Massage School FAQs: Students
Is accreditation important for a massage or esthetics school?
Accreditation isn’t all that important for massage or esthetics school. While it seems important, it raises the price the school will end up charging. For students, accreditation only provides one benefit, which is access to federal funding.
It’s more important to find a school with experienced instructors and the ability to outperform the first time exam pass rate in the state. Even more important is a school’s placement rate. After all, getting a job after you finish school is one of the most important things.
Find out about our instructor’s experience, our pass rate and our placement rate here.
How much school is needed to be a massage therapist?
Before you will be able to work as a massage therapist, you will need to complete anywhere from 330 to 1,000 hours of training. This is determined by your specialty and can take a few months all the way up to about two years of training.
Your training will help to prepare you for the MBLEx or Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam. Passing this exam is necessary if you want to receive your massage therapist license.
How to choose a massage school?
Finding the right massage school for you is very important. Accreditation will be necessary if you want to receive federal grants or loans to help pay for your schooling. However, this is not the only factor to consider when deciding on the right school for you.
Make sure you take the time to do your research before choosing the right school for you. Consider the type of career you want to go into after you finish. You should also consider your schedule, budget and the style of curriculum provided.
Look into the time requirements for the program of your choice and make sure you can handle these requirements. You should also visit the school, if possible and get to know the faculty before making a decision. The post-graduate services provided are also very important to consider.
Before finalizing your massage school decision, look at the tuition, fees and other costs you may need to pay. Make sure you can handle these fees and don't forget about the books, massage table and supplies you will likely need to purchase.
The reputation of the school you attend matters, too. Businesses looking for massage therapists may know whether or not they trust specific schools and the way they teach. A school with a long-standing reputation will likely provide a better experience during the training and after you graduate.
How much does it cost to go to massage school?
The cost of attending massage school can range depending on how many classes you take at one time. Different schooled will likely have different costs and it can range across the country. You may pay a different amount in Chicago compared to New York City.
You want to make sure you ask about the overall cost when you speak to each school you're interested in. Make sure you understand that you will pay for an average of 500 to 600 hours of training. The tuition, alone, will likely run from $6,000 to $10,000. In addition, you will also need to spend money for textbooks, supplies, a massage table, lotions, oils and other supplies.
How to get into massage therapy school?
It's not quite the same admission process as going to a college or university. Massage therapy school admission can vary depending on the school and the program. Typically, you will apply for the program, pay a deposit and speak to an admissions person about when you will start. It's not difficult to get into massage school, but it will require some paperwork.
How much do massage therapists make after graduating?
The average salary for a massage therapist in 2017 was $48,166, according to salary.com. The range can go from about $43,101 to $55,335 and can vary even more based on many different factors. This may or may not include tips, as well.
The actually amount you will make will depend on many factors including experience, location and the type of job or specialty you enter into. Some massage therapists make around $75,000, but they are considered to be at the top of the pay scale for massage therapy.
What kind of jobs can a massage therapist get?
There are three main categories when it comes to massage therapy jobs:
Clinical
Spa
Sports
Within each of these categories there are a few different specialties and type of jobs a massage therapist can get.
If you decide to specialize in clinical/medical massage therapy, you will likely work in a healthcare facility, such as a medical clinic, hospital, naturopathic doctor’s office, hospice center or chiropractic clinic.
Those specializing in fitness/sports massage therapy may work in a number of different types of places. This could open up the opportunity to work for a professional sports team, in sports medicine offices, in fitness centers or in another facility catering to athletes.
The most common type of massage therapy is the spa & wellness category. This type of massage therapist will likely work in a spa or a wellness center. It could even be a business providing massage only.
Another option many massage therapists choose is to work for themselves. This means you will be responsible for the entire business, but you will also be able to charge as you please. You will likely need a room in your home or a space you rent out specifically for massage, however.
Online Massage School FAQs:
Until recently Massage Therapy was mandated by most states, Florida being one of them, to be taught in classrooms within brick-and-mortar buildings, but that has changed. Those changes allowed us to create “Alpha Anywhere” our online learning platform.
Find out all about it here:
Alpha Anywhere reduces the time a student spends on campus by more than 50% by delivering the classroom content online. Our classroom is now your Livingroom, coffee shop, or anywhere you have WIFI access.
Alpha Anywhere is a production not a computer program. No boring PowerPoints or computer-generated voices here. We don’t license someone else’s curriculum. We’ve created our own. Our learning modules include lectures by Michael Garcia, our lead LMT and RN. Mr. Garcia has been teaching Massage Therapy for over 25 years at Alpha School of Massage. Our online classes are produced in our multicamera studio and include book lectures and demos of techniques. See a sample here.
Alpha Anywhere allows us to partner with local spas to provide clinical experience for our students. This allows many of our students to get their clinical experience in their neighborhoods making it even more convenient to become a Licensed Massage Therapist. We currently have 3 locations to do clinicals and new partnerships are coming soon.
Our partner spas are in Jacksonville Beach and Nassau County. Our campus is on Jacksonville’s westside.
Our learning modules are delivered through Canvas Learning Management System and include the lectures, reading assignments from our two textbooks and online quizzes. Are you a night Owl? No worries. The modules can be accessed anytime, there’s no specific schedule to keep.
The textbooks are:
Massage Therapy by Susan Salvo, 6th Edition
Trail Guide to the Body, by Andrew Biel, Revised 5th Edition
We provide the textbooks as eBooks so they go with you everywhere. If you have a device and WIFI you have Alpha Anywhere with you.
Our intense hands-on training remains the same. Massage Therapy is a hands-on career, and we want our students to be the best Florida has to offer. We will be offering hands-on training 6 times a year at our campus with day and night classes available.
Alpha Anywhere offers two programs:
501-Hour Hybrid Massage Therapy
Our 501-hour program follows the state’s minimum guideline and can be finished in less than 20 weeks. You can choose day or night training and clinical schedules making Alpha Anywhere convenient for almost anyone. Compare the time it takes to complete and the cost of the program with any other in our area. You won’t be disappointed.
Advanced Hybrid Massage Therapy
Our Advanced Massage Therapy Program includes all the minimum requirements plus a lot more to help you feel completely ready to jump into your new career. We also include additional hands-on training in the modalities you will find in most employment settings. Learn Hot-Stone, Deep Tissue, Pain Management, Sports and Barefoot Massage. Our Advanced Massage Therapy Program is delivered at just $149 per month. No tuition here.
It’s never been more convenient or affordable to become a Licensed Massage Therapist!