If you’ve decided to pursue massage therapy school in California, you probably have a lot of questions. How to determine what makes a good massage school, and how do you apply? It’s worth it to do some research before jumping into your new career in massage. Read on for a list of criteria that you should look for in a massage school in California and information about how to apply.
Mission and vision
Look for a school that has a well-articulated vision and mission statement that aligns with your values. A credible massage school should have guiding principles of excellence and integrity that show through every aspect of their academic programming and policies. A top massage therapy school should operate under a vision of educating students to be caring individuals, first and foremost, with ideals to use massage as a tool to make the world a better place.
Massage therapy subset
Within massage therapy, there are several different subsets that you can choose to study. According to Very Well Health, there are nine most popular types of massage therapy: Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage, hot stone massage, deep tissue massage, shiatsu massage, Thai massage, pregnancy/prenatal massage, reflexology, and sports massage. Some massage schools in California offer some or all of these programs, but if there is one that holds a particular interest for you, it may be useful to look for a school that specializes in that type of massage.
Financial aid
Going to massage therapy school doesn’t have to leave you with a mountain of high-interest debt to pay off after graduation. Reputable massage schools should offer scholarships, work-study opportunities, and federal financial aid to incoming students that qualify. Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few top massage schools, take the time to thoroughly research your financial aid options at each school on your list.
How to apply
There is no need to be intimidated by the application process for your massage school. A quality massage school should have representatives that will be happy to meet with you to discuss applying, and while the application process might appear long at first, each step is simple. At the Southern California University of Health Sciences, an admission checklist is provided that outlines in detail each application that must be submitted.
Going to massage therapy school will allow you to help people, provide care and healing to those that need it, and participate in a swiftly growing career field. The first step is to discover what quality education options are out there for you, so start researching massage school today.
