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Massage therapists have been getting licenses in Ohio since 1915, which is the longest for any state.
To get licensed, you need to fulfill certain training requirements and pass an exam.
Article Table of Contents
Training Requirements
You need a total of 750 hours of training within an accredited program.
The program must cover theory and practice, in topics as anatomy, physiology, pathology, hygiene, business, and ethics.
Popular Programs
To be accredited, a school outside Ohio must be approved by an entity similar to the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools Registration or the Ohio Board of Regents.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Blanchard Valley Academy of Massage Therapy | 1710 Crystal Ave. Findlay, OH 45840 |
| Columbus State Community College | 550 East Spring St. Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Cuyahoga Community College Massotherapy Program | 4250 Richmond Road Highland Hills, Ohio 44122 |
| Harmony Path School of Massage Therapy | 20950 Center Ridge Rd. #201 Rocky River, OH 44116 |
| Healing Arts Institute | 340 Three Meadows Dr. Perrysburg, OH 43551 |
| Hocking College | 3301 Hocking Parkway Nelsonville, OH 45764 |
| Knox County Career Center | 306 Martinsburg Rd. Mount Vernon, OH 43050 |
| Miami-Jacobs Career College | 875 West Central Ave. Springboro, OH 45066 |
| Miami-Jacobs Career College | 865 West Market St. Troy, OH 45373 |
| Northcoast Medical Training Academy | 1832 State Route59 Kent, OH 44240 |
| Owens Community College | 3200 Bright Rd. Findley, OH 45840 |
| Owens Community College | 1724 Indian Wood Circle Maumee, OH 43537 |
| Owens Community College | 2249 Tracy Rd. Northwood, OH 43619 |
| Owens Community College | 30335 Oregon Rd. Perrysburg, OH 43551 |
| Owens Community College | 1301 Monroe St. Toledo, OH 43604 |
| Raphael's School of Beauty Culture | 2445 West State St. Alliance, OH 44601 |
| Raphael's School of Beauty Culture | 5311 Market St. Boardman, OH 44512 |
| Raphael's School of Beauty Culture | 3307 Center Rd. Brunswick, OH 44212 |
| Raphael's School of Beauty Culture | 1324 Youngstown-Warren Rd. Niles, OH 44446 |
| Raphael's School of Beauty Culture | 24761 Lorain Rd. North Olmsted, OH 44070 |
| Schools of Medical Massage | 11250 Cornell Park Dr. #203 Cincinnati, OH 45242 |
| Schools of Medical Massage | 4457 Far Hills Ave Dayton, OH 45429 |
| Schools of Medical Massage | 3325 Shawnee Rd. Lima, OH 45806 |
| Schools of Medical Massage | 18334-D East Bagley Rd. Middleburg Heights, OH 44130 |
| SHI Integrative Medical Massage School | 130 Cook Rd. Lebanon, OH 45036 |
| Stark State College | 6200 FRank Ave. NW North Canton, OH 44720 |
| Stautzenberger College | 8001 Katherine Blvd. Brecksville, OH 44141 |
| Strautzenberger College | 1796 Indian Wood Circle Maumee, OH 43537 |
Exam Criteria
To receive your certification, you need to pass the MBLEx which covers the following topics:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Kinesiology
- Pathology/ contraindications and cautions/ special populations
- Benefits and physiological effects
- Client assessment and treatment planning
- Massage and bodywork overview
- Professional practice guidelines
- Laws, regulations, ethics and boundary issues
To apply, you need to download the form on the Board’s site and read the candidate bulletin.
You also need to pay a $195 fee.
Your Authorization to Test will be sent to you within 5 days, and from then on you have 90 days to take the exam.
Background Check
Your fingerprints will be analyzed by the WebCheck system, and you can find a location on the Ohio Attorney General site.
Candidates who reside in other states must submit fingerprints through their local agency on a fingerprint card.
This card can be requested from the Board by email.
The BCI background check costs $22 and the FBI background check costs $24, but additional fees might apply.
How to Apply
After you download the application form, you need to submit copies of your diplomas and have the original signed by the school.
You will also need 2 reference letters along with 2 passport-sized photos.
If you have a certification in another state, it will have to be reviewed no matter its type.
If you were convicted for a crime, you need to fill in a criminal offense information form.
The application then has to be legalized, and you must submit a $150 fee.
All applications should be sent to the State Medical Board in Columbus, and you will receive an answer within 2 months.
If you have a license in another state and job experience of 5 years, you don’t need to be examined again.
Other Info
You can contact the State Medical Board of Ohio for more details regarding licenses.
Another useful site to visit is one of The American Massage Therapy Association-Ohio Chapter.
The average salary in this field in Ohio is very similar to that at a national level.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Columbus | $50,447 |
| Cleveland | $50,892 |
| Cincinnati | $50,160 |
| Toledo | $49,601 |
| Akron | $49,247 |
| Dayton | $49,862 |
| Canton | $48,986 |
| Youngstown | $48,626 |
| Lorain | $49,944 |
| Hamilton | $49,954 |
Regional Salary in Ohio
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 220 | $49,650 | $23.87 | $65,840 | $34,010 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 80 | $53,800 | $25.86 | $75,050 | $30,560 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 510 | $57,670 | $27.73 | $79,600 | $35,190 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 480 | $56,090 | $26.97 | $74,970 | $35,340 |
| Columbus, OH | 600 | $54,560 | $26.23 | $74,540 | $32,220 |
| Dayton, OH | 160 | $53,390 | $25.67 | $78,160 | $34,380 |
| Toledo, OH | 140 | $54,330 | $26.12 | $75,030 | $36,980 |
| Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA | 120 | $49,620 | $23.86 | $72,800 | $29,370 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapy by State