I've asked several of the ladies how long it takes to learn to do the various massages as thought this would be good skill to get my lady at the time out of the trade and make some money back in the states. It costs a fortune here for massages and thought it would be a viable skillset. Heck I've thought about learning it myself and getting out of current job that drives me crazy.
For traditional thai massage I was quoted 3 months, usually at a wat and for royal thai massage it's at university level of 3 years. This from the ladies and "the king and I" in BKK. They have always done a good job there but perhaps something was lost in translation. lol