beauty school to change your future

If you've always wanted to enjoy the flexibility and high pay of a career in the massage industry, you may be wondering how to get started. While there are a variety of ways to become a licensed massage therapist, some of these ways are more expensive than others -- and you may not wish to start your career with a mound of student loan debt. What are the most cost-effective ways to pursue massage licensing, and what will you need to do to get started? Read on to learn more.

What type of education do you need to become a massage therapist? 

Unlike some professions, massage therapy is not regulated on the federal level -- instead, states set their own licensing and educational requirements. Most states require you to have between 500 and 600 educational hours, usually at an accredited educational institution, to qualify to take the licensing exam. After successfully passing the exam (and sometimes a criminal background check or CPR test), you'll officially become a state-licensed massage therapist, free to practice throughout your state. 

If you later move to another state, you may be able to begin practicing without retaking the licensing exam if this state offers reciprocity with your home state. You may also be able to have the exam waived by showing you have been practicing for many years and are current on your continuing education (CE) requirements.  

What are your lowest-cost options to become licensed? 

Most massage schools offer both full-time and part-time programs. Full-time programs are generally more expensive, but allow you to reach your required number of licensing hours very quickly -- sometimes in less than a year. With massage therapists enjoying a median annual salary of more than $47,000, this education can pay dividends quickly. However, if's often difficult to work full-time while attending school full-time, so you may be forced to take out additional student loans to help pay your rent or mortgage and purchase groceries. 

If you don't have enough savings or another source of income to help sustain you for the time you're in massage therapy school, you may want to look for a part-time program instead. While it will take you longer to complete your required number of hours, you'll be able to work and pay your daily expenses without needing to incur debt. In some cases, you may even be able to cash-flow your tuition to avoid taking out student loans. (However, if your income qualifies you for subsidized federal student loans, these are often a wise investment.)

You may also want to identify the minimal educational standards for your state to see if there are cost-cutting measures there. For example, if your state doesn't require you to have graduated from an accredited massage therapy school in order to become licensed, and you don't plan to move to any states that require accreditation, you may be able to get a significantly cheaper education by enrolling in a non-accredited school. 

Even after becoming licensed, you'll still have educational costs. To keep your license active, most states will require you to attend at least 6 to 12 hours of continuing education (CE) courses each year. You'll usually be able to choose your own CE courses, so should be able to find some that interest you or directly relate to the type of massage therapy you practice. However, paying out of pocket for each hour of CE can add up, so you should take advantage of free CE when it's locally available to ensure you're able to meet your annual requirements without having to scramble at the last moment or pay a premium.

For more information, contact a local massage school.