When Is The Best Time To Start Massage School? The economy of the US is yet to fully recover from the effects of the recession.
Over the past few years, one industry after another has fallen victim to low demand and rising costs.
As a result, many people have lost their jobs and don’t have many prospects on the horizon.
Hence, it isn’t surprising to see many of people turning towards massage therapy as a potential career option.
Massage therapy is now regarded as an important part of the alternative care industry.
This is why the number of people seeking massage therapy has increased.
Moreover, it is one field that has remained relatively unaffected by the economic downturn.
That being said, it is natural for you to feel apprehensive about enrolling in massage school at this point in time.
Going to school means that you are committing to making massage therapy a career.
Without being certain there is good money to be made in this field, it doesn’t make sense for you to start massage school.
This is why there are some things you need to go over before you take the final decision.
However, there is no doubt that acquiring education will prove beneficial in the long run.
The skills you learn in massage school will prove handy down the road.
Yet, that doesn’t mean you should enrol in massage school without weighing the pros and cons.
More than anything, you need to be sure you are enrolling at the right time.
The right time could be with regards to your age, your financial condition and the time of the year.
Let’s go over each of these factors in more detail:
Consider Your Age – When Is The Best Time To Start Massage School?
The first thing you need to consider when deciding to start massage school is your age.
Do you know what the average age is of the massage therapists currently working in the field is? You would assume that most of them are in their late 20s or early 30s.
In either case, you would be wrong. The average age for a professional active massage therapist currently is 45.
This goes to show how much of an adults’ profession massage therapy is. The perception that many students out of high school get started in a career in massage therapy is wrong.
The fact of the matter is that people who are looking for a new and exciting career option, or the ones who cannot find work elsewhere, are switching to massage therapy.
This is why the average age of massage therapists is so high.
Needless to say, being older and mature helps you in this field.
You are able to make better business decisions and your life experiences will help you deal with clients in a better way.
It is also possible that you have more contacts you can use to build a thriving and successful massage therapy practice.
On the other hand, the physical demands of massage therapy mean that older individuals have shorter careers.
Young people have an advantage in this regard. They don’t feel burnout as easily.
They can take their time to make their way in the industry and could have a long and fruitful career without feeling exhausted early in their career.
Keep your age in mind when deciding whether to start massage school.
Consider the Time of the Year
A great thing about massage schools is that most of them have a rotating schedule.
This means that there are plenty of chances for you to start classes throughout the year.
You don’t necessarily have to stick to the fall or spring semester to get in.
In fact, you can even choose the winter quarter/semesters to get started.
When Is The Best Time To Start Massage School?
The point to note here is that the time of year you choose for enrolling in massage school has little bearing on your performance.
In other words, you don’t gain or lose anything by enrolling in the summer instead of getting started in the fall.
You can start as early as possible which would mean you can complete your program earlier.
On the other hand, you can also choose to take things slow and train part-time till you graduate with a certificate.
Since the massage industry is constantly growing, newer opportunities are springing up all the time.
You can opt for a particular season to take advantage of seasonal massage trends.
For instance, courses in the winter generally include training for treating ski injuries.
This is something you aren’t likely to get in the summer.
The State of the Job Market – When Is The Best Time To Start Massage School?
Going to massage school can set you back a few thousand dollars.
This is one reason why many qualified massage therapists graduate with a considerable student loan on their back.
They have to repay the debt in addition to making a living.
If they don’t find work immediately after getting their license, the situation worsens for them the more time passes.
That being said, the chances of you not finding work are slim.
The massage industry is booming and there are opportunities aplenty for those who obtain their licenses now.
You will have to put in some effort but you can easily find work.
The demand for massage therapy has increased considerably lately.
People have realized that massage therapy is an effective way of improving overall health and wellbeing.
As a result, they are able to save considerably on medical expenses.
This is why getting a massage is a preferable option for them, When Is The Best Time To Start Massage School?
Moreover, stress is a byproduct of the modern lifestyle. It is next to impossible for a person not to feel stressed these days.
Massage is one-way people can release their stress so they will keep coming back for more.
If you cannot find work as a massage therapist, you can always set up your own business.
Keeping all three factors listed above in mind, it is clear that now is the best time to start massage school.
The industry is growing, the job opportunities are aplenty and you are getting older by the day.
So, if you are interested in becoming a massage therapist, now is the best time to start massage school.
Use our comprehensive database of massage schools near you to request information from the schools you are interested in – all for free.
You can access our database and request information for free here.
Neal Lyons is a founding member and volunteer contributor at the MTSI Institute, an information based portal dedicated to guiding and assisting aspiring massage therapists establish a successful career in massage. Neal is a published author and has collaborated on several mobile applications that serve the massage profession. You can view his published work on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Sony and Kobo. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter and on Google+
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