As with most things, you have to spend money to make money. That means you’ll need to spend money on massage therapy school before you can start making money.
Most states have laws regulating who practices massage therapy. Because of these laws, it is often necessary for you to earn a degree in massage therapy, as opposed to simply taking a training course. Most states require a 500-hour training program, but some states require only 100 hours of training. This site lists which states regulate massage therapy practitioners, and from there you can do some Google searching to find out what your state requires.
Programs that require you to have 500 hours of training to earn your degree in massage therapy will generally cost anywhere from $5,000 to $9,000. That may seem like a lot of money upfront, but when you factor in how quickly you’ll be on your way to making money, then it isn’t too bad.
It’s important to consider the cost when choosing a massage therapy school. Even though one school may seem much less expensive, there might be hidden costs. For example, do you have any additional fees to pay? Will you need to purchase your own supplies (such as a table), or do they come as part of the program? Will you have to pay to take any sort of licensing test in the end, or is that included in the cost of tuition? Does the more expensive school carry such credibility that it is worth the extra cost?
Once you’ve factored in the extra and hidden costs, then it is worthwhile to compare the actual costs to get your degree in massage therapy. At that point it will be good for you to compare other factors.
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have $5000-$9000 laying around to spend on tuition. Fortunately, most schools have scholarship programs (although it is not good to rely solely on those), and they have loan programs as well. Consider taking out a loan, especially if you can get a low-interest Federal loan. Keep in mind, though, that you want to take out as small of a loan as possible. Remember that if you take out $1,000 you’ll pay a lot more than $1,000 back. That’s just how interest works.
To keep your loan low, consider the following:
- Work while you are studying. Even if you only make a few thousand dollars a year working part-time, that is better than nothing. It means that you can use that money to pay for your education and your cost of loving. And best of all, that’s interest free! It’s all your money!
- Work to save up money before starting your program. If you earn a few thousand dollars and are able to save that money before starting your program, then that is all the better for you. Even if you only save up a portion of the total cost of schooling, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
- Apply for any low-income grants you can. Even if you don’t think you qualify, it’s worth applying. You never know what you might get. Even a few hundred dollars is worth filling out an application.
Earning a degree in massage therapy is very affordable. With the options available for student loans, it is very likely that you can earn your degree and still be able to pay it off. The key is to work hard, and be wise about your loans and choosing your program.
