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