Spa therapist jobs in the Maldives: CIDESCO, ITEC, career path and pay (2026)

Maldives resort spas hire therapists who can show formal training and spa experience; one listing we read asked for two to three years. The spa regulation makes the spa check each therapist is trained for the treatments they give. CIDESCO and ITEC qualifications are two ways to prove it.

1,599 vacancies are open in the Maldives on CareersMV as of 7 Oct 2026: 1,096 at 123 resorts and 398 in government and the public sector.

What a spa therapist does at a Maldives resort

A resort spa therapist gives massages, body treatments and facials to guests, and in some resorts also teaches yoga or runs wellness classes. Spa listings in the Maldives include combined roles such as spa therapist and yoga instructor, or wellness therapist.

Therapists live on the island with the rest of the resort team and work around guests' bookings.

The career ladder

The usual spa ladder, from entry level:

1. 01Spa therapist (sometimes seasonal)
2. 02Senior spa therapist or lead therapist
3. 03Spa supervisor
4. 04Assistant spa manager
5. 05Spa manager
6. 06Spa director or regional spa manager, at hotel groups

Spa receptionist and spa attendant roles sit alongside the ladder, and some resorts combine therapist work with fitness or yoga teaching.

What the spa rules require

Resort spas are covered by the Regulation on Registering and Operating Spa Businesses (2023/R-74), issued by the Ministry of Economic Development. It applies to spas at tourist resorts, integrated resorts, tourist vessels and airports, as well as on inhabited islands (Article 4).

For resort spas, the regulation's standards (Schedule 3) say:

• the spa owner must make sure staff who give special treatments have the right education and training for them
• staff must wear the spa's uniform, showing the spa's name and their own
• the spa must display its treatments and prices

Foreign staff in a spa must hold a work permit issued under a quota granted for that spa (Article 17). The regulation is in Dhivehi; these points summarise it.

Certificates: CIDESCO and ITEC

The regulation does not name a certificate, so resorts judge training themselves. CIDESCO and ITEC are two international bodies that award spa and beauty qualifications.

CIDESCO is the Comité International d'Esthétique et de Cosmétologie, founded in Brussels in 1946 and based in Zurich (CIDESCO). Its qualifications include a Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy of 800 hours and a Spa Therapy diploma. It also offers Holistic Massage and Aromatherapy and Body Therapy.

CIDESCO describes its qualification as recognised worldwide.

ITEC (iTEC) is a working name of Education & Media Services Ltd, part of the Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT Skills). It awards qualifications in beauty, hairdressing, complementary therapy and fitness, and says it has over 650 approved centres worldwide (iTEC). Its spa and beauty range includes the Level 3 Diploma in Body Treatments and Level 2 qualifications for beauty specialists.

Before you pay for a course, check the school. CIDESCO lists its schools on its website; an ITEC provider should show it is an approved centre.

Skills resorts ask for

One spa listing we read asked for:

• two to three years of experience in a spa, hotel or wellness setting
• five-star resort experience, as a plus
• excellent written and spoken English
• other languages, as a plus
• physical fitness and good interpersonal skills

Put the massage styles and treatments you can perform at the top of your CV, and check the spa's treatment menu before you apply.

Languages that help

The listing we read asked for excellent English, with other languages as a plus. China (14.7%), Russia (12.4%), the UK (9.0%), Germany (7.5%) and Italy (6.8%) sent the most tourists in 2025 (Ministry of Tourism).

Spa therapist jobs open now

Pay

Resorts rarely advertise pay, so most spa listings say nothing about salary. The table shows advertised pay where enough listings state it.

Service charge comes on top of salary. Tourism businesses must charge at least 10% service charge and share it equally among all employees (Employment Act, section 52). The employer may keep no more than 1%.

Ask too whether the spa pays commission on treatments and products.

Foreign therapists and the quota rules

Spa therapist is not on the list of jobs being reserved for Maldivians, but three nearby jobs are. Quotas for beauticians, hairdressers and personal trainers end from December 2027 (Regulation 2025/R-120, Schedule 2, Article 26).

If your contract or permit names you as a beautician rather than a spa therapist, ask the employer how the change affects you. The employer applies for and pays for your work permit; see hiring foreign workers.

Questions people ask

Do I need CIDESCO or ITEC to work in a Maldives spa?

No rule names either one. The spa regulation requires the spa owner to make sure therapists are trained for the treatments they give. A CIDESCO or ITEC qualification is a clear way to prove it.

How much do spa therapists earn in the Maldives?

Resorts rarely advertise pay, so there is no reliable public figure; the table above shows only advertised pay. Ask about basic salary, service charge, commission, accommodation and flights before you accept.

How do I apply for a spa therapist vacancy in a Maldives resort?

Send a CV listing the treatments you perform, your qualifications and years of spa experience. Add any second language in the first line.

Can a spa therapist also teach yoga?

Some resorts advertise combined roles, such as spa therapist and yoga instructor. If you hold a yoga teaching qualification, put it next to your therapy training.