Spa Therapist Job Description, Skills and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a spa therapist. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a spa therapist.
Who is a Spa Therapist?
The majority of spa therapists specialize in massage therapy, however, it is also possible to be a spa therapist and not perform any kind of massage. Spa therapists may be specialized in skin treatment or any other common spa treatments. It is typical for a spa therapist to require employees to understand how to use the spa’s protocols in the course of their work and to also have a foundational knowledge of massage therapy and spa work.
A very popular area of a spa’s task is massage. Massage is typically a significant element of a spa’s operations and can be coupled with other beauty treatments. In special spa operations, the spa therapist may offer a distinctive or uncommon type of treatment.
A spa therapist could be expected to provide beautifying treatments for their clients. This could include manicures, wraps, or other treatments for the skin. The majority of spa therapists instruct their staff on how to utilize all products offered by the spa, and how to apply any treatment offered. General knowledge about skin health and beauty is very beneficial when working in a spa.
There are additional aspects to being a spa therapist which does not involve working with clients. Managing important appointments, as well as performing office tasks are all essential aspects of your job contingent upon the scale of your organization.
Spa Therapist Job Description
Below are the spa therapist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a spa therapist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Providing different types of massages such as beauty treatments, and massages.
- Keeping detailed records of massages, treatments, and therapies that are performed on each spa client.
- Communication with massage guests to modify the massage technique as needed.
- Resolving complaints from guests and reporting any incidents to the manager.
- Cleaning, sanitizing the work areas and changing the sheets of the treatment room
- Cleaning the equipment and instruments before every use.
- Explaining treatments, massages, and therapies to guests, as well as offering appropriate suggestions as required.
- Ensuring that your spa is loaded with spa equipment and reporting any shortages to the supervisor.
- Inquiring about allergies and medical conditions before providing spa treatments.
- Conducting closing and opening procedures.
- Scheduling guest appointments.
- Arranging treatment rooms, workstations, and drapes.
- Checking the levels of oil and creams, and ensuring that the par levels of stocks are maintained throughout the day.
- Providing individualized bodywork treatment that satisfies the needs of the client and needs.
- Collecting the fundamental medical history of a patient, examining any health issues or ailments, and recommending an appropriate treatment based on the health status of the client.
- Reviewing the needs of guests and inquire about any contraindications such as allergies and high blood pressure and pregnancy before beginning the program.
- Keeping the spa or treatment room clean following normal operating procedures.
- Taking note of the hours of operation and memberships, reservations, treatments, fees, and other important information regarding the spa.
- Creating and organizing a workstation with the appropriate materials.
- Reporting any shortages to the supervisor.
- Having a solid knowledge of the spa packages, special rates, and prices.
- Ensuring that a high level of service and cleanliness is kept throughout the spa.
- Offering massage to guests by using the proper products.
- Keeping up-to-date with the proper maintenance and the use of equipment.
- Utilizing massage pieces of equipment only for the purpose for which it was designed.
- Responding to guests’ requests promptly, no matter how busy and regardless of the time of day.
- Maintaining positive relations with guests throughout the day and keeping confidential client information and confidentiality.
- Finding a way to address guests’ complaints, while ensuring satisfaction.
- Informing the management of any issues or complaints from guests.
- Managing the emergency procedure and immediately reporting any critical incident to your supervisor.
- Assisting with the folding and washing of the linens in treatment rooms.
- Helping in all aspects of leisure and recreation when needed.
- Performing any other tasks as directed by the management.
Qualifications
Education
Before you can be employed as a spa therapist, it is important to complete a therapy education course, which is typically offered at private or public postsecondary schools. To be eligible for this program, you first need to earn a higher school diploma or GED.
Most education programs in spa therapy run for six to twelve months, which includes an element of classroom instruction and hours of direct practice. They typically cover subjects including anatomy, kinesiology (the study of movement as well as body mechanics), physiological science (the study of the body’s tissues and organs), pathology (the study of diseases) and business management, ethics, and the application of massage techniques. These could include tapping, calming strokes, kneading, direct pressure along with slow strokes, and friction slides. If you wish to become a specialist in a specific type of massage, like stones therapy, sports massage, or infant massage, for instance. It is necessary to complete specific courses to master the techniques.
Training
Some states have requirements for massage therapists to get licensed before being able to legally offer services. However, for them to be able to sit for the entry-level exam, they must complete a certain number of hours of educational training. The amount of instruction varies from state to state. The majority of states require at least 500 hours of education while some might require up to 1000 hours.
To determine if a training course or massage school has an internationally recognized standard of education, it is important to verify that it’s accredited by a reputable agency (i.e. an agency that abides by the standards that are set by the U.S. Department of Education). A good example is the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). This is an organization that conducts exams like the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) that is accepted as a valid license in a variety of states.
Certifications
Certifications help to prove that you can perform as a spa therapist and that you are proficient in the national standard for bodywork and massage. The most common certifications for massage therapy include:
- Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCTMB)
It is administered through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). The BCTMB certification proves that you can demonstrate the skills in knowledge, experience, and characteristics required to practice spa therapy. To be eligible for this certification, you must successfully pass the board certification exam which requires you to complete a minimum of 750 hours of training as well as 250 hours of internship in spa therapy within six months of completing your education. You must also pass a background check in the national system and then obtain an official Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
- CAMTC Certification
It is issued by the California Massage Therapy Council (CMTC). This certification is voluntary and is for massage practitioners who meet the requirements of the California State Law. Although state law doesn’t make it mandatory, some municipalities and counties require this certification. CAMTC certification is very beneficial since it permits you to provide massaging in California without having to obtain a permit to perform massages in exchange for compensation. To obtain this certificate, you must be 18 years old and must have completed an educational program in massage therapy at a school accredited by CAMTC.
- NCBTMB’s Specialty Certification
This certification is given to spa therapists who have received advanced training and education in a specific modality. To earn this certificate, you must successfully pass an exam called the Specialty Certificate examination, which is accessible on the internet.
Essential Skills
While technical capabilities, like manual dexterity and knowledge of human anatomy, are essential qualities for massage therapists, these soft skills are essential to having an enjoyable and rewarding job. Let’s look at seven crucial skills that are required to succeed in this booming career.
- Communication Skills
To take care of client injuries while encouraging general health, spa therapists must have strong interpersonal and communication abilities. Being able to listen, respond to questions, and ease anxiety is an essential part of making sure that the needs of clients are satisfied.
- Perception and Judgment
Clients might not always be comfortable speaking directly with spa therapists particularly when a rapport is unveiled. In this instance, perceptivity as well as the capacity to “read” people are essential. The more attuned you are to the various aspects of human body language and cultural variations, you will be able to provide an appropriate and therapeutic massage for your clients.
- Empathy
Spa therapists work with a variety of patients who are facing different health issues. The ability to comprehend and bridge the gap between these different perspectives is an essential part of achieving wellness by using massage.
- Focus
An effective massage requires complete concentration and dedication. It is essential to be able to put aside any distractions and concentrate on the needs of the client. Doing this is crucial in providing the best service.
- Passion for Learning
The techniques for massage aren’t universally applicable. There are different types of massage techniques and modalities like deep-tissue massage, and Swedish massaging. Making a customized treatment plan for each patient using the right method or combination of techniques can aid massage therapists to achieve the best treatment results. The more you are aware of the various types of massage techniques, the better treatment you provide.
- Organizational skills
Based on the American Massage Therapy Association, one of the most frequently heard comments from spa therapists is “I am blessed to find a job I enjoy.” In reality, although the job as a spa therapist can be extremely rewarding, it may be filled with difficult practice management duties including handling difficult patients to manage work-related activities, like scheduling appointments and keeping track of bookkeeping. The more organized you are, the more effortlessly you’ll be able to move between different tasks.
How to Become a Spa Therapist
- Earn a high school diploma
An official high school transcript or equivalent qualification is needed for admission into education in spa therapy. While spa therapy training is usually not available on a high school program, studying courses like anatomy, physical education, and biology may serve as a basis for further education.
- Find the options to focus on in spa therapy.
Before registering for a massage therapy certification program, you must determine what kind or type of therapy wish to focus on. The types of massage therapy you can specialize in are deep tissue, hot stone, Shiatsu, and Swedish massage. Your clients’ needs differ, which is why you need to be familiar with a variety of massage therapies.
- Follow a massage therapy training program.
You have to be able to complete a certificate or diploma program at a state-accredited institution. While studying, you will be able to take courses in anatomy, physiology, body mechanics, massage ethics along medical terminologies.
- Complete an internship
Some states require a specific amount of hours of experience in the field before you can be licensed. It is possible to fulfill this requirement by completing an internship or working in a massage clinic at your school.
- Obtain a license.
After completing a massage education program, you can obtain authorization to legally practice massage therapy. To be eligible for a license you must take or pass an exam called the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination that is administered through the FSMTB and the NCETMB license exam administered from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
- Get certified.
A certificate can be obtained by passing an exam and completing a set amount of hours of education. This might not be required to get the massage therapy license however it could simplify the process and improve your opportunities in the field.
- Make sure you update your resume.
Include your most recent qualifications, education, professional history, accomplishments, and abilities in a simple format. Find spa therapists jobs in your area. After doing this, you can create a cover letter for each job by using the keywords in the description of the job.
Where to Work
Spa therapists are employed in a range of health and wellness environments such as health centers, spas, resorts, or hotels. If they’ve had experience working with clients who require rehabilitation for injuries, they could collaborate with occupational or physical therapy professionals as part of a rehabilitation program for a client.
Apart from these kinds of places, spa therapists can also start their own businesses. Therapists who decide to operate their own business may be required to satisfy certain requirements, based on the location of their work.
Spa Therapist Salary Scale
The median salary for a spa therapist in the USA is $58,500 annually which is equivalent to $30 an hour on average.