Massage Therapy – The Ultimate ‘Hands-on’ Career!

If you have ever suffered from stress, tension, headaches, back aches, sprains or strains, it’s quite possible that you may have visited a Massage Therapist to de-stress and ‘work out the kinks’.  Massage Therapy provides relief to those who suffer from stress related physiological issues, chronic pain, or simply enjoy the relaxing touch of a professional massage.  So if the idea of easing the aches and pains of others appeals to you, what do you need to know? To become a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) in California you first need to complete an approved program that contains at least 500 hours of massage education, such as the one offered by Carrington College California at our Antioch, Pleasant Hill, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro, or Stockton campus locations. The program culminates in either a Certificate of Achievement or an Associate of Science degree in Massage Therapy. Through a combination of classroom instruction and lab practice in a spa-like setting, our experienced faculty will teach you about anatomy, physiology, terminology, and how skeletal, muscular and internal systems function.  You will be taught massage techniques like Shiatsu, Swedish massage, and deep tissue applications and gain valuable experience during an externship in real massage therapy environment.  Once you’ve earned your certificate or degree from our program you can apply to the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) for certification. Some CMTs work in spas, health/sports clubs, resorts, or country clubs.  Others work in medical settings such as hospitals, chiropractic or physical therapy offices, or nursing homes.  Many therapists choose to work for themselves; gladly facing the challenge of starting their own practice and building a client base in exchange for the freedom of being their own boss. That’s why our Massage Therapy program also teaches students the ethical, legal and business practices that come with running your own business, including management skills. Massage Therapy is a growing field; in fact the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics (BLS) ¹ forecasts that continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to a 19% increase in the number of Massage Therapy jobs by 2018*; that’s faster than the average for all occupations. So if the idea of a truly hands-on career in healthcare appeals to you, talk to a Carrington College California Admissions Representative at 1.855.288.2189, or complete the online form at carrington.edu/ccc/programs/massage-therapy/ and a Representative will contact you. For comprehensive consumer information, visit www.carrington.edu/ccc/programs/massage-therapy/ Source: * Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-11 Ed.). **Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010 Program availability varies by location ¹ http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos295.htm