How Massage Schools Teach The Most Critical Skill Most Clients Never See

When you think about a massage appointment, what comes to mind?

Maybe something like this: you walk into the room, get on the table, receive a massage, and leave. Sound familiar? For many people, that's the typical experience. But what if we told you that this approach doesn't meet the professional standard of care massage therapists are trained to provide?

To become a licensed massage therapist in 46 of the 50 states, plus Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia, practitioners must pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx). Notably, 17% of that exam assesses the therapist’s knowledge of client assessment. That’s a significant portion — and for good reason.

Assessment helps the massage therapist determine how best to support a client’s goals—or when to recognize that the client may need medical or even emergency care. A not-so-fun fact: headaches and neck pain are sometimes early signs of a stroke. Scary, right? Thankfully, most cases aren’t that serious—but this is one of many medical concerns that trained massage therapists are taught to screen for. So what does a massage assessment actually look like? It can vary slightly from client to client and session to session, but key components are consistently included: Consultation and health history review

• Visual inspection to identify safety concerns

• Postural and gait analysis, when appropriate

• Palpation and orthopedic testing to locate and understand problem areas

• Range of motion assessment to identify movement restrictions

Without proper assessment, massage therapy becomes guesswork. At Carolina School of Bodywork, we don’t just train students to pass the MBLEx — we train them to think critically, assess thoroughly, and deliver the highest standard of care to every client they serve.

How easy is it to find a job as a massage therapist?

This is a common question we are asked when prospective students consider enrollment. And a valid one - you want to make sure you get a return on your investment!

The majority of our graduates have job offers prior to graduation. We enjoy helping students find their place in the field. The beauty about massage as a career is the number of different places you can work, and the style of work that each therapist does is different. Ultimately, there’s a place for everyone.

Most massage therapists identify as self-employed, and the second largest employer of massage therapists is businesses that offer personal care services like spas and wellness centers. Even if you don’t see yourself opening a business, we are ready to help you pave your road to success.