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Massage Therapy Schools in North Carolina
17 schools in North Carolina offer massage therapy-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data.
Occupation pay is what working massage therapy professionals in North Carolina 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 North Carolina: State license required
North Carolina requires a state license — the Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (LMBT) credential — from the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. The education minimum rose from 500 to 650 in-class hours under a 2024 law, and applicants must also pass the MBLEx or an NCBTMB exam, a jurisprudence exam, and a background check. Licenses renew every two years with 24 hours of continuing education.
Official source: North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy · Exam: MBLEx (FSMTB) or NCBTMB examination, plus the Board's North Carolina jurisprudence exam · Typical requirement: 650 hours of in-class instruction from a board-approved school (raised from 500 hours by Senate Bill 607, enacted July 2024); fingerprint background check and jurisprudence exam
Official license records related to massage therapy in North Carolina
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Massage And Bodywork Therapist — NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
- Massage And Bodywork Therapist Privilege — NC Department of Revenue~Taxpayer Assistance
- Occupational Therapist — NC Board of Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapist — NC Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
- Physical Therapist Assistant — NC Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
- Licensed Recreational Therapist — NC Board of Recreation 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Community College | Smithfield | public | $1,776 | 40.5% | $37,310 |
| Lenoir Community College | Kinston | public | $4,127 | 36.3% | $33,866 |
| Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | public | $4,157 | 35.9% | $31,656 |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva | public | $5,207 | 41.4% | $34,145 |
| South Piedmont Community College | Polkton | public | $6,675 | 26.9% | $37,308 |
| Gaston College | Dallas | public | $6,592 | 44.1% | $35,386 |
| Pitt Community College | Winterville | public | $7,337 | 29.3% | $37,259 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | public | $8,759 | 31.8% | $41,769 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | public | $7,200 | 32.9% | $34,139 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | public | $8,753 | 38.3% | $36,337 |
| Tri-County Community College | Murphy | public | $7,799 | 34% | $32,232 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | public | $11,602 | 33.6% | $36,048 |
| Carteret Community College | Morehead City | public | $10,764 | 37.5% | $33,357 |
| Center for Massage | Asheville | private for-profit | $18,631 | 90.6% | $19,244 |
| Southeastern College-Charlotte | Charlotte | private for-profit | $30,611 | 68.3% | $31,548 |
| Gwinnett College | Raleigh | private for-profit | $30,219 | 63.2% | $29,234 |
| College of Wilmington | Wilmington | private for-profit | $23,108 | 27.7% | $19,235 |
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 North Carolina
- How much do Massage Therapy schools cost in North Carolina?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 17 massage therapy schools in North Carolina is $7,799. 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 North Carolina?
- North Carolina requires a state license — the Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (LMBT) credential — from the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. The education minimum rose from 500 to 650 in-class hours under a 2024 law, and applicants must also pass the MBLEx or an NCBTMB exam, a jurisprudence exam, and a background check. Licenses renew every two years with 24 hours of continuing education.
- What does a massage therapy earn in North Carolina?
- Working massage therapy professionals in North Carolina earn a median of $60,650 per year, ranging from about $31,050 to $96,510 (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 North Carolina
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Massage Therapy schools in nearby states
- Massage Therapy schools in Delaware
- Massage Therapy schools in Florida
- Massage Therapy schools in Georgia
- Massage Therapy schools in Maryland
- Massage Therapy schools in Alabama
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- Massage Therapy schools in Arkansas
- Massage Therapy schools in California
- Massage Therapy schools in Colorado
- Massage Therapy schools in Connecticut
See all states & the full massage therapy guide →