There are not many areas of practice in the medical field where it is possible to open your own clinic or have your own practice without having a full medical license that takes years of schooling, residency and training to achieve. Becoming a massage therapist working in Mount Kisco or elsewhere in the country is one of the few exceptions to that statement.
However, the vast majority of people completing massage training are not necessarily initially planning on starting their own therapy clinic or practice. Instead, they are planning to work with rehabilitation centers, chiropractors, sports teams, spas and treatment facilities or even work in the fitness, sports and recreation area.
Requirements for the Job
Virtually all states require any massage provider to be licensed, which means they have to pass a set standard exam, often the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEX), which is recognized in most states.
Besides just passing the exam, a massage therapist will also have to demonstrate he or she has a specific number of training hours from a recognized and approved training facility that is determined by the state. The average in most states is 600 hours of training, but in a Mount Kisco training or any other training in New York, the state requires a full 1000 course-hours.
Salary and Job Prospects
A career in this field is actually very promising. The U.S Department of Labor Statistics reports that the demand for massage therapists will continue to increase until 2022, and this is by an amount of 23%. This is higher than average than many other professions, including some in the medical field.
The typical salary of a massage therapist will vary considerably based on their type of employment. Most therapists will earn approximately $42,000 per year, providing about 20 hours of actual massage during a week.
With specific type of employment opportunities, or if the massage therapist is self-employed, the salary can be significantly higher. This is also a wonderful job for a second career or a part-time career for parents of younger children or someone wanting to be able to set their own work schedule.
The work of a massage therapist will vary based on the needs of the specific client. It is typically an office or clinical type setting, but it can also be in a recreational or fitness facility, a spa or resort type environment or even as a business where the therapist travels to the clients. This freedom and flexibility in the job makes it a great match for a wide range of people at all stages in their professional careers.
