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Massage Therapy Schools in Ohio
16 schools in Ohio offer massage therapy-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data.
Occupation pay is what working massage therapy professionals in Ohio 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 Ohio: State license required
Ohio is unusual in that massage therapists are licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio, the same body that licenses physicians. Requirements are 600 hours of education at a board-approved school (lowered from 750 hours by a 2021 law), a passing MBLEx score, and FBI/BCI background checks. Ohio currently requires no continuing education to maintain the license.
Official source: State Medical Board of Ohio · Exam: MBLEx (FSMTB) · Typical requirement: 600 education hours from a board-approved school (reduced from 750 by House Bill 442, effective April 12, 2021, amending ORC 4731.19); age 18+, high school diploma, FBI + Ohio BCI background checks; $150 application fee
Official license records related to massage therapy in Ohio
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Massage Therapist — State Medical Board of Ohio
- Physical Therapist — Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board
- Cosmetic Therapist — State Medical Board of Ohio
- Occupational Therapist — Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board
- Physical Therapy Assistant — Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board
- Respiratory Care Professional — State Medical Board of Ohio
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorain County Community College | Elyria | public | $3,967 | 29% | $38,837 |
| Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | public | $4,266 | 19.1% | $35,654 |
| Stark State College | North Canton | public | $5,986 | 29% | $34,661 |
| Washington State College of Ohio | Marietta | public | $7,714 | 39% | $37,988 |
| Columbus State Community College | Columbus | public | $8,400 | 29.7% | $39,435 |
| Hocking College | Nelsonville | public | $13,704 | 40.2% | $37,791 |
| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | Maumee | private for-profit | $21,756 | 54.8% | $34,104 |
| Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Boardman | Boardman | private for-profit | $16,477 | 70% | $22,437 |
| American Institute of Alternative Medicine | Columbus | private for-profit | $38,392 | 62.5% | $40,805 |
| Dayton School of Medical Massage | Dayton | private for-profit | $30,819 | 73.4% | $31,071 |
| Orion Institute | Perrysburg | private for-profit | $27,750 | 80.9% | $25,847 |
| EHOVE Career Center | Milan | public | not reported | 88.7% | $40,117 |
| Knox County Career Center | Mount Vernon | public | not reported | not reported | $38,212 |
| Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District | Chillicothe | public | not reported | 97.6% | $46,485 |
| Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County | Newark | public | not reported | 83% | $38,002 |
| Ohio Institute of Allied Health | Huber Heights | private nonprofit | $47,034 | 68% | not reported |
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 Ohio
- How much do Massage Therapy schools cost in Ohio?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 16 massage therapy schools in Ohio is $15,091. 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 Ohio?
- Ohio is unusual in that massage therapists are licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio, the same body that licenses physicians. Requirements are 600 hours of education at a board-approved school (lowered from 750 hours by a 2021 law), a passing MBLEx score, and FBI/BCI background checks. Ohio currently requires no continuing education to maintain the license.
- What does a massage therapy earn in Ohio?
- Working massage therapy professionals in Ohio earn a median of $55,990 per year, ranging from about $40,340 to $78,520 (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 Ohio
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Massage Therapy schools in nearby states
- Massage Therapy schools in Illinois
- Massage Therapy schools in Indiana
- Massage Therapy schools in Michigan
- 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
See all states & the full massage therapy guide →