Im thinking about going to school for massage therapy?
Question:
Answers:
The prerequisites I tell all prospective massage students is the following:
First, "You gotta have the want to". Meaning that you have to have the inner drive to want to help people. If you are going into it just to make money, look into other types of training, because you will burnout right away, because being an MT isn't your average 9-5 job.
Secondly, prepare to be a "professional student", because you will need to know almost as much as doctor does about the human body. When a client of yours asks to work on a certain muscle or asks you why a certain muscle hurts, if you don't know what you are talking about, you will at the least sound uninformed and at the worst, you will lose that client and will probably never get any others, because "people talk". Think about it, when you want to get recommendations, who do you talk to?
So, you can't fake it when you are working on or with the human body. Besides, there is too much mediocrity out there all ready.
Besides Anatomy & Physiology, you will also have to master massage theory, techniques, history, contraindications, physical assessment, as well as Business Law, Record Keeping, Ethics and Traditional Oriental Medicine concepts.
Then be tested upon all of the above not only by the school you are attending, but also by a State and in some states a National massage board.
If you are ready, willing and able to complete all of the above, then have at it !!
I recently became a massage therapist! Below are a few links to help you out, but I highly recommend exploring this as a career option.
In Virginia, massage is regulated by the State Board of Nursing. Therapists must complete a 500-hour program and pass the NCETMB (national massage exam).
I'd say it's definitely possible to earn $30,000 annually; however income varies (part/full time, location, etc).
Best of luck!
im a massage therapist and it's a wonderful field to go into. How much do you make per year you ask? It depends on where you're located, what you're doing, and how much you WANT to do it. I have read that the avg. massage therapist makes 30,000-40,000 per year. Not bad, but not great either. I must say this, If you are thinking of getting into this profession for the money, you may want to think long and hard about this decision. It often is a life changing one.
Just keep in mind that it is physical work and unfortunately not yet widely accepted by the medical community. With your own practice, your income can vary and you must have something income wise to back you up.
don't go into any profession just for the money. a good rule of thumb is to find something you love to do anyway and you'll find that the pay is just a lovely bonus. whether you're driving a honda or a mercedes is irrelevant. happiness counts here!
I went to massage therapy school after my child left home for college. It was the best thing for me. As far money is concerned...it depends on what type of therapist you want to become. If you work in a spa for instance...you will probably be paid by the hour or at a set rate per client. Should you decide to work with someone; you will generally take a percent like 60/40 on every massage you give. If you decide to specialize you can make more money but remember working for yourself can be very rewarding.
More Questions & Answers...