How do I choose a massage therapy school?
BeautySchools.com is so excited to hear that you are wanting to find a massage therapy school perfect for you. With over 1,000 schools for you to consider, we know this can be overwhelming. That is why we have answered your top questions to help make your decision a bit easier.
1. Compare program length
Because massage therapy is a regulated profession, accredited schools with massage therapy programs meet the hours required for students to become licensed upon completion. While this does vary by state, the average required training is 500 hours. Massage therapy schools may include more hours than required in order to cover additional methods and specialties.
Another thing to be sure to consider when looking at schools, is where you eventually would like to become a licensed massage therapist. For example, if you plan on moving to California after attending an Arizona school, it is crucial that you have completed the necessary hours that California requires in order to receive your license.
2. Compare costs
How much a massage therapy program costs is typically correlated with the length of the program. State’s that require 750 to 1,000 hours of training will cost an estimated $16,000 to $20,000, where as programs that consist of 500 hours may cost as little as $5,000.
The biggest difference in cost among programs in the same state is what all is included in the tuition. Because books , supplies and equipment may not be part of a school’s set program cost, it is important for you to check so that you do not run into hidden costs once enrolled.
3. Find massage therapy grants and scholarships
Yes there are plenty of scholarships that are offered for prospective massage therapy students just like yourself. Two associations that often times award a number of scholarships a year are the American Massage Therapy Association and the International Spa Association. In addition, most massage therapy schools offer scholarship opportunities specifically to their current students and those who plan on enrolling. For example, the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences offers $500-$2,000 worth of scholarships each year to help defray costs for its students. Be sure to ask each school you are interested in attending what scholarships they have available, as this may cut down your overall cost tremendously!
4. Pick your massage therapy school!
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