| You've decided to go to massage therapy school, | | | | program 6 months? 12 months? When are the |
| so you begin researching and find there are more | | | | classes offered? Only during the day or are |
| than 300 accredited massage schools and | | | | evening classes offered? Make sure your work |
| programs in the United States. With so many | | | | and family obligations allow enough time to study |
| options, you need a game plan for choosing the | | | | and practice outside of class. |
| right massage therapy college for you. | | | | Collect information about several programs. |
| Begin by learning about the massage therapy | | | | Attend an orientation or an open house if the |
| profession in general and the different methods of | | | | school is local. If possible, connect with former |
| massage therapy. The United States Department | | | | students and interview them about their massage |
| of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an | | | | school experience. Many schools offer a student |
| in-depth overview of the occupation of Massage | | | | clinic with discounted massages from students and |
| Therapist. Here you can find out about the nature | | | | faculty. Receive massage therapy sessions from |
| of the work, training and other qualifications, | | | | the faculty, graduates and students. |
| employment, job outlook, projections Data, | | | | Utilize the power of social media. Look up the |
| Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) data, | | | | massage therapy school name on Twitter, |
| related occupations, and sources of additional | | | | Facebook or LinkedIn. If the school has set up an |
| information. Another good source for obtaining | | | | internet presence on a social networking site, you |
| information about the massage therapy industry is | | | | may be able to directly email members of the |
| the American Massage Therapy Association | | | | school faculty or join in or start a discussion. |
| (AMTA). The National Center for Complementary | | | | Another option is to search for the words |
| And Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) also provides | | | | "massage therapy" in Facebook and LinkedIn and |
| an overview of the vocation, including the history | | | | join a group to learn more about the profession. |
| of massage. | | | | On Twitter you can also go to #massage or |
| Next you will want to learn more about the | | | | #massagetherapy to follow and join in with |
| different methods of massage therapy. There are | | | | tweets about massage in general. |
| more than eighty different recognized massage | | | | Examine the credentials and experience of the |
| modalities, according to the NCCAM. Some | | | | faculty. Read faculty bios on the massage school |
| examples of the most common modalities include | | | | website and look for the teachers with many |
| Swedish massage, sports massage, shiatsu | | | | years of experience in the modalities you want to |
| bodywork, deep tissue massage and reflexology. | | | | learn. When reading the credentials, use this guide |
| You can find a glossary of types of massage and | | | | to learn what each acronym means: |
| bodywork on the Massage Therapy website | | | | - CMT - Certified Massage Therapist |
| provided by the Associated Bodywork & | | | | - LCMT - Licensed Certified Massage Therapist |
| Massage Professionals (ABMP). | | | | - LMP - Licensed massage practitioner |
| Research the requirements to practice massage | | | | - LMT - Licensed massage therapist |
| therapy in your state or where you plan to | | | | - NCTMB - Certified by the National Certification |
| practice. As of October 2009, 44 states in the | | | | Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork |
| U.S. and the District of Columbia regulate the | | | | Request information about student services. Find |
| practice of massage therapy. According to the | | | | out if the school offers postgraduate job |
| 2009 AMTA industry fact sheet, massage | | | | placement, tutoring, testing accommodations, |
| therapists have an average of 633 hours of initial | | | | continuing education, international student |
| training. For a complete listing of state practice | | | | counseling, scholarship assistance, and financial aid. |
| laws, education requirements, contact names and | | | | Does the school have the resources you need to |
| other useful information, go to the AMTA website | | | | succeed? |
| and click on Legislation/Regulations or call | | | | Be sure the school is accredited by at least one |
| 800-458-2267. | | | | of the major accrediting commissions or councils. |
| Consider your career intentions and determine | | | | One such council is the Accrediting Commission of |
| your goal. Do you see yourself managing a | | | | Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) which is |
| private practice? Do you want to work in a | | | | recognized by the United States Department of |
| medical environment? Do you want to work with | | | | Education. ACCSC's mission is "to serve as a |
| specialized populations such as elderly care or pre- | | | | reliable authority on educational quality and to |
| and postnatal massage? Setting your goal will | | | | promote enhanced opportunities for students by |
| assist you in evaluating the cost and value that | | | | establishing, sustaining, and enforcing valid |
| each school offers. Some programs focus | | | | standards and practices which contribute to the |
| exclusively on relaxation massage, others focus | | | | development of a highly trained and competitive |
| on orthopedic modalities. | | | | workforce through quality career oriented |
| Expand your search to other states. Remember | | | | education." All of the accrediting institutions have |
| that your education is an investment. You may | | | | similar missions that all involve the establishment |
| find that the perfect massage school for you isn't | | | | of standards and policies to ensure quality |
| right next door. | | | | education and training practices. In addition to |
| Review the curriculum. Make sure that the school | | | | ACCSC, look for the following: |
| teaches the styles of massage you want to learn, | | | | - Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |
| and provides plenty of on-the job training | | | | (ABHES) |
| opportunities. Does the school offer internship | | | | - Accrediting Council for Continuing Education |
| opportunities? Is there a student clinic? Look for a | | | | & Training (ACCET) |
| comprehensive curriculum that balances the | | | | - Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation |
| in-depth study in the sciences with a thorough | | | | (COMTA) |
| education in bodywork, business and interpersonal | | | | - National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology |
| skills. Take a look at the advanced massage | | | | Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) |
| practice degrees offered, such as an Associates | | | | The research involved in choosing a massage |
| of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree. | | | | school isn't easy, but it is well worth the effort. |
| Be aware of time requirements for a particular | | | | Good luck in your search and I hope you find a |
| program. How long is the program? Are you | | | | school in which you will thrive, graduate and land |
| planning to attend full-time or part-time? Is the | | | | the career of your dreams. |