Dorsey College Massage Therapy program can be accessed by clicking here.

What is included in my tuition?

In addition to program instruction, tuition includes books, a set of scrubs, a set of sheets, and an electronic device.

Is Financial Aid available?

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify. For additional information on Financial Aid and Tuition Assistance, we would encourage you to visit our Financial Aid Information page.

Can you help me find a job after graduation?

Dorsey College offers Career Services assistance to all program completers, however, job placement is not guaranteed by Dorsey College. You can learn more about the assistance our Career Services team offers by visiting our Career Services for Students and Graduates page.

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Additional Information

For your reference, we’ve included the links below of several very helpful websites where you can learn more about Massage Therapists, info pertaining to jobs as a Massage Therapist, the work Massage Therapists do, etc.:

Michigan Occupational Wage Information: http://milmi.org/?PAGEID=67&SUBID=124

O*Net Online: http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-9011.00