The State of Iowa Massage Therapist Requirements
Throughout the 56,272 square miles of The Hawkeye State, approximately 3,017 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 215,636 people in Des Moines, 132,301 people in Cedar Rapids, and 102,169 people in Davenport, massage therapists who work in Iowa can find an engaged environment to open, continue, or join a massage therapy business.
How Do I Become A Massage Therapist in Iowa?
If you’re ready to move into your career as a massage therapist in Iowa, you must register with the Iowa Board of Massage Therapy. The registration fee is $120. 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 from an approved massage therapy program 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 Iowa Board of Massage Therapy provides approval criteria for schools that offer massage therapy education. If you would like to study at a school that is not approved, you can pursue an application for school approval.
Below are two approved schools in Iowa to help you get started on what you may be looking for in a massage therapy education.
- Carlson College of Massage Therapy: This school wants to “a profession into your hands.” Students will learn with a rehabilitative based education to understand how to effectively treat chronic or acute muscular dysfunction. Because of this, the program graduates students who are highly marketable in the healthcare community. The graduate initial placement rate in the field of massage is more than 97 percent.
- CAPRI College: This program is active and led by massage professionals with years of experience helping clients. Students will receive personalized, hands-on instruction in modalities including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, Thai massage, infant massage and more. Students will work with real clients in a professional clinic with the support and guidance of an instructor.
Other education options include Ancient Wisdom Massage School, Clinic and Spa and Windemere Institute of Healing Arts.
How Much Will I Earn?
The average annual wage of a massage therapist in Iowa was $50,934 in 2021. This is on the lower side of state earnings, with the average national salary at $53,222. Massage therapists who work in Cedar Rapids have the opportunity to earn a similar salary, with the average for this city at $50,497 annually.