Oftentimes when someone is thinking about making a career change, the first place they start their research is online. If you have found yourself searching for “massage therapy programs near me” the results might have been a tad overwhelming. Today, many people turning to massage therapy for help with medical conditions, stress relief, and improvements to overall health. With the increase in demand, there are a lot of options out there to consider. But how do you know which program is right for you? Here are 4 things to consider when choosing the program the best meets your kneads [see what we did there?!]:
1. Find a Program that Offers Training Variety
It is important to understand what and how a massage therapy school teaches the various forms of massage. Because everyone learns differently, it’s important to find a program that takes an integrated approach that is both rich in teaching the fundamentals to build a solid foundation of knowledge and provides practical, hands-on experience. There are many different styles and techniques in massage and learning those require practice and practical application. Finding a school that has an on-site massage clinic will provide you with practical experience to help prepare you for success in the future.
2. School Accreditation and License
Most states require massage therapists to have a license before they can begin practicing massage therapy. Licensure is obtained after completing training from an accredited massage therapy program. With an accredited school, you are not only securing a future career path but value-packed training as well. Accreditation ensures that the education that is provided by institutions meets the acceptable levels of quality. source
In Kentucky and Ohio, massage therapists are required to take and pass the national certification exam (MBLEx), so it’s important to find a program that will help you prepare to take the exam upon graduation.
3. Safety Protocols
A lot has changed over the last several months due to COVID-19 and it has had a major impact on how schools are interacting with their students. With Medical Massage Therapy being a traditionally hands-on training program, it is important to find out what safety protocols the school has in place to protect their students and faculty. For example, at Beckfield College’s Medical Massage Therapy program, the first quarter term beginning in September is being taught completely online for didactic courses like Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology for Massage, and Ethics. For courses requiring students to be on-campus, classes are being held with a limited number of students, ensuring social distancing, masks and other necessary PPE is required, and sanitation procedures are also in place per the guidelines from the CDC and the Kentucky Board of Massage Therapy.
4. Determine if the School Fits Your Career Goals
Some schools focus solely on massage therapy, but others offer additional training programs. So, take some time to really think about your career goals. Think about what kind of environment and people you need to surround yourself with to succeed. Depending on your personal answer to those questions, you will want to choose a school that reflects your goals. Find the program that meets your needs!
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Begin Your Medical Massage Therapy Journey with Beckfield College
Beckfield College is enrolling now in our new Medical Massage Therapy program in Florence, KY. The College provides massage therapy students with extensive training and hands-on experience in techniques like Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, as well as special applications including hot stones, paraffin, and reflexology. As an accredited massage therapy training school, this program is committed to providing quality training and preparing students for their future careers.
Enroll in Beckfield College’s Medical Massage Therapy Training Program Today!
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