What is the Education difference between a Massage Therapist and a Physical Therapist?
Monday, November 30th, 2009 at
11:58 pm
I understand that a Massage and Physical therapist are two different occupations, but what degrees do you go through that are different for each? I’ve looked it up, and it says for a Massage Therapist, all you need is a certificate/degree in Massage work. I find that hard to believe, and was wondering if there was something that the internet lacked to tell me?
Filed under: Alternative Medicine
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It is true, you only need a certificate to become a massage therapist. Yet, the job market for this is very poor and your ability to get regular income and benefits is limited.
Physical therapy takes at least a master’s degree and most programs are now doctoral. But to counterpoint one of the above posts, it’s a DPT, not a PhD and typically takes 6-7 years….very rarely 8. Physical therapy is a true professional and the job market, earning potential and ability to secure benefits is very stable.
You can become a masseuse by completing a series of courses at a massage school. Once you get your license, you can give people massages at spas and salons, etc., which make them feel better.
One of my relatives receives therapeutic massage for lymphedema. She sees a physical therapist who is also certified in massage therapy. This physical therapist works in a hospital setting and gets all of her patients by referral from vascular surgeons. The kind of medical massage therapy that she provides is intended to improve circulation and reduce the possibility of blood clots in patients with lymphedema.
You only need to go to a 6 month to one year program to be a massage therapist. A Physical therapist goes to college for 4 years. You can take much more training as a massage therapist that will give you skills beyond a PT even after you become licensed as a massage therapist if you want to or you can just do massage.
Your search results are correct. I refuse to use the term "therapist" for anyone who massages, because true therapists have earned at least a master’s degree.
The national standard for massage PRACTITIONERS is 500 hours of trade school which takes 6 months. Every state has a different standard, though. New York requires 1,500 hours.
Physical therapists have at least a master’s degree, which takes SIX years, not four. Some states now require a doctorate, which takes around EIGHT years.
If you want a respected, legitimate career, choose physical therapy.