Selecting an accredited massage school is an essential step toward your career goals. When selecting a program, pay close attention to its time requirements as well as additional services offered such as postgraduate job placement services and tutoring/continuing education courses.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Online Massage School
1. Reputation
When selecting an online massage school, it is crucial to check its reputation. A well-recognized institution will have excellent recommendations from students, graduates, and industry professionals alike.
Accreditation of massage schools is another essential factor to keep in mind since such schools have been evaluated by an impartial third party to ensure they comply with certain standards such as curriculum and record keeping.
2. Teaching Methods
Massage therapists must possess an in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, as well as an understanding of how certain pathologies and medications impact therapeutic work.
An increasing number of schools offer hybrid models that enable students to learn both non-technical skills online and hands-on techniques in physical classrooms with experienced instructors, making this option particularly appealing for aspiring massage therapists.
However, online learning quality varies dramatically and can be challenging to measure in massage education contexts. Methods for calculating graduation and job placement rates differ widely among programs; moreover, data for non-accredited programs often is unavailable and some academic staff members lack experience studying online and may require training in designing online courses.
3. Student Support
Your school should offer student services that can help ensure your success, such as tutoring, alumni mentoring, and financial aid. Furthermore, it should promote personal growth and wellness through its massage programs.
Ask the school about what type of continuing education programs they offer their faculty and students as an indicator of how devoted they are to the field. Professional development opportunities allow students to explore movement therapies, boundaries, and new teaching methods while simultaneously staying abreast of research related to massage, stress management strategies, etc. That will put their school at the forefront of its profession.
4. Financial Aid
As part of your research, it is also important to find out how long the program lasts and whether there is a student clinic. You should visit the school and speak to students directly as well as inquire into instructor qualifications and commitment to ongoing learning.
While schools frequently report graduation and job placement rates, these figures can often be overestimated. A more reliable indicator is loan repayment rates which will show how well graduates manage their finances after graduating from massage school. By doing your research you'll be able to select an online massage school that fits perfectly for you.
5. Location
The location may also be important, especially if you plan to take courses online, and then go in to do hands-on work. You want to make sure you choose a school that is convenient for you to learn and make sure the program offers what you need at the location you choose.
Before committing to the right online massage school for you, make sure you consider these things.