A Glimpse into Massage Therapy School

by: Kristina House

Massage therapy schools vary by curriculum, cost and the time they take to complete. The following provides a glimpse into a few massage therapy programs.

The Central Florida School of Massage Therapy, located in Winter Park, Fla. takes about 22 weeks to complete. The curriculum requires a total of 525 hours. Hours include 225 hours of therapeutic massage and palpitation skills, 150 hours of anatomy and physiology, 103 hours of allied modalities, 16 hours of hydrotherapy, 10 hours of Florida law and rules, 10 hours of business practices, six hours of professional ethics, three hours of AIDS/HIV education and two hours of medical errors and omissions. The program also includes specific class on aromatherapy, craniosacral therapy, lymphatic drainage, traditional Chinese medicine, pathology, reflexology, shiatsu and tai chi The total cost for an education at the Central Florida School of Massage Therapy is $10,075.

Other massage therapy programs offer training in acupuncture, holistic health, bodywork technology and therapeutic massage.

Class structures vary from school to school, at the Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts, classes are taught by working professional massage therapists; and, according to the school’s Web site, classes are hands-on from day one. The 600-hour program at KCHA costs around $10,000.

There are several scholarships available for massage therapy students. Every year, MASSAGE Magazine offers a $1,000-dollar scholarship to five students. American Specialty Health also has scholarships available to students; past awards were valued at $500 each.

All massage therapy schools are different. Research is the best way to determine which school is right for you. Be sure to consider state guidelines and regulations, the time you are willing to commit and what type of massage therapy you are interested in.