Massage therapy needs practical training, so you have to decide what course duration suits you best. Colleges offer an array of programs that include night or weekend classes along with regular day classes. Massage therapy training requirements are different for different states and so before you decide on the school, you need to know the requirements for the state or region where you plan to practice. There are various kinds of massage therapy and choosing the right type to learn will depend on a careful consideration of factors such as expenses involved, training duration, academic capabilities, and professional goals.  

Know Your Goal

Massage Therapy can broadly be categorized into Relaxation Massage and Therapeutic Massage. Relaxation Massage is used to relax the client and not directed at treating a health condition. It will require fewer hours of training than Therapeutic Massage, which requires you to study anatomy, physiology, pathology and assess the client’s requirements through neurological and musculoskeletal processes. The hours of training required for you to qualify as a Therapeutic Massage specialist varies across the U.S.

Zeroing In on the Right School

Once you have decided on the type of specialization that you would like to have, the spectrum of choice narrows down. Some colleges have a medical approach while others focus on a popular spa approach. Course programs may focus on a combination of western concepts such as Swedish massage, cranio-sacral therapy, neuromuscular, sports massage and eastern techniques such as Thai Massage, Shiatsu, Acupressure, Reiki, etc.  

It would be a good idea to personally go round to the schools and meet the teachers and students. If possible try to attend a practical session at the college or don the role of a client with an ex-grad to assess the quality of training.

An Accredited School

An accredited massage therapy college gives you several advantages. Federal loans, grants and aids are available only to students of accredited colleges. Passing out from an accredited college gives you an edge over other candidates in states which employ graduates only from accredited colleges. It also helps if you need credit transfers from one school to another. Besides all these, a degree from an accredited college gives you comparatively more credibility and acceptance when you are ready to start your career. The U.S. Department of Education has set the national standards and there are various organizations that evaluate massage therapy colleges and courses and give them accreditation. The Commission on Message Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), American Massage Therapy Association Council of Schools, and Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools are some of the accreditation bodies.

Massage Therapy as a Potential Career

As with any other career, you may not find your niche right at the start. As a massage therapist you have the option to start out on your own or as an employee. The likely places for employment are spas, hospitals (in case of therapeutic massage), on cruise ships or in business houses that provide massage services for exclusive clients at hotels, conferences and events, among others.

Once you successfully pass out of college, your certification as a massage therapist will require you to follow certain professional ethics. It would be in your interest to be aware of all such requirements as well.