Vermont is one of the few states that does not have a regulatory board for massage businesses, schools, or practitioners. At last report, legislators in Montpelier were still debating whether to create an agency.
Massage therapists in Vermont do need to comply with health, safety, and labor statutes that some cities and counties enforce.
Minimum Education Requirements for Massage Therapy Programs in Vermont
Massage therapy schools are postsecondary institutions that enroll only students who have earned high school diplomas or GEDs. Taking college-level classes in science, business, and health may enhance admission prospects. To become a massage therapist in Vermont, it is essential to enroll in an accredited college, institute, or academy.
Vermont does not regulate these schools schools or their programs. Most states mandate that curricula feature at least 500 clock hours of classes and clinical experiences. Massage techniques and other therapies make up a major portion of curricula. Most programs cover Eastern and Western modalities.
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) agrees with the 500-hour minimum. The organization recognizes programs that feature 125 hours of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and other body systems courses; 200 hours of massage and bodywork theory and practice; 40 hours of pathology; and 10 hours of business and ethics.
Some employers do not consider job applicants who graduate from schools that fail to satisfy NCBTMB criteria. Vermont massage therapists may lack the qualifications to practice in other states.
Though there is no licensure requirement, experts advise graduates to take the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). The Federation of State Massage Therapy Board, which administers the exam, offers online registration for an appointment at a Pearson VUE testing center.