Massage Therapy Schools

Overview

Massage is generally referred to as the practice of soft tissue manipulation. Massage therapy involves working out over the body with slight pressure, hence providing comfort and stress relief for the people both physically and mentally. Massage therapy provides an ultimate solution to the physical problems through natural care. You can pursue massage therapy either as degrees or as certifications through any accredited massage therapy schools.

There are over 100 types of massage techniques, which includes acupressure, medical or clinical massage, neuromuscular therapy, scalp massage, sports massage, etc. The curriculum of the massage therapy includes anatomy, pathology, physiology, kinesiology, massage history and theory, massage techniques and practices, principles of treatment, ethics, and nutrition. The duration of the massage therapy training ranges around 600 hours to 1500 hours.

Benefits

The Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 says that the profession of massage therapists will grow faster than average in 2012. The massage therapy is a very rewarding profession and even many doctors and medical practitioners recommend massage therapy as a remedy. This has led to a scenario where the need for the certified massage therapists has increased significantly. A certified massage therapist can work as an employee at resorts, salons, spas, and hospitals or can practice privately by starting their own massage centre. Flexibility in this job is also an added advantage. The minimum salary you can expect if you complete the massage therapy training will be around $37,374 and after a few years of experience you can expect your salary grow as high as $55,937.

Costs

Various schools in the United States of America provide massage therapy courses. You can approach private colleges or community colleges that offer these courses. The private colleges take the courses at a fast pace and are slightly costlier. The community colleges are slow, but are inexpensive. On an average, the cost of the massage therapy training course varies from $5,000 to $9,000. This includes only the cost of tuition fees. Additional expenses include like food, lodging, and transportation also must be considered.

Schools

There are various schools and colleges in United States of America that provide massage therapy. American Institute of Massage Therapy, College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, and Cortiva Somerset School of Massage Therapy are some of the colleges that provide massage therapy training programs.

Testing & Preparation

To pursue the massage therapy courses, you should be above 18 years of age on the date of enrollment. You should also possess a completed high school diploma. After completion of training, you need to clear the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Body work (NCETMB) to become a full-fledged practitioner. Certain colleges also test the candidates on their communication skills, capacity of empathy, trust and understanding, and listening skills through interviews.

Apart from these, the candidate must be physically fit to perform the massage therapy techniques.

Financial Aid

The colleges themselves have a program to offer financial aid and scholarships to their students. Some of the colleges like Academy of Massage Therapy, American Career College, and Baltimore School of Massage provide financial aid to their students. Certain colleges waive a concession in the fees for veterans and military members dependent, and people with disability. Federal Student Aid also provides scholarships to the deserving students.