Before you enroll in an online massage therapy school, you should be sure that your institution is accredited. Accreditation is the process in which institutions and their programs undergo strict evaluation to determine whether or not they meet educational standards for measuring quality. Online and traditional colleges are accredited by nongovernmental entities and governmental accrediting agencies. These agencies have been approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, and recognized as reliable authorities concerning the quality of education or training at institutions of higher education. Once a school is accredited, it is subject to annual reviews of its teachers, coursework, facilities and equipment to verify that the school and its programs have upheld these standards.

Accreditation is very important for massage therapy schools, but students should be aware that some institutions and programs are accredited by agencies that aren’t recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education. Just because a school is not accredited by a USDE-approved agency, doesn’t mean it is not a reliable institution. However, students who attend schools that aren’t approved by the USDE may run into problems with financial assistance and being able to use scholarships or alternative forms of aid. The good thing about having the Department of Education’s approval is that schools are eligible to participate in federal student financial aid, such as loans, grants and scholarships. Some schools are simply too new to be accredited or they do not want to go through the evaluation process to be accredited. For whatever reason the school is not accredited by a USDE-approved agency, you should do research and find out why it isn’t accredited to determine if it’s worth the investment. If you want to find out if the school you’re interested in is accredited or check on the approval of an accrediting agency, you need to go to the Department of Education’s database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. Massage therapy schools may fall under hybrid, specialized or programmatic accrediting agencies.

Attending an unaccredited school is risky for students. Some institutions will not accept credits or recognize degrees from unaccredited schools, because they may question the legitimacy of your education and how well you know the material. In addition, many employers will not recognize a degree from an unaccredited school. All students should determine, prior to enrollment, whether or not their educational and professional goals will be met by attending a certain institution, such as transferrable credits and recognition of your degree by employers. You don’t want to miss out on a valuable job opportunity because of accreditation.

Top Massage Therapy Programs

	Boca Beauty Academy of Massage - If you're interested in becoming a massage therapist, Boca Beauty Academy of Massage offers a fantastic program for students interested in this growing industry.
Cincinnati Cleveland	Center for Massage & Natural Health - The Center for Massage & Natural Health assists students in reaching their goal of becoming a massage therapist affordably and conveniently.
Boston Tampa Scottsdale	Cortiva Institute for Massage - Cortiva Institute for Massage prepares aspiring massage therapists with a rigorous program in the field of massage therapy. With locations available across the country, students can get prepared quickly.
	U.S. Career Institute - At the U.S. Career Institute, students will be taught alternative health treatments to assist people in feeling better. With a number of organizations hiring in various positions, don't pass up this opportunity to go back to school and start a great career.