Some of the most well-known schools for massage therapy are the Cortiva Institute, the National Holistic Institute, the Soma Institute and the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. The types of massage taught are often holistic, with Eastern influences. The Soma Institute also specializes in medical and sports-related massage.
Many colleges offer degrees in cosmetology and esthetics. The Empire Beauty School and the Milan Institute have several locations nationwide. There are of course many others available. For listings and information visit: Spa and Beauty Education at http://www.spabeautyed.com/featured/ for a state by state directory.
There are several types of massage taught at the spa training schools. Acupressure, reflexology, reiki and shiatsu are among the most popular services found in spas today. Many come from Eastern traditions and work on different aspects of the muscles, pressure points, energy centers and senses to achieve therapeutic results.
Esthetics, which involves all types of skin care includes chemical peels, masks, cleansing and rejuvenating the skin. Programs for this specialization also require knowledge about the science involved in analyzing the skin.
Hair, make-up and nail treatments all have individual programs as well.
An area of interest should start the search for the right course of study. If medicine is an interest, colonic treatments and skin treatments may be a good choice. For the more active or athletic, deep tissue massage may be the way to go. Others with an interest in the spiritual or holistic approach in mind may opt for reiki or aromatherapy techniques.
If beauty and glamour are more appealing, a hair and make-up stylist or nail technician may be the right choice. These services are often more sociable with a lot of client interaction rather than deep concentration on the body.
Before choosing a spa training school, check with the state guidelines and requirements for licensing and certification. Not all schools are accredited. This means that they have not been evaluated as an adequate program. For some states, a license may be a stipulation for practicing in the field. The various types of massage and body therapies each have different standards as do cosmetology, hair and makeup and nail technician. Whether working for an existing spa or opening one, it is mandatory by law to have the proper licensing. For some specializations, skills can be added with extra training without having to be licensed for all of them.
Length of study usually ranges from nine to 29 months for massage therapy programs. Time requirements for cosmetology and beauty care run about two years. The prices, depending on the school, cost from $6,000 to $12,000 for an entire program. Additional training courses can cost as little as $500. Accredited schools offer financial aid and student loans are available if you qualify. Although it may seem like an obstacle to pursuing your career, the current salaries, which are often high, will more than compensate for the investment.