| Theoretical or practical massage therapy | | | | they offer to their existing clients, a |
| education? It is a question that is often | | | | chiropractic assistant who will be doing |
| debated among practicing massage therapists. | | | | massage in the same clinic after graduating, |
| Each education offers its advantages, but my | | | | or a nurse who is taking the training and |
| preference is to establish a strong | | | | receiving continuing education credits. If |
| foundation of information and then obtain | | | | you take a shorter initial training and then |
| some practical experience. This allows you to | | | | start working in the field, you may be able |
| learn what works and what doesn't while still | | | | to deduct the cost of any future classes as |
| having enough training to properly work on | | | | continuing education expenses. This can |
| individuals. | | | | result in significant tax savings. Please |
| | | | note that I am not an accountant or tax |
| Regulations by States, Counties, and Cities | | | | advisor, and that tax laws change, so please |
| vary as to the amount of training required | | | | check with an accountant or tax advisor |
| before being licensed. Our area, Sacramento | | | | before making any decisions based upon the |
| County California, happens to require 125 | | | | tax advantages. |
| hours at the present time and Healing Arts | | | | |
| Institute offers a qualifying program to | | | | Some states require at least 500 hours of |
| match that. There are other schools that | | | | training before you can practice |
| offer 500 hour and even 1000 hour programs. | | | | professionally. Make sure to check the |
| At first glance it may appear that a longer | | | | regulations in the state that you plan on |
| program would be better, but there are | | | | working in. The cross-reference to ensure |
| several reasons why that may not be so. | | | | that the school you plan on attending meet |
| | | | the requirements for that state. Lastly, make |
| One advantage to a shorter training is cost. | | | | sure that the school you are being taught at |
| Initial training is around $1375 for | | | | is accepted by the state you are going to |
| registration, tuition, and books on a 130 | | | | practice in, not all schools transfer from |
| hour program. 500 hour programs typically | | | | state to state. |
| start at $8000 or more. It is a large | | | | |
| investment of time and money for entering a | | | | If you are in one of the following states you |
| field that you may not be sure about | | | | may wish to check with your state about |
| pursuing. In a 126 hour training, the basics | | | | licensing requirements: |
| of massage are taught along with how to help | | | | |
| people without causing harm. The real | | | | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, |
| training happens when you begin work on | | | | District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, |
| paying clients. This is true whether your | | | | Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, |
| initial training is 126 hours or 1000 hours. | | | | Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New |
| There are some things that can only be | | | | Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North |
| learned in actual practice in the real world. | | | | Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South |
| | | | Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, |
| When you come back for more training you have | | | | Washington, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. In |
| the option of choosing which advanced classes | | | | other states, like California, licensing |
| you want to pursue. There are many different | | | | occurs at the city or county level where the |
| directions to go with massage therapy, and | | | | business resides. You can check with your |
| you will excel best pursuing your own area of | | | | city or county clerk about licensing |
| interest. When you take advanced classes | | | | requirements. A listing of massage laws in |
| after working in the field you know what | | | | the states that license massage therapists |
| questions to ask so the training is more | | | | can be found in the book "Massage, A Career |
| relevant to your needs. As you learn new | | | | at Your Fingertips" by Martin Ashley, or on |
| techniques you think of clients you can use | | | | his website at: |
| those techniques on. In this way your | | | | |
| learning is much more complete than for | | | | Regardless of the local requirements I |
| someone who took 500 hours of classes before | | | | believe it is best to establish a foundation |
| doing their first professional massage. | | | | of massage therapy knowledge and then apply |
| | | | your knowledge to practical experience. This |
| There are also tax advantages to taking a | | | | is the best way to learn and get started in |
| shorter training first. Most people cannot | | | | my opinion. After some "working world" |
| take a deduction on their income tax for the | | | | experience you can return and take classes on |
| cost of their initial training in a new | | | | techniques that you want to specialize in. |
| field. The exceptions would be for people | | | | These classes will also make sense to your |
| working in related fields such as: a | | | | experience and will be easily integrated into |
| manicurist or cosmetologist who is taking | | | | your practice. |
| this training so they can expand the services | | | | |