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