A Massage Therapist Career - Things to Consider When Starting Your Own Massage Therapy Career

For those wanting a Massage Therapist Career, this article is here to give you food for thought, to point out some important things to consider and hopefully enlighten you, even just a little, as to whether a Massage Therapy Career is the right move for you, and what you can do to have the best chance of creating a successful career in massage.

Why a Massage Therapist Career?

There are many reasons why to choose a massage therapy career and we'll look at some of them now.

o It appeals to those wishing to help and nurture others.

o Massage is a time tested methodology offering proven results over many centuries of use.

o As alternative and complimentary therapies continue to grow in popularity, so does demand for massage.

o As the therapeutic value of massage gains greater acceptance from conventional medicine, massage becomes an even more sought after therapy.

o As more insurance companies include massage within their cover, demand for therapists increase.

o According to the U.S. Department of Labour Bureau of Labour Statistics, demand for employment for massage therapists is increasing "faster than average."

o A massage therapist career offers both employment opportunities and business opportunities for those with aspirations for creating their own business and being self employed.

o For those with entrepreneurial tendencies, there is the potential for a highly lucrative multi therapist business to be developed.

A massage therapy career has huge potential and demand is growing. Quite simply, it is not a fad, it is an industry with no end in sight. It gives you the opportunity to have a long term business or career with the potential for continual growth.

Choosing your Massage Training

If you are going to have a massage therapist career, it all starts with your training. Firstly, get clear on what your objectives are. If you want to learn massage for fun and to care for your family or pamper you partner, that's great and you can do a weekend certificate course for that. If however you are serious about a career, then choose your massage training carefully.

Be very clear about the credentials and the options that your training will and will NOT afford you.

o Exactly what type of certification or title will you hold?

o What type of professional association will you be eligible for and what are the benefits of that association?

o Will you be eligible for professional insurance?

o Will you be able to treat people covered by health insurance or government care programs?

At a minimum, ensure that your qualifications will enable you to join a professional association and get insurance. Remember you can always continue your education for higher qualifications over time. This is frequently done in massage therapy careers.

Work on Your Massage Business Plan and Start Earning some Cash!

After completing your training it's time to start working and earn some hard earned dollars. There are many opportunities for full and part time employment if that's what you wish.

If you would prefer to start your own business there is one important fact to be aware of..... COMPETITION! The flexibility of a massage therapist career is appealing to many people, and while demand for massage grows, so too do the number of qualified therapists.

You may look at this as a negative thing, however if you are a little clever you can also see this as a great opportunity. Most massage training courses include little or no education on the business side. They really just teach the skills required to practice the therapy. As a result, many therapists will endeavour to start their own business but struggle due to lack of business knowledge.

Be clever and educate yourself not only in the skills of massage, but also the business of massage. There are several options for this kind of education specifically targeted to the massage industry. I have reviewed several of them and the best by far is a program called Massage Therapy Success. It is extremely well put together, very thorough and complete. It is logical, easy to understand and the surest way I can think of to ensure a successful massage therapy career.