| Many debates have occurred on whether | | | | continuing education credits. If you take a |
| theoretical or practical massage therapy | | | | shorter initial training and then start |
| education is better. My preference is to get | | | | working in the field, you may be able to |
| a good foundation but then go out and obtain | | | | deduct the cost of any future classes as |
| some practical experience. You will learn | | | | continuing education expenses. This can |
| much quicker about what works and what | | | | result in significant tax savings. Please |
| doesn't but also have enough theory and | | | | note that I am not an accountant or tax |
| training to understand and properly execute | | | | advisor, and that tax laws change, so please |
| the fundamentals.Regulations by States, | | | | check with an accountant or tax advisor |
| Counties, and Cities vary as to the amount of | | | | before making any decisions based upon the |
| training required before being licensed. Our | | | | tax advantages.There are some states that |
| area, Sacramento County California, happens | | | | require 500 hours of training to practice |
| to require 125 hours at the present time and | | | | massage professionally. If you live or plan |
| Healing Arts Institute offers a qualifying | | | | on working in one of those states you may |
| program to match that. There are other | | | | wish to check with the state to see which |
| schools that offer 500 hour and even 1000 | | | | schools would meet the requirement for that |
| hour programs. At first glance it may appear | | | | state. Also, not all states recognize |
| that a longer program would be better, but | | | | training from schools in other states.If you |
| there are several reasons why that may not be | | | | are in one of the following states you may |
| so.One advantage to a shorter training is | | | | wish to check with your state about licensing |
| cost. Initial training is around $1375 for | | | | requirements: |
| registration, tuition, and books on a 130 | | | | |
| hour program. 500 hour programs typically | | | | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, |
| start at $8000 or more. It is a large | | | | District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, |
| investment of time and money for entering a | | | | Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, |
| field that you may not be sure about | | | | Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New |
| pursuing. In a 126 hour training, the basics | | | | Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North |
| of massage are taught along with how to help | | | | Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South |
| people without causing harm. The real | | | | Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, |
| training happens when you begin work on | | | | Washington, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. In |
| paying clients. This is true whether your | | | | other states, like California, licensing |
| initial training is 126 hours or 1000 hours. | | | | occurs at the city or county level where the |
| There are some things that can only be | | | | business resides. You can check with your |
| learned in actual practice in the real | | | | city or county clerk about licensing |
| world.When you come back for more training | | | | requirements. A listing of massage laws in |
| you have the option of choosing which | | | | the states that license massage therapists |
| advanced classes you want to pursue. There | | | | can be found in the book "Massage, A Career |
| are many different directions to go with | | | | at Your Fingertips" by Martin Ashley, or on |
| massage therapy, and you will excel best | | | | his website at: of the local requirements I |
| pursuing your own area of interest. When you | | | | believe it is best to establish a foundation |
| take advanced classes after working in the | | | | of massage therapy knowledge and then apply |
| field you know what questions to ask so the | | | | your knowledge to practical experience. This |
| training is more relevant to your needs. As | | | | is the best way to learn and get started in |
| you learn new techniques you think of clients | | | | my opinion. After some "working world" |
| you can use those techniques on. In this way | | | | experience you can return and take classes on |
| your learning is much more complete than for | | | | techniques that you want to specialize in. |
| someone who took 500 hours of classes before | | | | These classes will also make sense to your |
| doing their first professional massage.There | | | | experience and will be easily integrated into |
| are also tax advantages to taking a shorter | | | | your practice.Dr. James Mally, N.D., runs the |
| training first. Most people cannot take a | | | | Healing Arts Institute, a massage school in |
| deduction on their income tax for the cost of | | | | Sacramento that offers a Massage |
| their initial training in a new field. The | | | | Certification Program and Acupressure |
| exceptions would be for people working in | | | | Certification Program plus continuing |
| related fields such as: a manicurist or | | | | education classes in subjects such as Deep |
| cosmetologist who is taking this training so | | | | Tissue Massage, and Sports Massage. The |
| they can expand the services they offer to | | | | website offers massage continuing education |
| their existing clients, a chiropractic | | | | training videos or DVDs for sale in Swedish |
| assistant who will be doing massage in the | | | | massage, sport massage techniques, deep |
| same clinic after graduating, or a nurse who | | | | tissue massage and a musculoskeletal anatomy |
| is taking the training and receiving | | | | audio CD. |