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Massage Therapy Schools

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Published: February 1, 2007

A 2004 survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association reports that 49% of participants polled had a massage to reduce pain. With the profession quickly rising, its no wonder more and more people are enrolling in massage therapy schools as full time or part time students.

Before entry, some massage therapy schools require an admissions interview to assess personality and characteristics. They may also require that students have prior knowledge of business, humanities, or anatomy. The average tuition for massage therapy schools is between $7,000 and $10,000. This is including books, registration fees, and classes.

Most massage therapy schools center around three areas of study: business ethics and communications, massage therapy and clinical practice, and anatomy. These areas are designed to give the student a well rounded education that prepares them for a career in massage therapy. Courses offered at massage therapy schools generally include anatomy and physiology, introduction to acupressure, seated massage, Swedish massage and kinesiology and musculo-skeletal pathology. Students have the option of choosing to specify in a certain kind of massage such as Swedish massage, pre-natal massage, post-natal massage, infant massage, or elder massage.

Depending on how many weekly hours are accrued, the curriculum for massage therapy schools is usually completed within 12 and 15 months. During this time period students will accrue 500 hours of coursework to become certified. A passing grade on a national certification exam is required to begin work.

Although massage therapy schools seem to be a dime a dozen, there are certain massage therapy schools that are more popular than others, because of their style or training. Some popular massage therapy schools include: Soma Institute, Cortiva Institute, and Olympia College. These massage therapy schools can be found across the United States in a wide range of cities.

Of the 36 states that recognize massage therapy as a legitimate profession, only a portion of these states require continued education hours. These are classes that let massage therapists brush up on old skills or learn new techniques. For example, the state of Illinois requires 24 hours every two years and Arizona requires 25 hours. Some states, like California, New York, and Indiana, don't require any continued education hours. A complete list of continued educated hours and links to state certification can be found online at Allalliedhealthschools.com.

Some massage therapy schools assist graduates in finding massage therapy jobs. Some massage therapy schools even hire recent graduates as instructors or staff. However, most massage therapy school graduates can find jobs at a variety of locations. According to Allalliedhealthschools.com, there are over 97,000 massage therapy jobs in the United States alone. Although a large portion of massage therapists work independently, recent graduates can find jobs in such places as gyms, chiropractic offices, cruise ships, salons, health clubs, and resorts. The average salary for massage therapy jobs are between $41,000 and $58,000, while working an average of 15-30 hours a week.

Unlike most professionals, massage therapists pay for their own equipment. A variety of massage therapy supplies are necessary to conduct a massage of any kind, the most important being a massage table. Other important supplies include sheets, headrest covers, pad covers, lotions, and oils. Massage therapy supplies can run between $10 and $40, with massage tables priced between $200 to $700.

With the rising popularity of personal massages, its easy to see why many enroll in massage therapy schools. Many massage therapists have achieved a lucrative and fulfilling career. Enough time and patience can lead to a happy result.


Sources:
Natural Healers. All Star Directories Inc. 2006. 25 Jan 2007 <http://www.naturalhealers.com/>.
2004 Massage Therapy Survey. American Massage Therapy Association. 2006. 25 Jan 2007 <http://www.amtamassage.org/news/04consurvey.ht ml>.
OnlineCE.com. OnlineContinuingEd. 2007. 25 Jan 2007 <http://www.onlinece.com/>.
MassageKing. 2001-2007. 25 Jan 2007 <http://www.massageking.com/>.
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