How to Choose a Massage Therapy School

When I was ready to choose a massage therapy school back in 1996, I was fortunate to have three quality schools in my area to choose from. I checked them all out, and chose based mostly on my intuition. Fortunately, I made a great decision, and now I want to give you some tips for choosing a massage school that's right for you.

First, Know What You Want

Become familiar with various types of massage and other bodywork.

Massage schools differ in their focus. Some have a strong focus on anatomy, physiology, and pathology; others focus more on energy-based therapy. Some focus on medical massage; others focus on relaxation techniques and spa treatments. Do you want to learn Swedish and other Western styles of massage (trigger point therapy, neuromuscular therapy, and sports massage) or are you interested in Shiatsu and other Eastern body therapies?

Where You Practice Massage Matters

Find out about licensing or other legal requirements in the city/county/state/country where you want to practice. Many U.S. states and some Canadian provinces have massage licensing laws. A massage license is not necessarily transferable from one state to another. For example, some states require as little as 250 hours of training, while others require 1000 hours or more.

If you plan to practice massage someplace other than where you attend massage school, make sure you choose a massage training program that meets the requirements of the location where you want to practice. Here's a guide to state regulations.

Get Information from Massage Schools

Contact several schools in the city or state where you want to study. Get details about the programs or courses offered, the schedule, and the financial obligation.

Visit the schools! Your first impressions often tell you a lot about the school. If possible, attend a planned career day, sit in on a class, meet with current students and instructors, and talk with graduates. Take advantage of introductory classes that massage schools offer to check out the school and instructors.

Many massage schools have student clinics where the general public is offered massage sessions by students at discounted prices. Schedule a massage to get an inside look.

Ask Questions, Lots of Questions

Interview the school - the same as they will interview you. This is your massage education, so ask lots of questions. Quality massage therapy schools will give you all the information you ask for.

Here are some questions to which you may want the answers when choosing a massage therapy school:

• What is the level of teacher expertise? What training do teachers have to teach? Do they (or have they in the past) had successful massage practices?
• How many graduates pass the licensing exam on the first try?
• Does the school offer career services assistance or job placement services?
• Is the school accredited by any state or national organizations? In the U.S., is the school accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA)? (Not all good schools go through the accreditation process.)
• Is the school licensed to operate by the state where it’s located, and on the list of approved massage schools in that state? Most states that regulate massage require that you graduate from an approved school to take the massage licensing exam.
• What is the content of curriculum?
• Does the school have professional affiliations? If a massage school is involved with industry associations, it’s usually a good sign the staff is dedicated to keeping up with advances in the massage field and the ever-changing laws and regulations that govern it.

On a more personal level, you probably want to know:

• Do you like the massage therapy school’s atmosphere, environment, and student population?
• Does the school’s philosophy fit yours?
• Does the class schedule fit your needs?
• Does this massage school provide excellent value in how it prices its program? For most people, cost is a factor, but what you really want is great value.
• If needed, will the massage therapy school help you with options for financing your education?
• Would you feel welcome at this massage therapy school?