Awareness of health benefits, supported by a growing body of scientific research, has led to increased consumer use of massage therapy, transforming its image from one of occasional luxury to a leading modality within complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). As a result, massage therapy is among the fastest-growing professions in health care today.

Many career opportunities are being created for massage therapists in spas, fitness centers, hospitals, integrated health-care facilities and even dentists' offices. A variety of practice options, flexibility of hours and good income potential make massage therapy an attractive field.

According to U.S. Labor Department statistics, the median yearly income for massage therapists in New York is fifty percent higher than anywhere in the country. The top ten percent of practitioners in New York City earn in excess of $75,000 annually. Practitioners who wish to reach this level of income, or who seek leadership in research and integrated health care facilities, will need a high level of professional skills to match.

The reputation of the Swedish Institute precedes every graduate, and our alumni are successful in many types of practice. Our Placement Department provides placement assistance and other services to graduates, connecting them to the continuing stream of requests for highly-qualified, licensed practitioners.

Licensure

Massage therapy has been a licensed health care profession in New York State since 1967. Both Eastern and Western forms of massage and the many modalities within each are covered under the massage law, which is regulated by the New York State Education Department in Albany. It is a felony to practice massage without a license in New York State.

Successful completion of the course of study offered by the Swedish Institute qualifies graduates who meet all other state requirements to sit for the licensing examination in massage therapy. Pass rate for our graduates taking the exam for the first time has averaged over 90% during the past four years.

Graduates of our Massage Therapy Program are also qualified to sit for the National Certification Exam (NCE) given by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), an independent, not-for-profit organization. The NCE provides a standard by which graduates can be measured in states that do not require licensing, however, it does not qualify graduates to legally practice massage therapy in New York State.

For more information

Read About Graduates Making a Life.

Licensing status of other states is available at the web site of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) www.amtamassage.org; and from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork www.ncbtmb.com.

New York State licensing details can be obtained from the Office of Professions in Albany www.nysed.gov/prof/title8.htm.

National exam given by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork; www.ncbtmb.com.

National surveys on CAM can be found in the Journal of the American Medical Association, jama.ama-assn.org, and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, nccam.nih.gov/news.

For a more extensive list of references go to the Resources section of our web site.