| Many debates have occurred on whether | | | | this training so they can expand the services they |
| theoretical or practical massage therapy education | | | | offer to their existing clients, a chiropractic |
| is better. My preference is to get a good | | | | assistant who will be doing massage in the same |
| foundation but then go out and obtain some | | | | clinic after graduating, or a nurse who is taking the |
| practical experience. You will learn much quicker | | | | training and receiving continuing education credits. |
| about what works and what doesn't but also | | | | If you take a shorter initial training and then start |
| have enough theory and training to understand | | | | working in the field, you may be able to deduct |
| and properly execute the fundamentals. | | | | the cost of any future classes as continuing |
| Regulations by States, Counties, and Cities vary | | | | education expenses. This can result in significant |
| as to the amount of training required before being | | | | tax savings. Please note that I am not an |
| licensed. Our area, Sacramento County California, | | | | accountant or tax advisor, and that tax laws |
| happens to require 125 hours at the present time | | | | change, so please check with an accountant or |
| and Healing Arts Institute offers a qualifying | | | | tax advisor before making any decisions based |
| program to match that. There are other schools | | | | upon the tax advantages. |
| that offer 500 hour and even 1000 hour | | | | There are some states that require 500 hours of |
| programs. At first glance it may appear that a | | | | training to practice massage professionally. If you |
| longer program would be better, but there are | | | | live or plan on working in one of those states you |
| several reasons why that may not be so. | | | | may wish to check with the state to see which |
| One advantage to a shorter training is cost. Initial | | | | schools would meet the requirement for that |
| training is around $1375 for registration, tuition, | | | | state. Also, not all states recognize training from |
| and books on a 130 hour program. 500 hour | | | | schools in other states. |
| programs typically start at $8000 or more. It is a | | | | If you are in one of the following states you may |
| large investment of time and money for entering | | | | wish to check with your state about licensing |
| a field that you may not be sure about pursuing. | | | | requirements: |
| In a 126 hour training, the basics of massage are | | | | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, |
| taught along with how to help people without | | | | District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, |
| causing harm. The real training happens when you | | | | Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New |
| begin work on paying clients. This is true whether | | | | Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, |
| your initial training is 126 hours or 1000 hours. | | | | North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, |
| There are some things that can only be learned in | | | | Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, |
| actual practice in the real world. | | | | Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, or |
| When you come back for more training you have | | | | Wisconsin. In other states, like California, licensing |
| the option of choosing which advanced classes | | | | occurs at the city or county level where the |
| you want to pursue. There are many different | | | | business resides. You can check with your city or |
| directions to go with massage therapy, and you | | | | county clerk about licensing requirements. A listing |
| will excel best pursuing your own area of interest. | | | | of massage laws in the states that license |
| When you take advanced classes after working in | | | | massage therapists can be found in the book |
| the field you know what questions to ask so the | | | | "Massage, A Career at Your Fingertips" by Martin |
| training is more relevant to your needs. As you | | | | Ashley, or on his website at: |
| learn new techniques you think of clients you can | | | | Regardless of the local requirements I believe it is |
| use those techniques on. In this way your learning | | | | best to establish a foundation of massage |
| is much more complete than for someone who | | | | therapy knowledge and then apply your |
| took 500 hours of classes before doing their first | | | | knowledge to practical experience. This is the best |
| professional massage. | | | | way to learn and get started in my opinion. After |
| There are also tax advantages to taking a | | | | some "working world" experience you can return |
| shorter training first. Most people cannot take a | | | | and take classes on techniques that you want to |
| deduction on their income tax for the cost of | | | | specialize in. These classes will also make sense to |
| their initial training in a new field. The exceptions | | | | your experience and will be easily integrated into |
| would be for people working in related fields such | | | | your practice. |
| as: a manicurist or cosmetologist who is taking | | | | |