Are you in search of the best massage therapy schools in New Jersey? We’ve got you covered.
This article fully reviews the best schools in New Jersey, including the requirements, cost & how to apply to these schools.
Massage therapy education can help you prepare for a fulfilling and exciting profession as a therapist. Spas, cruise liners, hotels, physician’s offices, self-employment, and fitness clubs are some places you could work.Â
There are currently over 300 accredited massage therapy institutions in the United States.
However, before you can acquire a job in one, you must first complete your education, and before that, you must decide where you will attend and how you will pay for the opportunity.
In 2017, New Jersey passed a new law requiring new massage therapy licenses to complete education and examination.
The state is prepared. Many massage therapy schools in New Jersey provide education that meets and sometimes considerably exceeds state criteria.
They have been in operation for much longer than the current legislation. Some have received national recognition.
Sit tight and continue reading!
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Are there Massage Therapy Schools in New Jersey?
There are very few massage therapy schools in New Jersey. These massage therapy schools are:
- American Institute of Alternative Medicine
- American Institute-Somerset
- Cortiva Institute-New Jersey
- Rizzieri Institute
- Institute for Therapeutic Massage
- Harris School of Business-Cherry Hill Campus
- Fortis Institute-Wayne
- Essex County College
- Camden County College
- Brookdale Community College
How Does One Become A Massage Therapist in New Jersey?
A student must enroll in a tertiary school approved by the state board. The state Education Department, Labor Department, and Workforce Development Department, or Commission on Higher Education must support the institution.
Also, board-approved M.T. programs offer 500 hours or more of instruction.
This must include the following:
- 90 hours of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology classes
- Courses in ethics and law
- Massage method theory and practice
- Directly linked electives to massage and bodywork therapy
- 100 hours of clinical experience under the supervision of a faculty member
One semester credit is equivalent to 15 hours.
The rest of the curriculum is variable. Some programs cover a broader range of massage methods and related therapies.
Others necessitate general education or business classes.
To practice massage therapy in the state, a graduate must apply to the state board for a license. Passing the computer-based Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination is required (MBLEx).
The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards charges around $200 to register for the test at a Pearson VUE site.
Another prerequisite for a license is certification in CPR, first aid, and the use of a defibrillator.
Every other year, M.T.s must renew their licenses. They must receive 20 hours of continuing education from approved providers each time.
Read More: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Georgia| Requirements, Cost & How to Apply
What are the Best Massage Therapy Schools in New Jersey?
There are ten massage therapy schools in New Jersey, including private institutes and state colleges.
Certificate programs can be completed in a year or less. One college provides a two-year associate degree.
Every curriculum includes lectures in classrooms, lab instruction, and clinic experience. Graduates are eligible to seek to license based on their education and training.
The best massage therapy schools in New Jersey are:
1. American Institute of Alternative Medicine
AIAM is a private school in East Brunswick that only trains massage therapists. Clinical massage and spa therapies are covered in the curriculum.
The program goes above and beyond the requirements of the state. Active Isolated Stretching, Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Therapy, Orthopedic Assessment, Reflexology, and Functional Integrated Therapy are among the courses available.
Swedish, chair, hot stone, prenatal, and sports massage techniques are also taught to students. They spend 200 hours in a student clinic delivering messages to the public.
The school keeps a list of available job openings. It trains students in interviewing skills and arranges interviews with local firms.
2. American Institute-Somerset
This is a privately owned school in Franklin Township that dates back to 1924.
The massage therapist certificate program can provide 750 clock hours in as short as eight months. There are day and evening shifts and full- and part-time alternatives.
Also, Swedish, sports, therapeutic, deep tissue, and prenatal massage techniques are taught to students. Shiatsu, acupressure, reflexology, trigger point therapy, hydrotherapy, energy bodywork, and spa methods are taught in other programs.
Students gain hands-on experience at an on-campus clinic.
Six times a year, classes begin. The school assists its students and alums with job placement.
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3. Cortiva Institute-New Jersey
A campus of this privately owned network of massage therapy and skin care schools is located in Wall Township. The respected Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation has recognized its certificate program.
The curriculum requires 600 clock hours, which can be completed in 32 weeks full-time or 47 weeks part-time.
The curriculum covers a “spectrum of therapeutic methods.” There are day and evening class schedules available.
Students are automatically members of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, which offers liability insurance.
Every member of the faculty is a practicing specialist. Hands-on instruction is provided in a student clinic and during internships.
4. Rizzieri Institute
This Aveda “concept school” is located in Voorhees, near Philadelphia. “The curriculum “features (the company’s) proprietary traditions.”
The part-time massage therapy program emphasizes “holistic wellness” and includes spa treatments and medical techniques.
Pregnancy massage, aromatherapy, and Reiki are the techniques taught to students. On campus, there is a student clinic that serves the general public.
Sports massage and neuromuscular treatment are among the continuing education courses offered by the school.
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5. Institute for Therapeutic Massage
This educational institution has Bloomfield, Haskell/Pompton, and Tinton Falls campuses. The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation recognizes it.
Swedish massage, Swedish massage for cancer survivors, medical massage, foot reflexology, chair and event sports massage, Asian-Oriental bodywork, pregnancy massage, Reiki, and aromatherapy are all taught in the massage and bodywork certificate program.
There are day and evening class schedules available. Students work 146 hours in an on-campus clinic, doing Swedish massages on real clients.
There are also massage treatment and personal training programs, as well as Eastern-Western and oncology massage. ITM provides 35 different types of continuing education seminars.
6. Harris School of Business-Cherry Hill Campus
HSB is a private school chain located in four Eastern states that offer studies in seven health and medical professions, including massage treatment.
The 750-clock-hour program is completed in less than seven months of day classes or slightly more than a year of nighttime studies.
A part-time evening schedule is another option. Courses cover myology, specific populations, seated massage, hydrotherapy, lymphatic, and blood circulation, reflexology, Asian theory, prenatal massage, Ayurveda, and polarity, in addition to the state-required studies.
The Career Services Department of the institution aids students with résumé writing, job search, interview preparation, and networking skills.
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7. Fortis Institute-Wayne
This school is part of the five-state Fortis system and is about 15 miles from midtown Manhattan. It offers a variety of career opportunities, including a massage therapist certificate.
The 750-hour full-time curriculum consists of 30 weeks of daily classes Monday through Friday or 42 weeks of evening classes Monday through Thursday.
Also, Swedish and deep tissue massage, trigger point treatment, sports massage, spa therapies, and orthopedic massage are all taught to students. Every month, classes begin.
Tuition covers licensing fees as well as the use of a massage table. A student clinic, career assistance, and continuing education seminars are available at the school.
8. Essex County College
This Newark public community college offers an academic certificate in massage therapy.
The three-semester curriculum meets state standards while including courses in College Composition, Self-Care for Massage Therapists, and Professional Development.
Also, Swedish massage, myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, trigger point therapy, reflexology, and sports massage are among the techniques taught to students. Two practicums are included in the curriculum.
Incoming students take a placement test to determine whether they require remedial reading, English, or math classes.
Written and oral communication, as well as scientific knowledge and reasoning, are required classes. It is “strongly recommended” to have a massage session with a skilled therapist.
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9. Camden County College
This school has the lowest tuition of any New Jersey postsecondary institution. Massage therapy programs at CCC include a certificate of achievement and an associate in applied science degree.
The 504-clock-hour, 35-credit certificate program is divided into two semesters, with summer student clinic assignments. The 66-credit AAS program is divided into four semesters plus summer clinics.
English Composition, Environmental Management, Nutrition, Specialized Massage Techniques, Basic Psychology, Stress Management, Integrated Myofascial Structural Techniques, Public Speaking, Therapeutic Sensory Applications, Eastern Therapeutic Concepts, and Herbal Applications are some of the AAS courses available.
In addition, elective classes in mathematics, health and exercise science, and humanities are also needed.
10. Brookdale Community College
This comprehensive 684-hour curriculum will train you to become a New Jersey Licensed Massage Therapist.
The curriculum includes 536 hours of lecture and lab time, 48 hours online, and 100 hours of supervised clinical practice.
After completing the program, you will be eligible to take the national Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEX), which is required to get your N.J. license. The curriculum includes MBLEX exam preparation.
Areas of Study:
- Massage Ethics and Practice in Swedish Massage
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Myofascial Release
- Neuromuscular Therapy
- Prenatal Massage
- Reflexology and Sports Massage
Read More: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Florida| Requirements, Cost & How to Apply
How Long are Massage Therapy Schools in New Jersey?
The state of New Jersey requires 500 hours of course content recognized by the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy to get a license.
You may provide transcript proof and pass the MBLEx. Massage-Exam.Com has materials in each category for you to study and learn about anatomy/physiology, kinesiology, pathology, massage evaluation, massage application, and business ethics.
You can also keep track of the number of exams taken and the overall percentages of correct answers in each area.
It is also simple to review previous tests. With a single click, you may determine which areas of study require development and where you should focus your efforts.
How Much are Massage Therapy Schools in New Jersey?
The cost of a massage therapy course and the financing options accessible to you are crucial factors to consider before committing to this path and selecting a school.
Before you can call yourself a qualified massage therapist, most state health boards need 500 to 600 hours of training and pass the MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam).
Most programs last this long, though some may take up to 1000 hours before you can earn your certificate.
The cost of instruction per hour ranges between $6 and $17. This amounts to a program cost of $3,000 to $11,000.
Aside from the tuition fee, the single greatest component, several extra costs are associated with the program.
These expenses include an application fee, the cost of a massage table and table linen, the cost of lotions and creams, the cost of textbooks and other study materials, and the cost of licensing.
Fee payment terms do not differ significantly between schools. The course fee can be paid monthly. Some institutions may ask you to pay the entire course fee at the start of the course.
How Much Do Massage Therapists Make in New Jersey?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average New Jersey practitioner earns almost $42,500 per year or nearly $20.50 per hour.
That is slightly more than the national median, roughly $41,400 per year or $20 per hour.
The state’s top 10% earn roughly $66,000, or nearly $32, less than the national average of around $78,300, or $37.60.
The bottom 10% get approximately $25,600 or $12.30 in New Jersey and more than $21,300 or roughly $10.25 nationally.
According to the BLS, there were 5,480 licensed massage therapists in this state in 2016. Also, according to the agency, employment will steadily increase to 7,250 by 2026.
That would be a 32 percent expansion rate, quicker than the expected national average of 26 percent.
Conclusion
Massage therapists can earn up to $71,000 annually, so paying for your education upfront is more than worthwhile if you can afford it.
Massage therapy school expenses are a modest price to pay to learn a profession that allows you to earn a living and assist people in living healthier lives.Â
Anchorage, Alaska, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Danbury, Connecticut, is the top three highest-paying towns in America for massage therapists. Still, no matter where you work, you’ll discover many fantastic options.
FAQs
Is massage therapy hard to learn in New Jersey?
Massage therapy programs are intense but exciting, demanding but not grueling, and engaging but not difficult for students with a passion for wellness.
How much do massage therapists make in an hour in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, the average hourly wage for a massage therapist is $39.78.
Is going to massage therapy school worth it in New Jersey?
Overall, massage therapists report high job satisfaction with their employment. Massage therapy was ranked among the best career paths in the 2021 U.S. News 100 Best Jobs survey. You can achieve a high level of job satisfaction by pursuing a degree.
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