Accredited Massage School

One thing a person should keep in mind while selecting a massage school is the importance of choosing one that is accredited, especially if one hopes to earn massage therapy certification. There are thousands of massage schools throughout the United States and Canada. However, only a few hundred are accredited. The others have not chosen to go through the steps required. This alone should be enough to give a person pause. Why would a student want to attend a school that is unwilling to prove it has reached or surpassed the standards of excellence set by an accrediting agency? Becoming accredited is not just a one-step process. If it were, many schools would do what is required to become accredited and then join the mundane masses. Continual assessment by the accrediting group, self-assessment, on-site visits, and other checks are routinely followed. This ensures that the massage school is meeting its stated goals of excellence.

There are a number of reasons why selecting an accredited massage school is in a student’s best interests. First, if a student hopes to receive financial aid or other government loans or gifts, the school he or she attends must be accredited. It is much easier to transfer between two massage schools that are accredited. If a student moves from a non-accredited to an accredited school, the likelihood is high that at least some of the classes already taken will not be recognized. Another important reason is that many potential employers will not even consider hiring a massage therapist whose training was completed at a non-accredited school. Finally, many states will not license a massage therapist who has not graduated from an accredited massage school.

After choosing an accredited school, a student should check to see which agency has overseen its accrediting process. The primary organization is the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). COMTA has been acknowledged as an accrediting agency in the field of massage by the U.S. Department of Education. Schools that have received COMTA’s seal have a reputation for excellence.

One who is unsure whether the preferred massage school is an accredited institution can check one of two databases. The United States Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs is one source. Another accurate source is the Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations. The student should be aware that from time to time, a school can lose accreditation; therefore, it is important that students do their homework and make sure the massage school under consideration is indeed accredited.