For many of our students, massage therapy isn't a first career—it's a deliberate second act. They come to us from corporate jobs, caregiving roles, the fitness world, or simply a longing for work that's hands-on, meaningful, and human. Whatever the starting point, the path is the same: from curious newcomer, to skilled student, to licensed graduate, to working professional.
At New School for Massage Bodywork & Healing, we've spent more than two decades building a school around that entire journey—not just the classroom hours, but everything that comes after.
It Starts With a Decision
Choosing to train as a massage therapist is a real commitment of time, energy, and money—especially if you're leaving another career to do it. That decision deserves a school with a track record. New School for Massage has been training therapists in Chicago since 2001, and more than 1,500 graduates have come through our doors and gone on to practice.
Learning Where Real Practice Happens
What sets the student experience apart here is that we don't teach massage in a vacuum. Our school is owner-operated by people who also run a working professional massage practice—River North Massage Therapy Center, an established clinic in the heart of downtown Chicago. That means what you learn in the classroom is grounded in what actually works on the table, day in and day out, with real clients. You're not learning from a textbook alone—you're learning from a school whose leadership lives the profession every day.
From Graduate to Licensed Professional
Graduation is a milestone, but in a licensed profession it's only part of the story. To practice, you'll need to pass the MBLEx licensing examination and meet Illinois licensing requirements. Few schools understand that landscape as intimately as we do: our leadership has served on the Illinois massage therapy licensing board and on the national committee responsible for developing the MBLEx exam itself. We don't just hope our students are ready for licensure—we help shape the standards the profession is measured against, and we bring that perspective directly into how we prepare you.
Building the Career You Want
Knowing how to give an excellent massage is essential. Knowing how to build a career out of it is what separates a graduate from a thriving professional—and it's where most training stops. We go further. Our professional development curriculum is built around the three real paths our graduates take:
- Employment — joining a spa, clinic, chiropractic office, or wellness center as part of a team.
- Private practice — building your own client base and working for yourself.
- Business ownership — opening and running your own massage business.
Whichever direction calls you, you'll graduate understanding not just the work, but the business of the work: how to find and keep clients, set your rates, manage the numbers, and build something sustainable.
What Makes New School Different
Plenty of programs can teach you the strokes. What makes New School for Massage unique is the combination behind them:
- A school owner-operated alongside a real, working Chicago massage practice.
- Leadership that helps shape licensing and examination standards at the state and national level.
- A curriculum that prepares you for the business of massage, not just the technique.
- More than two decades and 1,500+ graduates of doing exactly this.
We built the school we wished existed when we entered the profession—one that walks with you from your very first class all the way to a sustainable, fulfilling career.
Your Journey Starts Here
Wherever you are in your thinking—just curious, ready to change careers, or somewhere in between—we'd love to talk. Visit our Admissions page or reach out to our admissions team to learn about upcoming classes and how to take your first step.
About New School for Massage Bodywork & Healing
New School for Massage Bodywork & Healing is a state-approved massage therapy school located in Chicago, Illinois. We provide massage therapy education, continuing education, and clinical training designed to prepare students for successful careers in the massage therapy profession. Learn more by visiting our Admissions page or contacting our admissions team.