Top Massage Schools In The USA
Many people have been curious about massage therapy but need to learn how to become massage therapists. Luckily, the process is simple. It requires only completing education in massage therapy and obtaining your state license after graduation from an accredited school. In addition to becoming a licensed massage therapist, there are many other ways to go-streamlining your career and supplement your income as an entrepreneur. Here are some top massage schools in the USA with prices and overviews.
1. Southeastern University of Health Sciences
Southeastern University of Health Sciences, located in Lakeland, Florida, offers a Master of Science degree in Medical Massage Therapy. Their program is designed for 14-16 months of accelerated completion. This school is different from other massage therapy schools because they require that students have at least 2 years of working and practicum experience before entering their programs. This preparation is believed to allow students to concentrate more on their studies and not worry about learning the trade and taking classes. The first semester consists of general education courses and introductory massage courses, including anatomy, physiology, and pathology related to massage therapy. The price for this program is $9,816.
Since Florida is a vacation spot for many people, it is natural that there are many massage therapy schools in the Sunshine State. The list of those schools and their accreditation follows in the following section.
2. Career College of Massage Therapy, Inc
This school offers a Master of Science degree in Medical Massage Therapy and Post-Graduate Certificate Programs in Sports Massage and Swedish Massage Therapy. The school has been offering a wide range of training programs since 1987 to aspiring students looking to get trained as registered massage therapists (Kama Sutra School). The sports massage program at Career College of Massage Therapy is designed to help students learn about the physiology and anatomy of the musculoskeletal system as well as how to use massage for injury prevention, strength training, and conditioning. The Swedish program focuses on relaxation (a great way to supplement a busy, stressful everyday life).
The tuition for these programs is $12,500. All students at this school must complete the 500-hour clinical internship to graduate successfully. Robert and Betty Miller initially founded this school. After 2 years, they sold it to Gary Ruckman, who has been running it successfully ever since.
3. St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg College is a non-profit college offering online classes and training programs since 2010. They offer a Bachelor of Science in Medical Massage Therapy, emphasizing rehabilitation. The program is designed for students that want to work on the road. It lasts 2 years, and graduates will be eligible for the Board of Certification (the national certification body) after completing the final course requirements.
This school’s tuition is $12,210 for the first year, then $3,245 per semester for each following year. That means you’ll pay an average rate of $329/week to complete this degree program.
4. Rasmussen College
Rasmussen College is a non-profit institution that has provided people with education in their homes and at their own pace since 1978. They offer a program focusing on Swedish, deep tissue, and sports massage. This program is administered entirely online, making it very convenient for busy students who need to fit massage school between work and family responsibilities. A one-year certificate can be earned for 4,210 dollars, which averages $295/per week.
5. Holmes Institute
The Holmes Institute is a school that has been around since 2000. They are not regionally accredited and therefore are not accepted by the National Association for Massage Therapy Boards or Insurance. At Holmes, students can earn an Associate’s Degree in Massage Therapy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Advanced Holistic Practices through experiential learning. The Bachelor’s program provides students with a solid foundation in anatomy and human physiology and how massage integrates with the medical and healthcare fields. The associate program has been designed to teach all of these things and how to use various modalities such as chakra balancing, aromatherapy, reflexology, reflexology, and how to do chair massage.
These programs are $5,995 for the associate program and $9,995 for the bachelor program. This is one of the more expensive schools with no accreditation.
6. Tampa Career College
This school offers a variety of massage therapy instruction. Their primary focus is Swedish and deep tissue massage. They also provide a refresher course for massage therapists who have been out of the field for an extended period but want to get back into it. To supplement their training, students have access to online lectures and exams and student support through email and live chat. Students can obtain accreditation upon graduation, which qualifies them to apply for licensing in Florida or any state they choose. The price for this program is $4,990. This figure falls within the median range for massage school tuition.
7. NMT School of Massage
This school is a private institution that focuses on teaching the foundations of massage therapy and its complementary modalities. They teach their students how to work in the field and offer other courses. The school is accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation and the Council on Occupational Education, providing students with 9 hours of free continuing education credit each year. Students have access to online lectures and have the option to take exams via computer or live chat with an expert.
In addition to those schools, there are also massage colleges that don’t go through medical schools or programs but rather teach you through instructors that are licensed massage therapists who can either work individually or run a school. These programs cost around $500 for a 3-hour weekend course.
8. American Massage Therapy Association
A certification through the American Massage Therapy Association is one of the many programs available to future massage therapists. While it is neither a college nor a school, it offers students certification and the ability to take two exams to become members of the AMTA. Once certified, you can practice as a therapist in any state without experiencing difficulties or getting falsely rejected by other states’ licensing boards for working without a license. Ruth Sobel founded the AMTA and has been instrumental in helping people learn about massage therapy and helping progress the education of therapists. The price of this certification alone is $525, which is approximately the median cost of massage school tuition in the United States.
9. Philadelphia College of Massage Therapy
This school has taught massage therapy techniques and different modalities, such as aromatherapy and chakra balancing, since 1976. Students can only study through this school if they are already licensed therapists in another state or are not ready to take the AMTA exam yet. The average price for the course is around $1,000 dollars, making it one of the more expensive options when it comes to massage school tuition. This figure falls within the middle range for massage therapy tuition in the United States.
Conclusion.
Many students are choosing massage therapy as a career option. The field is increasing and is both popular and in high demand. Massage therapists use a wide array of modalities to treat patients with special needs in a worthy and respected manner. The professionals operating as massage professionals are trained to care for clients so they can enjoy the therapeutic effects of their treatments without experiencing side effects after their sessions.