Washington State has a massage therapist job concentration that is among the highest in the nation. It has a higher job concentration than many parts of the state, though not quite at the level of Seattle, Kennewick, or the Southern Washington Portland suburbs.
This is a very massage-friendly area, and not just because individual residents embrace newer concepts of wellness. The popularity also reflects a strong presence in organized healthcare. Organizations not only have positive things to say about integrative treatments; they put their money behind them. The Alexander School of Natural Therapeutics has a year history. The program is hours. Other modalities include sports massage, chair massage, and prenatal massage. Anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology coursework comprise more than hours.
Subjects like medical documentation, insurance billing, and practitioner ergonomics round out the curriculum. The Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts offers multiple scheduling options. Modalities include Swedish, myofascial release, and massage for pregnancy and injury recovery.
Science is hands-on. An agreement with Bastyr University allows students use of a cadaver lab, though alternate arrangements are possible. The most basic option is the certificate in Swedish massage.
Students receive hours of training, which is above the minimum for licensure in Washington State. A graduate or licensed massage therapist can complete an additional hours and receive a second certificate, this one in clinical massage. The associate degree includes the full 1, hours, plus a few general studies courses. The American Massage Therapy Association lists program hours as The Bodymechanics School states that they emphasize skills students need to be career ready, including proper body mechanics.
