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Washington has more strict requirements for massage therapy students.
You not only have to be 18 years old and enroll in a course but also pass several exams.
Let’s read more about them below.
Article Table of Contents
Training Requirements
To get licensed as a massage therapist, you need to attend a 500 hour course or become an apprentice.
Popular Programs
In either case, the facility must be Board accredited.
The training topics must cover:
- 265 hours of Massage theory and practice, from which 50 hours can be practice only
- 55 hours of clinical and business practices
- 130 hours of anatomy and physiology
- 50 hours of pathology
You must also take CPR and first aid training with the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Altierus | 906 SE Everett Mall Way, #600 Everett, WA 98208 |
| Ananda Massage Training | 6505 218th Street SW #15 Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 |
| Ancient Arts Massage School | 1319 Lee Blvd. Richland, WA 99352 |
| Bellevue Massage School | 15921 NE 8th #106-C Bellevue, WA 98008 |
| Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy & Massage | 2330 Mottman Rd. #106 Tumwater, WA 98512 |
| Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy & Massage | 7723 NE Fourth Plain Blvd. Van Mall Sq. Vancouver, WA 98662 |
| Carrington College | 10102 E. Knox Ave., Suite 200 Spokane, WA 99206 |
| Center for World Indigenous Studies | 1015 4th Ave. West #A&B Olympia, WA 98502 |
| Clover Park Technical College | 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW Lakewood, WA 98499 |
| Cortiva Institute | 2030 SOUTH 314th Street Federal Way, WA 98003 |
| Denton Massage School | 426 North Olympia Ave. Arlington, WA 98223 |
| Everest College - Now Altierus | 2156 Pacific Ave. Tacoma, WA 98402 |
| Inland Massage Institute | 775 East Holland Ave. #110 Spokane, WA 99218 |
| Institute of Structural Medicine | 103 Ross Rd. Twisp, WA 98856 |
| Northwest School of Animal Massage | PO Box 670 Fall City, WA 98024 |
| Northwest Academy of Healing Arts | 2707 California Ave. SW #201 Seattle, WA 98116 |
| Port Townsend School of Massage | 1071 Landes Court Port Townsend, WA 98368 |
| Spectrum Center School of Massage | 12506 18th St. NE #1 Lake Stevens, WA 98258 |
| Spokane Community College | 1810 North Greene St. Spokane, WA 99217 |
| Tri-City School of Massage | 26 East Third Ave Kennewick, WA 99336 |
| Whatcom Community College | 237 West Kellogg Rd. Bellingham, WA 98226 |
Exam requirements
You will have to take the MBLXe exam, and you will also need to read the candidate bulletin beforehand.
If you were an apprentice, you need to prove eligibility before applying.
The ATT allows you to take the exam within 3 months.
If you choose to take the BCETMB exam through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, you will need to comply with higher standards than the one for state licensing.
You also need to pass an online jurisprudence exam.
After passing, make sure to print your certificate right away as the results are not kept.
How to apply
To apply, you have to submit official school transcripts, your CPR and first aid certification, test results, and any other health license you hold.
You will also have to get your background check by the Washington State Patrol and have your professional history reviewed.
You only need to submit your fingerprints if some answers in your application are affirmative, or if the Board is unsure of your professional background.
As a military spouse, you can get licensed faster.
Candidates from other states
You need to submit credentials from where you currently live as well as where you lived in the past.
You can get reciprocity licenses if the state in which you are already licensed has similar standards to Washington.
The Department of Health will require the results of your exams as well as training proof.
Still, you need to pass the required jurisprudence exam and take 5 hours of training in HIV/ AIDS.
If your documents are in another language, they need to be translated into English and legalized.
As a candidate from another state, you might have to get a fingerprint-based background check.
Endorsements in massage therapy
For an intraoral endorsement, you need 16 hours of education as follows:
- Cranial anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, and intraoral massage technique
- Safety, sanitation, and hygienic practice
- Pathology and contraindications
For animal massage endorsements, you need the below training:
- Animal Anatomy and physiology: 20 hours
- Animal kinesiology: 25 hours
- Animal massage techniques: 25 hours
- Handling techniques: 26 hours
- Animal first aid: 4 hours
Other info
You can learn more about the licensing process on the Washington State Department of Health website.
The renewal of the license in this state happens every year.
Location and experience influence the salary, including the median one.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $56,115 |
| Spokane | $50,883 |
| Tacoma | $54,683 |
| Vancouver | $53,475 |
| Bellevue | $56,115 |
| Kent | $54,574 |
| Everett | $54,884 |
| Renton | $56,060 |
| Federal Way | $54,683 |
| Yakima | $50,769 |
Regional Salary in Washington
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 150 | $74,930 | $36.02 | $97,400 | $36,980 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | 70 | $81,390 | $39.13 | $102,130 | $59,580 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 110 | $74,020 | $35.59 | $97,030 | $50,200 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 30 | $81,430 | $39.15 | $118,660 | $52,880 |
| Olympia-Tumwater, WA | 170 | $75,980 | $36.53 | $114,400 | $42,900 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,020 | $85,370 | $41.05 | $124,800 | $59,650 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 230 | $73,740 | $35.45 | $95,430 | $59,680 |
| Wenatchee, WA | 40 | $69,300 | $33.32 | $96,740 | $32,740 |
| Yakima, WA | 80 | $74,340 | $35.74 | $94,680 | $47,170 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapy by State