If you are considering becoming a masseuse, then, as with any healthcare job, you need to find out what your state requires of you to get started. There are 37 states within the U.S. that have massage therapy license regulations, some the require anywhere from 330 to 1,000 actual contact hours on patients. On the other hand, some of the remaining 13 states do not have any regulations, so you can start your practice immediately.
The next step would be to do some research to find the massage therapy school that suits you the best. There are plenty of them in the U.S., and usually, good massage therapy practitioners take about two years to complete their training. All massage therapy schools are different, each with a different time of completion and tuition. Also, make sure that the school that you pick satisfies the licensing regulations in your jurisdiction.
A great way to make sure that massage therapy is the road you want to go down is to visit a masseuse in person. You can schedule an appointment at a place of your liking and pretend like a regular client. When you talk to your masseuse, you can ask them questions about where they went to train, if they enjoy their career so far, some tips on getting started, etc.
After you have finished your training, licensure, or certifications, it's best to start looking for a job immediately. Like many other healthcare jobs, your massage therapy license can expire, so you don't want to waste any time. The next decision to make is whether you want to work for someone in need of a masseuse or start your own business. Starting your own business requires the money to do so and the confidence to keep pushing on if you don't have a lot of clients right away. But, when you work in a salon, spa, hospital, etc. you are almost always guaranteed work.
When you work underneath someone else, you can receive health benefits and vacation days. When you start your own business, you can't have those benefits. In fact, if you have people working underneath you, you may need to give your workers those benefits.
But, when you have your own business, you don't have to answer to anyone, and you choose the path in which the company heads. It all depends on what type of person you are. The great thing about it is that you can change your mind whenever you want and head in the other direction if you are not comfortable.
If you are still not sure, some schools that trains for a healthcare job offer counseling for their graduates to help them decide where to go and what to do after they graduate.
If you are interested in healthcare jobs and love helping people, then massage therapy is a great choice for you. You can do this all while keeping a flexible schedule and earning good money.
