About Massage Schools

Massage schools offer programs where individuals can take the hours needed to become certified at the state level and to pass the National Certification Exam.

If you want to go to massage school, then recognize that not all massage schools are created equally. Some are probably better than others. In general, you might want to check with those schools who are COMTA certified or are in the process of being COMTA certified (Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation).

This is a good rule of thumb, but not critical at this point, mostly because there are some on-going discussions about certification and licensing of massage therapists.

The really important thing about picking a massage school is...

Does it allow you to take whatever tests or exams needed to practice in your region?

And does it prepare you to pass those exams?

Other factors to consider include cost, location, reputation, duration of the training, experience, and how long have they been around. Some massage schools even offer financial aid.

For example, the Cayce/Reilly School in Virginia Beach has great credentials.

• COMTA certified
• A 700 hour program (it looks like the school is headed towards a 1,000 program)
• High success rate of certifying their therapists
• Offer financial aid
• It takes about 8 months full time (longer part time) to graduate
• They have been around for 17 years
• Located across the street from the beach
• Plenty of housing options for students
• Lots of continuing education offered

Other factors to consider are the attitude and the feel of the massage school. Some are more medically oriented, while others are more spiritually oriented, and yet others offer a nice blend of the two.

Check with www.comta.org as a start to find a massage school. Also www.naturalhealers.com is a great resource for finding a school.

Good Luck!