Are you in search of the best massage therapy schools in Ohio? Search no more; we’ve got you covered.
This article fully explains the best massage therapy schools in Ohio, including the requirements, cost & how to apply to these schools.
Ohio is frequently recognized for its excellent educational possibilities. Massage schools in Ohio allow you to start a new profession in health and well-being as a massage practitioner.Â
Finding the proper training is critical, and several Ohio massage colleges provide educational possibilities in this ever-expanding sector.
These massage therapy training programs in Ohio provide flexible hours and a solid basis for you to create your future profession as a massage therapist.
Attending one of Ohio’s massage therapy schools will launch you into a historical profession. That is to say, Ohio was the first state to license massage therapists in 1916.
In addition, unlike other states, Ohio defines massage as a “limited branch of the practice of medicine” rather than an alternative therapy or allied health sector.
To become a massage therapist in Ohio, you will study basic body science and business skills, law, ethics, and practice in a hands-on teaching clinic to master the trade’s abilities and techniques.
Massage therapy allows practitioners to have a positive effect on the lives of their customers.
Obtaining licensure as a massage therapist in Ohio may allow you to align your values, ambitions, and needs with an education that will enable you to accomplish your vision.
Sit tight and read to find out more about the best massage therapy schools in Ohio.
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Are there Massage Therapy Schools in Ohio?
There are many massage therapy schools in Ohio. Below are some of them:
- Columbus State Community College
- Cuyahoga Community College District
- Stark State College
- Washington State Community College
- American Institute of Alternative Medicine
- Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County
- Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District
- Dayton School of Medical Massage
- EHOVE Career Center
- Knox County Career Center
- Northcoast Medical Training Academy
- Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Boardman
- Hussian College-Daymar College Columbus
- Ohio Institute of Allied Health
- Orion Institute
How Does One Become A Massage Therapist in Ohio?
To become a massage therapist in Ohio, students must first have a high school diploma or a GED.
Taking college-level health, scientific, and business coursework may be advantageous when applying to MT schools.
Enroll in an authorized postsecondary institution approved by one of the following Ohio government entities: the Board of Regents, the Board of Career Colleges and Schools, or the Department of Education.
The state requires that MT programs provide at least 750 hours of education and training. This will contain 325 hours of anatomy, physiology, and pathology courses, as well as 325 hours of theoretical and practical work, 25 hours of business and law, and 25 hours of ethics.
Each student must give at least one message to a licensed therapist.
Some programs go above the 750-hour requirement. They may teach a broader range of massage methods or provide students with greater hands-on experience in clinical settings.
Following graduation, the next step is petitioning for licensure with the state medical board. One of the board’s requirements is that applicants obtain an appropriate score on the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx).
Students apply for test authorization online through the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.
This will cost you around $200. Pearson VUE testing facilities administer the multiple-choice, 100-question computer-based exam. The results are reported to the state medical board by the company.
Every two years, MTs must renew their licenses and complete continuing education.
What are the Best Massage Therapy Schools in Ohio?
The 15 best massage therapy schools in Ohio are listed and explained below:
1. Columbus State Community College
- Graduation Rate-23%
- Student Population-27343
This school offers three massage therapy certificates, and 98% of alums pass the licensing exam.
The required courses are included in the primary curriculum, as are Human Biology, Responding to Emergencies, Myology, and Interpersonal Skills.
However, Hot Stone Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, Aromatherapy Therapy, Spa Services, Oncology Massage, and Special Topics in Massage Therapy are available as electives.
The advanced methods program follows the same curriculum as the basic skills program, emphasizing specialties students can pursue.
Additional courses in Composition, Bookkeeping, Mathematical Concepts for Business, and Marketing Principles, as well as an arts and humanities class, are required for the massage therapy/entrepreneurship program.
2. Cuyahoga Community College District
- Graduation Rate-19%
- Student Population-23440
This public college is Ohio’s oldest and largest community college. It grants massage therapy certificates and associate’s degrees.
Three semesters are required to complete the one-year, 34-credit certificate of competency. Students complete college composition in addition to state-mandated courses. Placement testing is used to assess whether English or math coursework is required. The certificate can be applied toward an associate in applied science degree.
The certificate coursework, General Psychology, Mathematical Explorations, Small Business Management, LifeSpan Development, and independent study and research, are all part of the four-semester, 16-month, 62-credit AAS. Students in both programs put their talents to the test in a student clinic.
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3. Stark State College
- Graduation Rate-19%
- Student Population-11654
SSC is a public institution in North Canton with a graduate employment rate of 95%.
Two massage therapy programs are available at the school: a one-year certificate program and a two-year associate of technical studies degree.
The certificate program comprises 750 hours and 41 credits, which students can finish whole or part-time. It meets state requirements and covers classes such as Psychological Aspects of Therapy.
The associate in applied science program comprises five semesters of the general education curriculum.
A certificate in sports massage therapy is also available. Nutrition for Health and Anatomy of Exercise are two of the 23-credit program’s classes.
4. Washington State Community College
- Graduation Rate-30%
- Student Population-1797
This Marietta public school was once known as Washington Technical College. It grants one-year certificates in massage therapy and two-year associate of applied science degrees.
State-required training in First Aid & Personal Safety, Myology, and Orthopedic Assessment and Documentation is part of the 40-credit certificate curriculum.Â
Also, massage is taught to newborns, children, working adults, pregnant women, seniors, the sick, and the terminally ill.
To achieve a health and wellness degree, a student must also complete at least 30 hours of general education classes in composition, math, social and behavioral sciences, arts and humanities, and natural sciences.
5. American Institute of Alternative Medicine
- Graduation Rate-77%
- Student Population-425
Massage Away Inc. founded this Columbus private school in 1990. It has since grown to include nursing and acupuncture programs. The institute takes pride in its diverse student group.
AIAM has the region’s longest-running massage therapy program. The 12-month program consists of 750 hours divided into four quarters.
On Fridays and Saturdays, students attend classes and gain 100 hours of clinical practice. They are taught both Swedish and advanced massage techniques.
Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine, yin-yang theory, five-element theory, Qi, essence and Shen, Zang Fu organs, and other Asian theories are taught in an Asian Bodywork class.
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6. Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County
- Graduation Rate-75%
- Student Population-316
Massage therapy is a 15 occupational program offered at this Newark public school’s adult education department.
The 835-hour curriculum is completed in one year. It includes fundamentals and neuromuscular therapy, reflexology, hydrotherapy, and spa applications.
Massage techniques such as Swedish, sitting, sports, special populations, deep tissue, and hot stone are taught to students.
Also, gliding, kneading, friction, compression, tapotement, vibration, stretching, and joint mobility are all taught in classes.
The program includes 180 hours of public massage in The Zen Garden, a student clinic. The majority of the faculty members are working massage therapists.
7. Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District
- Graduation Rate-85%
- Student Population-258
High school and adult students can pick from more than 20 professional programs. The small public school offers a massage therapy program in its Circleville location.
The 900-hour program includes 714 hours of instructional time, 150 hours of lab time, and 36 hours of practicum time.
Swedish massage and other modalities are taught for more than 300 hours. Students take Myology, Business Management, and CPR/First Aid in addition to state-mandated courses. The program consists of three days of sessions per week for 36 weeks.
The school has an open admissions policy, with students admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
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8. Dayton School of Medical Massage
- Graduation Rate-86%
- Student Population-249
This private institute network has campuses in Cincinnati’s Cornell Business Park, Cleveland’s Middleburg Town Square, Dayton’s Arbor Shopping Center, and Dayton’s Apollo Career Centerandas Columbus’ Blazer Parkway.
The 1,122-hour, 39-credit curriculum is divided into 43 weeks of day classes and 58 weeks of nighttime programs.
There are 130.5 hours of classes on “mind/body relationship, business building, and personal and professional development” in the program.
Students perform 75 one-hour massages in an on-campus clinic, three massages for professors, and four massages from certified therapists. Before graduating, they must complete a CPR course and obtain certification.
9. EHOVE Career Center
- Graduation Rate-75%
- Student Population-267
This modest public school in Milan offers vocational education in various subjects. The 926-hour massage treatment program lasts a year (four evenings per week plus every other Saturday). There is an 18-month part-time option available.
Students take Introduction to Computers, Pharmacology, Disease Identification, and Myofascial Release in addition to the state-mandated courses. Swedish and chair massage techniques are taught to them.
Inside and outside of the classroom, students engage in hands-on learning. At community outreach events, students give massages to members of the public. The program has a perfect admission record, but only a few spots are available.
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10. Knox County Career Center
- Graduation Rate-80%
- Student Population-244
This adult education center in Mount Vernon is housed in a public high school and provides a 15-month massage therapy program.
The program includes 817 clock hours of class and lab time in ethics, anatomy, physiology, business, and law.
103 “work-based” hours are available at clinics and events. Swedish, chair, sports, special population massage, hydrotherapy, and spa treatments are taught to students.
Tuesday and Thursday evening classes are held, with one Saturday class held twice a month. The licensure exam is passed by 97% of graduates.
11. Northcoast Medical Training Academy
- Graduation Rate-79%
- Student Population-127
This for-profit institution in Kent offers six career paths, including a massage therapy diploma program.
The program includes 900 clock hours, 168 of which are spent working in a student massage clinic.
Furthermore, classes are held twice a week for 14 months. In February, May, August, and November, programs commence.
The school promotes small class sizes, low tuition, free tutoring, and career services. Students learn to develop professional portfolios, prepare resumes, and seek jobs. They practice mock interviews to hone their skills.
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12. Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Boardman
- Graduation Rate-63%
- Student Population-109
RSBC, a family-owned company that has existed for almost a half-century, has a massage therapy program on its Youngstown/Boardman Area Campus.
The curriculum includes 385 hours of classroom instruction and 515 hours of clinical practice. A student clinic serves real clients.
Also, Swedish, chair, sports, deep tissue, pregnancy, infant, Oriental, toning facial, and relaxing facial massage techniques are taught in the program.
Furthermore, Shiatsu, hydrotherapy, reflexology, aromatherapy, and herbology are also taught to students.
The part-time program lasts around a year. Every month, classes begin. Career services are available at the school to assist graduates in finding work.
13. Hussian College-Daymar College Columbus
- Graduation Rate-61%
- Student Population-92
This private technical school has locations in three states and provides more than 30 career options. Owensboro Business College was established in Kentucky in 1963.
Massage therapist certificate students receive 900 hours of education over 12 months of full-time school.
The curriculum meets state requirements and includes Swedish, therapeutic, sports, prenatal, and hot stone massage instruction.
However, the additional courses available are Hydrotherapy, Reflexology, and Orthopedic Massage Applications. At on-campus clinics, students provide massages to the general public.
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14. Ohio Institute of Allied Health
- Graduation Rate-59%
- Student Population-39
This Huber Heights non-profit nursing school was previously known as the Ohio Academy of Hypnotherapy and the Ohio Academy of Holistic Health.
The 58-credit massage therapy certificate program is divided into four quarters, with 400 clock hours of instructional time, 200 hours of lab work, and 120 hours in clinical settings.
The curriculum is intended for “those interested in clinical and rehabilitative approaches with a holistic understanding of healing.”
Aside from the state-mandated education, the school teaches aromatherapy, non-directive imagery, and how to start a massage therapy practice.
15. Orion Institute
- Graduation Rate-NA
- Student Population-85
This Perrysburg private school was once known as the Healing Arts Institute.
The massage therapy curriculum is 750 hours long and can be completed in 10.5 to 12 months. There are four semesters with breaks between them.
The daytime curriculum consists of eight hours of classes on Tuesdays and Fridays. Monday through Thursday, four hours of evening classes are an option.
Also, the state-required curriculum includes 100 hours of labor in a student clinic and 14 hours of field experience.
On-site, there is a Body Therapy store, and the institution offers continuing education seminars.
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How Long are Massage Therapy Schools in Ohio?
The Ohio State Medical Board licenses massage therapists in Ohio. Students in Ohio must complete at least 750 hours at an approved massage therapy school over at least nine months.
Massage theory and practice must include anatomy, physiology, ethics, hygiene, and completion of a student massage clinical practice program.
Following that, students must pass the national MBLEx certification exam. Massage therapists in Ohio can become fully licensed after completing the educational component and the examination.
Because massage is both a healing art and a science, a successfully licensed massage therapist must be able to balance technical knowledge, clinical skills, compassion, and awareness to assist their clients best.
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How Much are Massage Therapy Schools in Ohio?
Tuition for massage therapy school can be less expensive than a four-year college degree, although expenses vary widely depending on the curriculum.
To graduate, most schools require 500 to 1,000 hours of massage therapy training, and programs with more training hours and a more extensive curriculum are more expensive.
As you evaluate your educational alternatives, educate yourself on how to finance your education.
Tuition for massage therapy schools varies substantially. Some community college programs have annual fees of $5,000 to USD 7,000. Others charge upwards of $20,000 for a one-year curriculum.
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How Much Do Massage Therapists Make in Ohio?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary for an Ohio practitioner is approximately $36,700, or more than $17.60 per hour (BLS).
That is less than the national median of more than $41,400 per year, or approximately $20 per hour.
The state’s top 10% earn around $63,400 ($30.50), less than the national average of $78,300 ($37.60).Â
Additionally, the bottom 10% earn roughly $19,000, or $9.30 in Ohio, and more than $21,300, or around $10.25 nationally.
In 2016, there were 3,180 massage therapist jobs in Ohio. According to the BLS, the number will reach 4,080 by 2026.
That would imply a 28 percent increase in job creation, exceeding the expected national median of 26 percent.
Conclusion
In Ohio, there are 17 massage therapy schools, both public and private.
On most campuses, students pursue credentials that take less than a year and 15 months to accomplish.
A few schools award two-year associate degrees. Classes, labs, and clinical experiences are all part of the curriculum.
Ohio massage therapists do not earn as much as their counterparts in most other states, but job prospects are rising rapidly.
According to federal labor experts, there will be approximately 460 job opportunities yearly over the decade ending in 2026. As a result, the career is a must-do.
I hope you find this article helpful.
FAQs
Can you practice massage therapy without a license in Ohio?
Before they can practice, massage therapists in Ohio must be licensed. The State Medical Board of Ohio issues the Ohio massage license. Since 1915, the practice of massage therapy in Ohio has been regulated.
Is draping required for massage in Ohio?
Yes. The State of Ohio Medical Board requires it in the scope of practice in the Ohio Revised Code for Licensed Massage Therapy.
Who is responsible for licensing massage therapists in Ohio?
The State Medical Board of Ohio regulates massage therapy as a limited branch of medicine by requiring practitioners to meet education, character, and examination standards to earn a license to practice massage therapy.
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