Choosing the Best Massage Therapy Colleges
Graduating from the right massage therapy college can make all the difference in shaping up the career of a massage therapist. But how do you choose the best massage school for you? Check out the great massage school selection tips submitted by our readers below.
A massage therapy college may be accredited and recognized giving it the appearance of a quality massage therapy program, but students who have graduated from it may have another story to tell. So it pays to do your research before enrolling into one of the courses offered by the college.
Develop a Shortlist of Massage Therapy Colleges
 In order to effectively research massage schools, it is important to narrow your search down to a shortlist of suitable schools. The schools will often be located in your area but you may also be interested in specialty schools or programs that are available in exotic locals.
Here are the steps to take when selecting your massage school.
- Massage therapy laws vary from state to state and it is important that a student chooses a college that offers a course which conforms to the laws of the area (state, city and county) where the student lives or will be practicing his massage therapy business. Make sure you review our massage licensing table to determine your state's requirements.
- The college must be recognized by the state; if not, then a student will not be eligible for any financial aid, and may not be eligible for state licensing. The massage therapy college needs to be accredited by a reputed accreditation institution like COMTA. Accreditation ensures that a massage therapy college conforms to the highest quality standards in imparting the educational training. Recognition and accreditation are discussed in detail in the next page.
- Search for Massage therapy colleges in your area using our school search above or browse our massage school directory. It will help you locate accredited massage schools in your area. You should request information from the programs you are interested in.
- Compare the information you get from each program. Verify the curriculum of each massage therapy college appeals to you and will prepare you for the type of massage you wish to pursue. For example, if you wish to build a career in sports massage then you should choose a course where the core focus is on sports massage. Another example would be someone who wants to specialize in the spiritual aspect of massage therapy (meditation, tai-chi, ayurveda); in this case a course where the core focus is shared between spirituality and technical aspects of massage therapy should be selected.
 The course timing must be convenient to the student. Many massage therapy colleges do not offer part-time courses, and if they do, they may conduct the classes either in the morning or in the evening. The student needs to reconcile his time schedule with that of the college before taking up a course.
- Finally, you should make a list of questions to ask the administrators, teachers and students at each of your short listed schools. Sit in on a class at several massage schools. Just by observing you will start to pick up the "feel" of the massage school. You will be surprised how much different programs vary in their culture and emphasis. Plan on talking to at least one instructor and several students. This is a big decision so don't be shy.
Questions to Ask each Massage Therapy College
- How many students graduate from your college every year, and what is the success ratio? (This information should be taken for the past 3–4 years.)
- Do your teachers practice massage therapy regularly? How many years of experience do they have in massage therapy practice and how many years in teaching massage therapy?
 How many graduates have set up their own massage therapy business and roughly how much they are earning? Has any graduate made a big name for himself in the business of massage therapy?
- Once I graduate out of your college, how much salary can I expect to make? This is a good question to gauge their honesty. Make sure you ask this question to some of their graduates (they should give you some contacts).
- Does your college have a job placement program? How successful has your placement service been over the years?
- Does you college offer an apprenticeship program to graduates? Will a professional massage therapist mentor me?
- How much does the course cost?
Make a Comparison Table
Once equipped with all this information, you should make a comparison chart to determine the massage therapy college that seems the best in all aspects for you. This comparison is very important because, for example, a program may charge lower fees but it may include a job placement or mentorship program – this will make it tougher for you to find a job upon graduation.
Remember, cutting corners on your research may impact your career for years to come. You need to gather all the relevant information and compare several schools to make sure you are making the best choice.
How did you choose the Best Massage School?
What were the factors you considered when choosing a massage school? Would you do anything differently?
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