(305) 595-9500
Even if you're great at giving your loved ones a good back rub, that doesn't make you a massage therapist. You'll need professional training and massage therapy certification before you can hang out your shingle to open for business or even work for someone else. How do you earn massage therapy certification? One of the first steps is finding a massage therapy school.
Choosing a massage training program
Before researching massage schools, ask yourself: "Is massage therapy a good career for me?" If the answer is affirmative, then you have to start evaluating schools.
A variety of factors might influence where to obtain your massage therapy certification. Consider these potential facets of a school you're evaluating:
- Location
- Cost
- Length of certification program
- When students can enroll
- Whether part-time training tracks or evening and weekend classes are available
- Program specializations
- Hands-on experience opportunities
- Job placement resources for graduates
Many of these variables may contribute to making a decision about what training program makes sense for you. Only attend a school that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, which ensures that the institution has met federal quality standards.
Fortunately, you can receive financial aid to help you attend massage therapy school, just like you can for traditional college.
Weighing the differences
Location: Many people choose to attend massage therapy school in the location they wish to practice upon graduation. That way, the program will be geared toward helping to prepare you for any licensing requirements in that municipality or state.
Specialization: Some programs may provide you with special training in a particular subset of massage therapy. For example, you could receive Shiatsu massage training as part of your general massage education program. Other specialties could be: Swedish massage, sports massage, tui na and more.
What to expect
Even though completing massage therapy school takes less time than a four-year college degree, it is a rigorous educational experience. Expect to have challenging classroom experiences studying disciplines like anatomy and physiology. You'll have to learn the state laws that apply to the field, and learn the ethics of the trade.
Many schools also have hands on classes that will involve getting on your feet in a clinic type setting. These classes will help you prepare for the daily life of being a massage therapist, but also require stamina, as well as core and upper body strength. Those are things you might have to develop as you ramp up your skills and practice.
For more information on how to enroll in a massage therapy certification program in Miama, Florida, call (305) 595-9500. You can complete a program at the Acupuncture and Massage College in just over 8 months.
