The State of Arkansas Massage Therapist Requirements
Throughout the 53,179 square miles of The Natural State, approximately 1,801 massage therapists work to help the more than 3 million people in their state find relief from pain, rehabilitation from injuries, and comfort in the midst of stress and anxiety.
With 197,958 people in Little Rock, 87,743 people in Fort Smith, and 85,166 people in Fayetteville, massage therapists who work in Arkansas can find an engaged environment to open, continue, or join a massage therapy business.
How Do I Become A Massage Therapist in Arkansas?
If you’re ready to move into your career as a massage therapist in Arkansas, you must register with the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy. The registration fees are $180. Once you are registered, you must receive licensure by the Board. If you do not register, you will be working illegally and can receive a fine.
In order to receive this license, you must complete a minimum of 500 hours of in-classroom coursework from an approved massage therapy program and be certified by the Board.
You can find application request forms on their website.
Where Can I Study?
The Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy provides a list of approved schools where future LMTs can complete their 500 required hours.
Little Rock and Jonesboro are a couple of popular cities in Arkansas to study massage, with two leading schools operating there: Arkansas College of Massage and Heritage College in Little Rock.
- Arkansas College of Massage: Encouraging students to study bodywork as it applies to athletics and human performance, this school hopes students will better understand the physical stresses placed upon an athlete, helping the stresses placed on an average person easier to understand. Licensed by the Board, students will complete the necessary 500 hours and will better be able to create their massage business success.
- Heritage College in Little Rock: With a holistic approach to massage therapy as an important part of good healthcare, this school incorporates medicine science and eastern techniques to give students a “sophisticated market.” Students will learn deep tissue massage, physiology, sports massage and more, and will be offered continuous recourses to help them with their job search upon graduation.
Other education options include Blue Cliff College in Fayetteville, Arkansas School of Massage in Fort Smith.
How Much Will I Earn?
The average annual wage of a massage therapist in Arkansas was $49,085 in 2021. This is on the lower side of state earnings, with the average national salary at $53,222. However, massage therapists who work in Little Rock have the opportunity to earn a slightly higher salary, with the average for this city at $49,253 annually.