The number of massage therapists across our country is on the rise. As a result, there are also more massage therapy training programs than ever. Depending where you live, there may be dozens of programs in your area that can give you some kind of massage therapy certification. That doesn’t mean, though, that all of the programs are equally valuable to aspiring therapists. When it comes to choosing the right program for you, consider the following three factors that will help you separate the mediocre programs from the excellent ones.

Range of Modalities Taught

There is a wide range of styles and techniques that massage therapists use in their day-to-day work. When choosing a program, you want to ensure that it will provide you with adequate training on a wide variety of massage modalities. While most programs will start with Swedish massage, which is often the most commonly used modality, a qualified massage therapy training program won’t stop there. Make sure to ask any prospective programs about what modalities will be taught, and to what extent.

Alumna Employment Rates

While there are plenty of people who feel passionately about massage therapy and want to learn more for their own enrichment, most individuals will pursue massage therapy training in order to secure a job in the field. If you want to work as a massage therapist once you’re certified, it’s natural to be curious about how difficult or easy it is for graduates of a given program to find work after they’ve completed their training. When researching massage therapy programs, ask for employment statistics for recent graduates. Another good question to ask is if the program has a career services team and what sorts of support is provided in finding employment.

Specialization

Find out what the specialization of a school is before committing to it. There are plenty of schools that solely train students in massage therapy, and others that lump massage together with dozens of other skills and certifications. Although there are exceptions to every rule, in general you should look for a program that specializes in massage therapy above all else. Choosing such a school will often guarantee higher quality instructors and curriculum.

Choosing an Excellent Massage Therapy Program

Whatever you do, don’t jump a massage therapy training program without doing adequate research. While getting certified as a massage therapist can be an enjoyable and enriching professional experience, there are plenty of programs that provide substandard training, or that don’t provide training on all specializations. Choosing a high-quality program will increase your chances of having a positive learning experience and having a good start to your career when you finish school.

Your best bet in getting reliable and unbiased information about massage therapy programs is to ask to be put in touch with recent graduates. Massage therapists who have recently completed a given program will be able to speak to the quality of instruction, the preparation provided, and their ability to find a job upon completion of the training.