Menu
There are six massage therapy schools in Broward County, from Fort Lauderdale to smaller cities. They range from public colleges to privately owned institutions.
Students learn science and massage theory in classrooms, get hands-on instruction in labs, and gain practical experience in clinical assignments. Within less than a year, they can earn certificates that qualify them to become practitioners. One school offers an associate degree in the field.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach places sixth among the nation’s metropolitan areas in the number of MT jobs. Florida is second only to California in providing employment in the field.
You Might Also Like:
We selected the schools below based on the programs that they offer, accreditation, student population, graduation rate and reputation.
View our Ranking Methodology to learn more about how we rank schools.
67%
239
This school awards diplomas in six fields. Campuses in Margate and Hollywood provide different massage therapy programs.
The 720-contact-hour Margate curriculum lasts 26 weeks full time or 33 weeks part time. Day and night scheduling options are available. Courses cover massage theory and history, anatomy and physiology, the theory and practice of hydrotherapy, allied modalities, Eastern modalities, medical errors, professional ethics, business practices, and Florida laws and rules.
At the Hollywood location, students complete 600 contact hours of instruction in anatomy, physiology, massage theory, Florida law, HIV/AIDS education, hydrotherapy, and Eastern and allied modalities.
64%
379
A global corporation, Aveda sells cosmetics and operates more than 6,000 salons. Since 1982, it has opened 63 beauty schools.
The campus in Davie incorporates Swedish massage, reflexology massage, aromaology, and Ayurveda. There are also business development and retail knowledge classes. In a “unique, spa-like environment,” students consult with clients to create customized treatments involving relaxation methods, deep tissue therapy, foot reflexology, acupressure, chakra, subtle energy, pregnancy massage, and other techniques.
Aveda Institute graduates “are some of the most sought-after in the industry,” according to the company. Job-placement rates are consistently higher than accrediting organizations require.
60%
1801
A member of the Broward County public school system, STC operates three career schools. The campus in Hollywood is home to a 750-contact-hour massage therapy program.
Enrollees study anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, clinical pathology, massage theory and assessment, Western and non-Western modalities, hydrotherapy, professional standards, ethics, and law and business practices. There are additional classes in AIDS education, CPR, human relations, employability skills, and computer literacy.
Some incoming students are required to take the TABE basic skills test in reading, math, and language. STC provides career assistance in resume writing, workshops, job training, employment searches, and job placement.
31%
40784
Based in Fort Lauderdale, BC has more than 150 programs. Massage therapy students are found on the North Campus in Coconut Creek.
The curriculum blends lectures, discussions, interactive exercises, practical demonstrations, guest speakers, videos, field trips, and supervised massage practice on and off campus. Class subjects include CPR, medical ethics and standards, anatomy and physiology, allied modalities, and hydrotherapy. At the end of the program, students take part in clinical practicums.
Applicants must pass TABE tests in math, reading, and English. Forty students are accepted each year — half for day classes and half for an evening program.
65%
19510
A non-profit, private career college, KU awards associate of science degrees in massage therapy. The 18-month program begins with 24 credit hours of general education in behavioral/social science, communications, computers, English, humanities/fine arts, mathematics, and natural sciences.
MT courses, totaling 46 credit hours, are Body Systems, Human Structure and Functions, Legal and Ethical Business Practices, Massage Theory, Asian Modalities, Allied Modalities, Spa Therapy/Hydrotherapy, Structural Kinesiology, Sports Massage, and Pathology.
The school explains that students take the technical courses one at a time for four weeks each, “instead of juggling multiple assignments and exams.”
$18
$37,600
In the metropolitan area that includes Fort Lauderdale and surrounding communities, median MT salary and wages are nearly $37,600 and over $18. Nationwide, the averages are approximately $41,420 and $19.90.
Practitioners in this region at the top of the income scale make about $87,800 a year or $42.20 per hour, more than than their contemporaries elsewhere in the United States (around $78,280 or $37.65). Those at the bottom earn around $21,100 or $10.15, a little bit less than the approximately $21,340 or $10.25 nationally.
The list of Florida massage therapists will be about one-third longer in 2026 than it was a decade earlier, if federal government predictions are correct. Officials anticipate more than 2,000 job openings every year during the decade.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CareerOneStop
LIMITED TIME DEAL
