The State of Kentucky Massage Therapist Requirements
Throughout the 40,409 square miles of the Bluegrass State, approximately 2,302 massage therapists work to help the more than 4.5 million people in their state find relief from pain, rehabilitation from injuries, and comfort in the midst of stress and anxiety.
With 320,601 people in Lexington-Fayette, 288,649 people in Meads, and 617,790 people in Louisville, massage therapists who work in Kentucky can find an engaged environment to open, continue, or join a massage therapy business.
How Do I Become A Massage Therapist in Kentucky?
If you’re ready to move into your career as a massage therapist in Kentucky, you must register with the Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy. The application fee is $125. 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 600 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 Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy approves massage therapy programs with the following: 125 hours of anatomy and physiology, 200 hours of massage/bodywork theory and technique, 200 hours of business related to the massage industry, 40 hours of pathology, 35 hours of a school decided topic.
Below are two approved schools in Kentucky to help you get started on what you may be looking for in a massage therapy education.
- Lexington Healing Arts Academy: LHHA’s massage therapy program allows students to earn their license without taking extra coursework. The program consists of 720 hours of massage therapy education and 612 hours of supervised clinic hours. LHHA reports 96 percent on-time graduate rate for day students, and 89 percent placement rate for the day program.
- Louisville School of Massage: LSM believes that humans are physical, mental and spiritual energetic beings, and massage touches all of these aspects. Because of this, LMS strives to serve the community through practicing massage therapists, teaching students in both academic and field experience.
Other education options include Lincoln Tech and Advanced Massage Therapeutics.
How Much Will I Earn?
The average annual wage of a massage therapist in Kentucky was $50,082 in 2021. This is on the lower side of state earnings, with the average national salary at $53,222. Massage therapists who work in Bowling Green earn a similar salary, with the average for this city at $48,178 annually.