What to Look for in a Massage Therapy School

Due to the growing demand for massage therapists, an increasing number of Massage Therapy Schools opened in the last ten years across the United States. While this provides a variety of programs for students, it can also be confusing as not every program or school is accredited or the right choice for a particular student. To ensure that the school you choose is right for you and can further your career, it is important to make an informed decision.

Massage therapy has a wide range of techniques including Shiatsu, Tuina, and Swedish massage, but a solid background in health science is also needed. Depending on where you choose to work, the knowledge of certain techniques may be required. Massage therapists can be employed at clinics, hospitals, spas, with sports teams and private practice. Once you decide on your desired career path, then you can find the Massage Therapy School that best fits your goals.

When researching which school to attend, first find out your state’s requirements for practicing massage therapy. In New York State, for instance, you must complete a 1000 hour program and pass the State licensing exam. Some states require that you take the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) exam in order to practice.

While curriculum can vary from one school to another, most accredited programs require that you take anatomy, physiology, mycology and various modalities of massage techniques. If you are planning on starting your own business be sure to enroll in a program that also offers business management courses. Also choose a school that requires a certain amount of hours in hands-on experience with real patients. A school that offers one of the best massage therapy programs is New York College of Health Professions.

New York College of Health Professions, a pioneer in massage therapy education, offers a 72-credit degree massage therapy program and grants successful graduates an Associate in Occupational Studies degree. Their program’s curriculum includes both Swedish massage and Asian Bodywork, Western health sciences and electives in a variety of massage techniques. Students are also required to take classes in Yoga, T’ai Chi Chuan, and Qi Gong in order to better understand how their own bodies function, enhancing their ability to treat their patients. All the students do an internship in the College’s teaching clinics where they have an opportunity to practice on the public.