Definition: A massage therapist is someone who has been professionally trained to perform massage therapy. Massage therapists are also sometimes called masseurs or masseuses.
Forty-four states regulate massage therapists, according to the American Massage Therapy Association, requiring some form of license, registration or certification. Most states require a minimum of 500 hours of training in massage school but some require more -- New York, for instance, requires 1,000 hours.
While a license gives a massage therapist the legal right to practice massage, it can take many more years to develop the expertise to become an excellent massage therapist. Here's how to find a great massage therapist.
You can find a licensed massage therapist at any reputable spa, or search for a private practitioner by town or zipcode at the American Massage Therapy Association site under Find A Massage Therapist.
