Most training programs require at least a high school diploma. Postsecondary education can be helpful, especially if it has included study of anatomy and physiology.
According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), more than a thousand U.S. programs offer training. Select a school that meets your state's requirements. (See "State Requirements," below.)
Training programs require various areas of study, but in general, you will need to learn general systems of the body (e.g., circulation), anatomy, physiology, kinesiology (study of movement), therapeutic assessment and practice, and professional ethics.
Most states regulate massage, requiring some form of license, registration, or certification. Thirty-seven states currently require licenses to practice; some states require completion of at least 500 hours of study, others require as many as 1000 hours. Professional massage associations and the certification board can help you determine your state's requirements.
Many states make it illegal to practice massage without a license, but even in states not regulating massage, certification by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork indicates to clients you have met rigorous standards of study and are competent to practice.