What are you looking for

Average salary (a year)

Average salary (a year)

37 to 39 variable

Typical hours (a week)

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this job

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship

College

You could take a course at college that will give you some of the skills and knowledge needed for this role.

Relevant courses include:

  • Level 3 Diploma in Massage
  • Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy
  • Level 3 Diploma in Complementary Therapies

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You could gain some of the skills and knowledge for this role through an advanced apprenticeship like a:

  • holistic wellbeing practitioner
  • beauty therapist

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

What it takes

Find out what skills you will use in this role

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • sensitivity and understanding
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • customer service skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of how the human body works
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you will do

Discover the day to day takes you'll do in this role

Day-to-day tasks

In a typical treatment session you'll:

  • check the client's medical history, diet and lifestyle
  • identify the client's reasons for wanting massage therapy
  • plan a course of treatment
  • apply pressure to areas of the body
  • give advice to clients about their wellbeing
  • refer clients to medical professionals when required
  • create and update client records

Working environment

You could work in a therapy clinic, at a health spa or from home.

Your working environment may be physically active.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and profession

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities

With experience and a caseload or regular clients, you could set up your own business.

You could also take additional training to offer other wellbeing or complementary therapy treatments like aromatherapy, reiki or reflexology.

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