North Carolina Massage Therapy Schools - NC

North Carolina requires completion of study in the area of massage therapy from either an approved North Carolina massage school, an accredited or exempt online program, or an out of state curriculum.  Educationally, these online, out of state, and North Carolina massage school curriculums focus on anatomy, physiology and theory and practice of massage therapy.  Many massage therapists will also elect to pursue additional training in areas such as Swedish massage, sports massage or trigger point massage.  A minimum of 500 supervised in-class instructional hours are also required.  If your education is received from an approved North Carolina massage school (including an exempted North Carolina Community College or online Program), all that is required for verification is an official transcript.  If you receive your education from an out of state curriculum, then you must also provide a copy of the school’s curriculum and course descriptions, a copy of the school’s course catalog, and a copy of the school’s license permitting them to instruct in massage therapy.

According to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 1100 massage therapists employed in the state of North Carolina.  They work in a variety of job settings, including private practice/self-employment, health clubs, spas, and medical facilities.  Seventy four percent of American Massage Therapy Association members indicated via a membership poll that they were self-employed.  Hourly wages for a massage therapist in North Carolina range from $11-$34, and poll responses indicate most massage therapists work between 5-16 hours per week.  The hourly wage is comparable to that of the neighboring states of Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia. 

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Massage Therapists in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, High Point and Wilmington, North Carolina may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Forsyth Medical Center, Rutherford Hospital and Pitt County Memorial Hospital.