How to Become a Massage Therapist in Rhode Island (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Rhode Island employs about 290 massage therapists earning a median $74,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Massage Therapist here means completing a board-approved massage program that meets this state’s hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required, then applying through RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Rhode Island

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
172.6Contact school for pricing$34,62084%—40 mi
251.2$5,550 in-state / $14,834 out-of-state$51,97126%Yes*6 mi
347.6$5,338 in-state / $15,596 out-of-state$50,13024%Yes*64 mi
444.3$7,200 in-state / $15,450 out-of-state$54,40734%—94 mi
542.9Contact school for pricing$32,58687%—39 mi
640.8Contact school for pricing$32,85685%—66 mi
737.1Contact school for pricing$32,58677%—36 mi
834.9Contact school for pricing$42,31663%—11 mi
933.2Contact school for pricing$36,91856%—67 mi
1016.5Contact school for pricing$32,586Not reported—65 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Rhode Island employs approximately 290 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $74,960 1. Nationally, massage therapist employment is projected to grow 15.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 24,700 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Massage Therapist in Rhode Island, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Rhode Island

How to become a Massage Therapist in Rhode Island? Complete a board-approved massage program that meets this state’s hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required. Apply through RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation.

How long does it take? Most people finish a board-approved massage program that meets this state’s hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required. Confirm current hour totals with the program and RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation.

Do I need a license in Rhode Island? Yes. Rhode Island credentials this role through RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Rhode Island is $74,960 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,480 and experienced professionals can earn $126,150 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Rhode Island

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation publishes. Confirm the current total with the board. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship.
  3. Pass MBLEx or the state exam. Most states use MBLEx. Confirm with RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation before taking paying clients where the state licenses massage.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Rhode Island

Massage therapists in Rhode Island complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation where the state licenses the trade. See RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), massage therapists wages in Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick440$60,420$72,640$39,030$126,150

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 290 massage therapists 1. Nationally, massage therapist employment is projected to grow 15.4% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a massage therapist in Rhode Island with an out-of-state license? Contact the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Rhode Island? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Rhode Island.

How much do massage therapists earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Rhode Island is $74,960, which is $17,010 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In Rhode Island

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation - Licensing Information: https://health.ri.gov/licenses/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)