Contact your state board of massage therapy, which can be found through the department of health. Your state office can let you know if schools need to be accredited or not, as well as other requirements for massage therapists, such as testing requirements or a required number of classroom hours.
Investigate the massage schools you're choosing from. Ask the schools if graduating will provide you with a license or if it just provides classes and leaves the licensing to you. Also, ask about other accreditations, such as being approved by COMTA, the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation, which is nationally recognized. A nationally recognized license program can be beneficial if you transfer from state to state. You can also contact COMTA directly to find out if the schools you're choosing from are approved.
Find out if the massage school has been approved to give financial aid. This is another step in the accreditation process because it proves that the school has been recognized by the state as legitimate, and it can also help you pay for your education to become a massage therapist.
Speak with the admissions department of each massage school to determine how long the school has been operating, the number of graduates per year and how many of its graduates were able to find employment in the field. Size of classes; curricula offered; education and experience of teachers at the school; pre-requisites required of students and types of massage that are taught are other things to ask the admissions department. Since the main goal of going to the school is to get a job, the percentage of students working as massage therapists is an important comparison to make.
Talk to an advisor about classes, requirements, the scheduling process and testing. The massage school should have advisors who can help you choose classes, schedule your coursework and give you career advice. Talking with an advisor can let you know if the school is a good fit for you.
Find out more about career placement. Some massage schools have placement departments that will help you find employment after you graduate. This is a huge plus for students and should a big part of your decision process about which massage school to choose.