How to Become a Massage Therapist in Michigan
A career in MASSAGE THERAPY can be very lucrative, and it can lead to other progressive opportunities in the healthcare industry. However, how much you EARN as a massage therapist depends on the STATE you are licensed in and the number of years you have been practicing. In addition, before you can start exploring career opportunities as a MASSAGE THERAPIST, you must fulfill your STATE’s licensing requirements. With that said,
If you live in the STATE of Michigan, you can EXPECT to earn an AVERAGE base salary of $45.64 per hour or $67,160 per year. This AVERAGE salary range does AGAIN depend on your years of experience and place of employment.
To help you along in your journey, our MICHIGAN Massage Therapist career guide explores areas such as educational requirements, criminal background checks, licensing by endorsement, and re-licensing requirements.
START your application ONLINE – http://www.michigan.gov/miplus.
Table of Contents
MICHIGAN Requirements For All Applications
MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Educational Requirements And Prerequisites
MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Requirements (Endorsement)
MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Requirements (RELICENSING)
MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Requirements (RENEWAL)
Top 4 Massage Therapist Programs in MICHIGAN
Search Massage Therapy Jobs In MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN Requirements For All Applications
If you are inquiring how to become a massage therapist in Michigan, then you MUST complete the following MANDATORY requirements:
1) Criminal background check
2) Good moral character questions
3) Human trafficking training (Beginning March 14, 2022, APPLICANTS must complete training to identify victims of human trafficking)
4) Social security number REQUIRED
5) Verification/certification of licensure (if APPLICANT has or CURRENTLY holds a MASSAGE Therapy license.
6) Pass either the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork’s (NCBTMB) National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage
7) TOEFL – Applicants whose educational program was taught in a language other than English will need to submit a certified score on the TOEFL.
In addition, APPLICATIONS must complete the following educational requirements listed below.
MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Educational Requirements And Prerequisites
1) Have an OFFICIAL academic TRANSCRIPT (mailed directly to this office) from your institution CONFIRMING the completion of the massage education program. The program MUST be approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
CURRICULUM MUST be a TOTAL of 500-hours if APPLICANT is or was enrolled in school before August 1, 2017 as breakdown below:
40-hours is performing massage therapy services in a student clinic (supervised by a licensed massage therapist).
200-hours of massage and bodywork assessment theory and application instruction
125-hours of instruction on the body systems that include anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology
40-hours in Pathology
10-hours of business, professional practice, and ethics instruction, with a minimum of 6 hours in ethics
85-hours of instruction in an area or related field, as determined by the school, which COMPLETE the massage therapy program of study.
**Please note: if the applicant enrolls in the school on or after August 1, 2017, the CURRICULUM MUST be at least a TOTAL of 625-hours
2) If your MASSAGE THERAPY program was completed outside of the United States, you MUST have your education reviewed. You CAN have your COMPLETED CURRICULUM reviewed and certified by a recognized/accredited credential evaluation agency member. Please VISIT – the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) for a complete LIST of APPROVED agencies.
START your application ONLINE – http://www.michigan.gov/miplus.
MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Requirements (Endorsement)
The STATE of MICHIGAN has outlined the following requirements if the APPLICANT HOLDS or DID HOLD a Massage Therapy license in another STATE.
An applicant MUST fulfill EITHER of the following requirements:
1) The APPLICANT has been licensed in another STATE and is actively engaged in practicing MASSAGE THERAPY for LESS than five (5) years before filling out this application. The APPLICANT MUST also meet all requirements above as listed in section – MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Educational Requirements And Prerequisites
2) The APPLICANT has been licensed in another STATE and is actively engaged in practicing MASSAGE THERAPY for MORE than five (5) years before filling out this application. The APPLICANT has also PASSED either the Federation of State Massage Therapy Board’s Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork’s (NCBTMB) National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), if taken before November 1, 2014.
COMPLETE your application ONLINE – http://www.michigan.gov/miplus.
MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Requirements (RELICENSING)
If you are inquiring how to become a Massage Therapist in Michigan if your LICENSE has lapsed for LESS than three (3) years during the time of the APPLICATION, please SUBMIT the following:
1) APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT verification/certification of their license directly to this office from the licensing agency in the STATE or TERRITORY within the United States where you currently hold a license or have ever held a MASSAGE THERAPY
Forms of verification include:
PROOF of any disciplinary action taken or pending disciplinary action imposed
2) APPLICANT must complete Continuing Education (CE) requirements if applying AFTER October 31, 2021. For example, during the two (2) years preceding the application for relicensure, the successful completion of 18 continuing education contract hours approved by the board is required. And,
At least 1 hour of the continuing education shall be earned in the area of pain and symptom ma
START your application ONLINE – http://www.michigan.gov/miplus.
MICHIGAN Massage Therapist Requirements (RENEWAL)
If an APPLICANT wishes to RENEW their Massage Therapy license, then the following MUST be completed:
1) RENEWAL application
2) Good moral character questions
3) Disciplinary questions (have any disciplinary actions been taken against you?)
4) Accept renewal attestation
5) Continuing education (CE) requirements:
During the two (2) years before the renewal application, the APPLICANT must successfully complete 18 continuing education contact hours approved by the board.
Minimum of 1 hour of continuing education earned in the area of pain and symptom management.
Minimum of 1 hour of continuing education earned in the area of professional ethics and boundaries.
6) Human trafficking training (Beginning March 14, 2022, APPLICANTS must complete training to identify victims of human trafficking)
START your application ONLINE – http://www.michigan.gov/miplus.
Top 4 Massage Therapist Programs in MICHIGAN
As mentioned above, completing the educational requirements is an ESSENTIAL first step to becoming a Massage Therapist in Michigan. If this is your FIRST TIME applying for a license, you WILL need to GRADUATE from an approved Massage Therapy program before you CAN become ELIGIBLE to SIT for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLex). However, for those APPLICANTS RENEWING their Massage Therapy license, you will NEED to COMPLETE the Continuing Education (CE) requirements. With that said,
Here are five (4) TOP Massage Therapy Programs CURRENTLY available in the STATE of MICHIGAN.
1) Irene’s Myomassology Institute
With a rating of 4.8/5 on Google, Irene’s Myomassology Institute offers a complete MASSAGE THERAPY program designed to provide you with the skills, experience, and knowledge to write the MBLex examination. The school is located in Southfield, Michigan, and offers hands-on classes, a
flexible schedule, and even pays for both the licensing exam and a Michigan State Massage License.
2) Adrian School of Massage LLC
The Adrian Massage Therapy program has been accredited by the NCBTMB. This program is approx. 842 hours and is designed to give students the foundation they need to SIT and PASS the MBLex examination. Not only that, after successfully PASSING the examination, Adrians has a job board exclusively available to all graduates and alumni. This school has a CURRENT rating of 4.7/5 on Google.
3) Institute for Massage Education
The Institute for Massage Education has a rating of 5/5 on Google. Their classes use a hands-on approach to learning and train STUDENTS in various sound business practices. Currently, the program is 625-hours, and graduation takes approximately 14 months to complete (FULL-TIME). After successful GRADUATION from the Massage Therapy program, students WILL be ELIGIBLE to sit for the MBLex examination.
The Carnegie Institute is rated 5/5 on Google, with GRADUATES being ELIGIBLE to take the MBLex examination. The program emphasizes the correct application of body mechanics by both client/ practitioner and how to use massage therapy equipment. The Carnegie Institute is a COMPLETE program for those looking to work in different environments like physical therapy facilities, the health/fitness industry, sports/athletic organizations, and assisted living facilities.
Search Massage Therapy Jobs In MICHIGAN
Additional Resources
How to Become a Massage Therapist – A Complete Guide
13 BEST Portable Massage Tables – Sierra Comfort, EARTHLITE, Master, Saloniture
13 BEST Massage Therapy Schools in California
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