Choosing the right massage school for you can be difficult, but it's probably the biggest factor in determining if you will have a successful career in Massage Therapy. Here are some factors you need to look at that can help you decide:
Accreditation- your school should be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. IOTM is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. We are both institutionally and progamatically accredited.
Curriculum- While the above items are very important, if your main goal is to be a great massage therapist, you really need to examine the school's curriculum. Future employers will want to know what classes you took during your education. IOTM offers many classes that are not offered in the same way at other area massage schools, including our Career Enhancement Classes (CEC). Our CEC's include: Chair Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Hot Stone Body Massage, Cancer Massage, Sports Massage, just to name a few. These classes teach advanced massage techniques and take hours to learn effectively.
In addition to your massage diploma, you will receive certifications in all the classes you successfully participate in. These certifications will give you a competitive advantage when you're applying and interviewing for jobs after graduation. IOTM is the only area massage school who will offer you as a student, 100 hours of CEC classes, which are included in the program.
Also, our 600 series of classes, Advanced Therapeutic Techniques. In these classes, students will learn the most common soft tissue injuries and dysfunctions related to injuries and trauma. Students will have the opportunity to practice the proper techniques for these common problems during the lab portion of this class. The student will also learn specific protocols for treatment of conditions and injuries encountered in a massage practice, including strengthening and stretching advice for clients.
Employers may look to see if you took these classes specifically, especially if you're going into the medial field. Even if you choose to work in the spa industry, they may not ask if you've had these classes, but you're probably going to be a better massage therapist because of these classes.
