Massage therapy has become a mainstream alternative to traditional healing and medicine practices. This growing public acceptance of massage has led to an increase in massage therapy job openings across the country.
Top massage therapy schools across the United States offer training specifically designed for individuals interested in health and medicine.
Top Massage Therapy Training Schools
There are about 1,300 massage therapy training programs in the U.S. Less than one-third of these programs are accredited. Individuals interested in top massage therapy training schools should research school credentials before enrolling.
It is recommended that the chosen school be accredited by one or more independent accreditation bodies, such as the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), and Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET).
Top massage therapy schools should tout programs that are accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). According to COMTA, such top massage therapy schools “have achieved a level of quality, performance, and integrity based on educational and professional standards.”
The following is a partial list of approved schools in the U.S. Many feel that these institutions comprise the top massage therapy schools in the United States.
Northeast Region
Connecticut: Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy
Delaware: The National Massage Therapy Institute
Maine: Downeast School of Massage
Maryland: Baltimore School of Massage
Massachusetts: Salter School
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts
New Jersey: Academy of Massage Therapy
Pennsylvania: Cortiva Institute
Rhode Island: Community College of Rhode Island
Southeast Region:
Florida: Florida College of Natural Health
Georgia: Academy of Somatic Healing Arts
Louisiana: Moore Career College
Mississippi: Mississippi School of Therapeutic Massage
North Carolina: Body Therapy Institute
Tennessee: Roane State Community College
Virginia: Virginia School of Massage
West Virginia: Mountain State School of Massage
Midwest Region:
Illinois: National University of Health Sciences
Indiana: Alexandria School of Scientific Therapeutics
Iowa: Carlson College of Massage Therapy
Michigan: Ann Arbor School for Massage Therapy
Minnesota: Northwestern Health Sciences University
Nebraska: Siouxland College of Massage Therapy
Ohio: Dayton School of Medical Massage
Wisconsin: Blue Sky School of Professional Massage
Southwest Region:
Arizona: Arizona School of Massage Therapy
New Mexico: Crystal Mountain School of Therapeutic Massage
West Region:
California: Southern California Health Institute
Colorado: Denver School of Massage Therapy
Montana: Health Works Institute
Nevada: Nevada School of Massage Therapy
Oregon: Sage School of Massage
Utah: Utah College of Massage Therapy
Washington: Cortiva Institute—Seattle
