The State of Connecticut Massage Therapist Requirements
Throughout the 5,543 square miles of The Constitution State, approximately 4,898 massage therapists work to help the more than 3.5 million people in their state find relief from pain, rehabilitation from injuries, and comfort in the midst of stress and anxiety.
With 145,639 people in Bridgeport, 130,331 people in New Haven, and 123,088 people in Hartford, massage therapists who work in Connecticut can find an engaged environment to open, continue, or join a massage therapy business.
How Do I Become A Massage Therapist in Connecticut?
If you’re ready to move into your career as a massage therapist in Connecticut, you must register with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. The registration fee is $379.75. 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 750 classroom hours from an accredited massage therapy school and be certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
You can find application request forms on their website.
Where Can I Study?
The State of Connecticut Department of Health requires the 750 hours be completed in a school that is either accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation.
Below are two approved schools in Connecticut to help you get started on what you may be looking for in a massage therapy education.
- Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy: Boasting to be the “only school in Connecticut dedicated exclusively to massage therapy training,” this school allows massage therapists to not only take care of others, but also themselves. Serving Connecticut for more than 30 years, students perform more than 200,000 massages per year in their student clinics.
- Ridley-Lowell Business and Technical Institute: Students in the massage program will explore areas such as anatomy and physiology, pathology, kinesiology, therapeutic massage, and more. Students will have the opportunity to apply for the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork to become nationally certified. Once a student receives a passing score on this exam, they can apply for licensure as a massage therapist in the state of Connecticut.
Another education option includes Connecticut Center for Universal Reflexology.
How Much Will I Earn?
The average annual wage of a massage therapist in Connecticut was $57,587 in 2021. This is on the higher side of state earnings, with the average national salary at $53,222. Massage therapists who work in Danbury have the opportunity to earn a higher salary, with the average for this city at $59,085 annually.