Why are you affraid I have hired some really good therapist straight from school. But I still have to train them most of the time technique and things that over my ten year span I have learned but I dont think it is any different then having to train someone older the same way. I dont hold a license anymore but i dont think age is the problem I think it should be at least 1,000 hours and nothing skipped in there classes and everything tought in there books should be followed up by a hands on class. But I do agree 500 hours is not enough.

Seems to me that the number of hours spent in "class time" rarely exposes the student (correct me if I'm wrong) to the circumstances in which to use and get the desired results from the more specialized techniques that are likely included in the certification from the get-go. For example, how do we know that a particular technique will work in a certain situation until we're actually presented with it? That only comes with experience and actually working on somebody whose piriformis needs work, or when myofascial release might be appropriate in addition to whatever style is being utilized. Students who work on one another in the classroom may not have the "problem of the day" so wouldn't actually gain that experience in the classroom--only the techniques to use in the event they encounter it. I think, as with anything, the bulk of the knowledge comes later and with independent study, which also keeps the work challenging and interesting. Longevity here is a direct result of confidence, and it seems this profession keeps those who begin with enough curiosity and have been rewarded with the ah-ha! moments which bring good therapeutic results.

I agree with people who said it has more to do with maturity than age. Having said that, the majority or students coming straight out of high school are not mature, but there are some. I was 22 (barely) when I started massage school. I was the oldest of the "youngins" and about 10 years younger than the next oldest person. I watched as several of the younger students struggled and either dropped back to part time (we were going full time) or dropped out of the program completely, while other young people did very well. The difference was their maturity levels, not their age.

I had just graduated from college (with a BS in Psychology) and felt very well prepared for massage school and did very well. I love the field, I love the work, I love the people. My program was 720 hours and while I did feel prepared for "the real world", I could also have easily stayed longer to learn more. I think a 1000 hour program would be awesome. 500 hours is not enough, IMO.

It's 3 years laer and I am now in grad school earning a Master's of Science in Applied Psychology and learning how to do research in the field of massage. I'm so excited to be doing this. We need the research to boost our profession and show what massage therapy can (and cannot) do. However, the research is useless if we don't have qualified therapists available to do the work. Higher education standards would boost our profession while at the same time weeding out the people who should not be in it.