Massage Therapy Schools

Massage Therapy Schools - How To Find The Best Schools

How do you choose one school among the many massage therapy schools? What indicators should you look out for when making the decision where to get your massage therapist training? With 114 million massage treatments annually, it's no wonder that interest for this occupation continues to grow. And once you've established your reputation due to expertise, you can, either part-time or full-time, make a good living out of working as massage therapist.

Training for massage therapy can be as short as a few weeks or take about 24 months. But whether long or short, expect them to be intense. The only way you can be a good therapist is to get hands-on practice. This is what they refer to as clinicals when you enroll in a formal program. To be among the best, you need to constantly update your knowledge and skills and that means learning as many modalities as you can.

So when looking for massage therapy schools, be particular about how much time they allot for practical training within the program. And more importantly, if it will allow you to learn and develop competence in a variety of modalities. Technique is what builds expertise and you can only master it with practice.

Where Can I Get Trained?

Because of its popularity, massage therapy courses are offered in trade schools, community college and even universities. It will take a lot of due diligence work on your part to narrow down the choices to which school will be best for you. The most important thing to remember is massage therapy is a skills-based occupation. So what you're looking for in a school, whether big or small, is to learn as much as you can about the art and science of therapy through touch.

Your first question would probably be: should I go with a big school or a small one?

Massage therapy, unlike most allied health care fields, is not based on conventional medicine. The skills that a student needs to learn and develop are not clerical, administrative, technical nor strictly medical. It is in fact a segment of natural health care. Its uniqueness lies in the way therapy or treatment is carried out, the results of which complement, supplement or separately enhance a person's well-being.

The similarity it shares with other allied health courses is their basic science foundation (anatomy and physiology). But the job of a massage therapist demands a synergy between mind, body and spirit to be effective. One thing students learn early on when they start training is that massage therapy is more than just stroking, pressing, kneading, twisting and stretching. The therapist involves his entire being to do the job right.

It is because of the holistic training and approach towards developing professionals that make it necessary for many massage therapy schools to be solely focused on this specialization rather than offer a menu of allied health care programs.

Yes, you can be trained in massage therapy for as little as one thousand dollars at a community college. Or you can choose to invest up to $17,000 for a two-year training in a specialty school that will have employers seeking you out even before you graduate and earn your certification. The decision is yours to make.

How To Find The Best School

The quality of instructors will make a big difference in the kind of training you will receive as a massage therapy student. If you have no problem mastering the science courses, including kinesiology and pathology, then you can concentrate on learning the techniques, bodywork and positions that will give your clients or patients a very good therapeutic experience.

The best teachers are those with a solid practical background. They who can say "been there, done that." These are the professionals who can guide you not just in terms of developing your skills and techniques, but share with you the tricks of the trade. The longer their experience as therapist, the better they can mentor you.

Talk to instructors when scouting massage therapy schools. If they can further convince you to take up training for this profession, then you know they are passionate about being a therapist and you will be in good hands. Some schools have open houses to invite new enrollees. Attend and get yourself a massage from one of their students or instructors. If you have a satisfying experience, chances are they can hone you to be just as good.

Ask potential employers - spas, massage clinics, chiropractor's offices, medical facilities, salons, sports institutes - which schools they consider hiring from. If the massage therapy school has built a reputation, their graduates will be first choice among these employers and you will want to be trained by them.

Massage therapists need to be licensed before they can practice. To earn this, complete training at an accredited school that will prepare you to take the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) administered by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

Top Massage Therapy Schools

Following are among the top schools that have trained professional massage therapists, who have built their own reputation and now enjoy flourishing careers:

1. Cortiva Institute - with 12 campuses in seven states, Cortiva has established itself as a leading training school for massage therapy. It offers the Professional Massage Therapy Program (9 to 12 months, 750 to 1,000 training hours) that is a comprehensive course built on client-centered care. Students are trained not only in foundational massage techniques, but also in clinical massage techniques as well as myofascial massage techniques that will address a wide variety of problems among patients. It also gives students the opportunity to specialize. Cortiva is also approved by the NCBTMB to provide continuing education for professionals. Applicants can also inquire about various financial aid to help in their education. You can check out Cortiva campuses in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington.

2. Utah College of Massage Therapy/Arizona School of Massage Therapy - these are a family of schools that specialize in massage therapy and with great success. Its graduates do not hesitate to share their experience while training in these massage therapy schools, as well as the result of their association with these institutions. It likewise offers a Professional Massage Therapy Program that can be completed between seven months (full time) to 12 months (part time) or 815.5 clock hours. There are also financing options to help pay for your education. Employers where these schools are located often prefer their graduates, fully aware of the kind of preparation and training they are given.

3. National Holistic Institute - if you want a massage therapy schools that integrates east and west techniques in natural healing, this is the place for you. As one of the best holistic health schools, they offer a 10-12 month program that will provide 720 hours of training. Their training is comprehensive and intensive and prepares graduates for a rewarding career, either working with an employer or as an individual. Based in California, the curriculum also includes business classes to make for a holistic training. Tuition is around $13,000.

3. Allied Health Institute - an online school that offers a massage therapy course that can be completed in seven months. Although online, it provides students with full support from instructors through email, phone calls and other means of communication to guide you through the program. Because massage therapy requires a great deal of practical training, arrangement is made prior to enrollment for the facility where clinicals can be taken.

If you take time to learn about the profession as well as the institutions offering to train you, you will learn that the really good massage therapy schools care most about developing not just your skills but also your personality to make you a complete massage therapist.

Massage Therapy Courses > Personal Training Schools >