Please forgive this late reply... I kept meaning to type something up, but my brain has been all over the place lately.
For a Virginia state license in massage therapy, the state requires 600 hours of education + passing the National Certification Exam (which, despite the title is not exactly National, more on that in a bit). How long this takes to complete depends entirly on the program you enroll in. For comparison, I graduated from a 1600 hour program in little over a year, but that was with 4 hour classes, five nights a week (less a two week break in the summer). Cost-wise, it differs, I'd suggest she look around for schools in her area and call/write for information regarding tuition. Finatial aid is usually available if the school is accredited.
Where is she located, roughtly? I've heard good things about the school in C'ville, if she's anywhere near there.
I would give her the following cautionary advice:
1> The economy is bad right now, and one of the first things most people cut back on are luxuries like massage. There aren't a lot of jobs available currently, especially if you're not in Richmond or the DC area.
2> Most massage jobs involve working as an independent contractor, which means no employer provided anything. You have to do all your own tax deductions, get your own health insurance, etc, etc. Granted, your earnings/profit margin is potentially higher, but it's something to think about.
3> Massage schools are havens of young, just out of high school idiots who's parents have told them they either have to move out or continue school. They don't want to learn, they just want to continue mooching off their parents. And the schools usually want the tuition to keep coming in, so very rarely kick people out as long as they're not making trouble. Some schools *coughHeritagecough* let folks get away with a lot before even thinking about disinvinting a student. Not saying you can't get a good education, but again, it's there, and something to be aware of.
If you/she have any more questions or such, feel free to drop me a note or PM here.
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Date: 2010-03-17 07:58 pm (UTC)For a Virginia state license in massage therapy, the state requires 600 hours of education + passing the National Certification Exam (which, despite the title is not exactly National, more on that in a bit). How long this takes to complete depends entirly on the program you enroll in. For comparison, I graduated from a 1600 hour program in little over a year, but that was with 4 hour classes, five nights a week (less a two week break in the summer). Cost-wise, it differs, I'd suggest she look around for schools in her area and call/write for information regarding tuition. Finatial aid is usually available if the school is accredited.
Where is she located, roughtly? I've heard good things about the school in C'ville, if she's anywhere near there.
I would give her the following cautionary advice:
1> The economy is bad right now, and one of the first things most people cut back on are luxuries like massage. There aren't a lot of jobs available currently, especially if you're not in Richmond or the DC area.
2> Most massage jobs involve working as an independent contractor, which means no employer provided anything. You have to do all your own tax deductions, get your own health insurance, etc, etc. Granted, your earnings/profit margin is potentially higher, but it's something to think about.
3> Massage schools are havens of young, just out of high school idiots who's parents have told them they either have to move out or continue school. They don't want to learn, they just want to continue mooching off their parents. And the schools usually want the tuition to keep coming in, so very rarely kick people out as long as they're not making trouble. Some schools *coughHeritagecough* let folks get away with a lot before even thinking about disinvinting a student. Not saying you can't get a good education, but again, it's there, and something to be aware of.
If you/she have any more questions or such, feel free to drop me a note or PM here.