Massage therapy programs or courses can be divided into some different phases of instruction, consisting of basic, advanced, continuing education, and even distance learning (over online massage therapy schools ^[1]). Nowadays, students may choose to take in one of several massage therapy programs or massage therapy courses, or may prefer to attend massage school on a full or part-time basis to get certificate or to attain a diploma in massage therapy.

Basic massage therapy programs and courses usually integrate a great deal of practical knowledge in physiology and anatomy, health and hygiene, aromatherapy, and commonly used practices into their massage therapy program, as well as Swedish or sports massage. These types of massage therapy programs typically take about 400 hours of classes and practice.

More advanced massage therapy programs and courses turn into a extended variety of bodywork modalities that may include trigger point therapy, accupuncture, Thai massage, medical massage, Tuina, myofascial release, canine, drainage, neuromuscular massage, prenatal and infant massage, geriatric massage, lymphatic, spa and aromatherapy massage, and some others.

Continuing education (CE) massage therapy courses may include practical experience in advanced chair massage, orthopedic massage, sports massage, head massage, reflexology, and more. Most of these CE massage therapy programs would allow its students to get certificates or diplomas in respective modalities.

Online massage therapy programs focus on initial massage training, which often contain learning materials such as videos, computer programs, e-books, audio tapes, and/or other educational stuff that may be offered online or by mail-order.

Moreover, students, who successfully finish one of numerous massage therapy courses can get a job in the field of bodywork. According to the US Dept of Labor statistics, the average rate of increasement for massage related careers is better than the rate of other jobs. Because massage therapy programs offer continuing education online, graduates may improve their professional skills by going to their computer and to learn the newest techniques by simple strokes of a keyboard.