How to Choose the Best Massage Schools?

Answer 1

Holistic approaches to medicine have seen a surge in popularity over the past few years. Massage Therapy has been used for centuries in the Far East, but has not caught on in the West until the last couple decades. What used to be considered a luxury for relaxation has now become rooted in medicinal benefits as much as recreational ones. The explosive popularity of massage therapy has created an equally high demand for quality massage schools. Choosing the best massage school largely depends upon the goals of the person seeking to learn. People seeking out massage schools should answer several questions in order to determine which schools best suit their individual needs.

Career or Hobby

People that are wanting to pursue a career in massage therapy will have vastly different needs than those that are simply looking at massage as a therapy. Those that want to take massage as a hobby do not have to worry about certification exams, approved licensing, or any of the other myriad of issues that people pursuing a career in massage must concern themselves with. Simply taking classes in a local community college, or even through a community center, is usually enough to train someone enough for a hobby level interest. Far more training into anatomy, massage technique, medicine, and other physical sciences are required for the licenses and state certification required to become a professional massage therapist.

Schedule

Arranging classes around family, existing careers, and other obligations can affect which massage school is best. For people that are working full time jobs during the day, night classes are required. A stay at home mother, on the other hand, may be able to fit classes in during the day. Making sure that the school schedule is flexible is essential in choosing the right school.

Certification and Licensing

The best massage schools will prepare the student for the various certifications and licensing exams that most states require. Certification and licensing are crucial for employment and the more focus a school places on passing them the more valuable the school becomes.

Peer Review

One should always take the time to check out reviews of any school’s program in order to make sure that there are no major complaints against the staff or the massage school itself. Checking for accreditation, as well as the school’s average pass rate for state exams, is also recommended. This can provide valuable insight about the school and their program offerings from both a students perspective and a statistical standpoint.