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Massage Therapy Schools in New York
13 schools in New York offer massage therapy-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data.
Occupation pay is what working massage therapy professionals in New York earn (all experience levels) — school "earnings" figures above are medians for each school's recent federally-aided students across all its programs, which read lower.
Massage Therapy licensing in New York: State license required
New York requires a state license issued by the State Education Department's Office of the Professions, and its 1,000-hour education requirement is the highest among large states — double what Texas or Florida require. Applicants must graduate from an approved program with at least 150 hours of hands-on practice and pass the New York State Massage Therapy Examination, which is offered only twice a year; New York does not accept the MBLEx. Limited permits allow supervised work while awaiting exam results.
Official source: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Massage Therapy) · Exam: New York State Massage Therapy Examination (offered twice a year; dates vary by cycle — check NYSED for current administrations) — New York does not use the MBLEx · Typical requirement: 1,000 hours of classroom instruction at an approved program (including at least 150 hours of hands-on practice), plus current CPR training
Official license records related to massage therapy in New York
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Massage Therapist — NYS Education Department~State Board for Massage Therapy
- Physical Therapist — NYS Education Department~State Board for Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapist — NYS Education Department~State Board for Occupational Therapy
- Respiratory Therapist — NYS Education Department~State Board for Respiratory Therapy
- Licensed Creative Arts Therapist — NYS Education Department~State Board for Mental Health Practitioners
- Occupational Therapist Assistant — NYS Education Department~State Board for Occupational Therapy
Wage and license data provided by CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and Minnesota DEED.
Schools, ranked by earnings per tuition dollar
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Queensborough Community College | Bayside | public | $4,458 | 32.9% | $44,214 |
| Monroe Community College | Rochester | public | $6,353 | 28.2% | $40,174 |
| Niagara County Community College | Sanborn | public | $6,876 | 37% | $42,285 |
| Trocaire College | Buffalo | private nonprofit | $16,636 | 58.5% | $55,318 |
| North Country Community College | Saranac Lake | public | $11,868 | 40.7% | $38,276 |
| Finger Lakes Community College | Canandaigua | public | $13,898 | 33.9% | $40,054 |
| SUNY Morrisville | Morrisville | public | $15,939 | 41.9% | $43,295 |
| New York School for Medical and Dental Assistants | Long Island City | private for-profit | $20,097 | 73.2% | $38,899 |
| Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus | Albany | private for-profit | $24,241 | 35.9% | $38,830 |
| Mildred Elley-New York Campus | New York | private for-profit | $25,431 | 36% | $38,830 |
| Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences | New York | private for-profit | $29,688 | 91.4% | $29,699 |
| New York Institute of Massage Inc | Williamsville | private for-profit | $27,232 | 86.7% | $26,379 |
| Pacific College of Health and Science | New York | private for-profit | $57,004 | 45% | $26,209 |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Figures are institution-wide federal medians for each school as a whole — not massage therapy graduates specifically. Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
Common questions: Massage Therapy school in New York
- How much do Massage Therapy schools cost in New York?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 13 massage therapy schools in New York is $16,636. Individual schools range widely — the table above shows each school's real cost, not sticker price.
- Do you need a license to work as a massage therapy in New York?
- New York requires a state license issued by the State Education Department's Office of the Professions, and its 1,000-hour education requirement is the highest among large states — double what Texas or Florida require. Applicants must graduate from an approved program with at least 150 hours of hands-on practice and pass the New York State Massage Therapy Examination, which is offered only twice a year; New York does not accept the MBLEx. Limited permits allow supervised work while awaiting exam results.
- What does a massage therapy earn in New York?
- Working massage therapy professionals in New York earn a median of $62,630 per year, ranging from about $33,280 to $110,210 (U.S. Department of Labor). This is what people in the job earn, which differs from a school's reported graduate-earnings figure.
Aid deadlines for massage therapy programs in New York
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Massage Therapy schools in nearby states
- Massage Therapy schools in New Jersey
- Massage Therapy schools in Alabama
- Massage Therapy schools in Arizona
- Massage Therapy schools in Arkansas
- Massage Therapy schools in California
- Massage Therapy schools in Colorado
- Massage Therapy schools in Connecticut
- Massage Therapy schools in Delaware
- Massage Therapy schools in Florida
- Massage Therapy schools in Georgia
See all states & the full massage therapy guide →