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In a time when the economy continues to be difficult to navigate and many people are considering their career options, you might be wondering if it’s the right time to start massage school. While there is always a benefit to increasing your education....
One of the best ways to pay for massage school is to earn a scholarship (or several scholarships) to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, and supplies. Scholarships, which don’t have to be repaid and are usually offered based on financial status and personal....
Wellspring School is a Kansas and Missouri staple in the allied health field. Offering massage training and other courses in health and wellness, students get the benefit of learning a vocational trade in a traditional college setting. The Lawrence, KS campus has been in operation for just four years, offering up-to-date facilities and access to a great college community.
Wellspring has been offering career training in the field of healthcare for over 23 years. It began as the Massage Therapy Training Institute (MTTI), offering only massage options for interested students. Over the years, it expanded to include additional courses in personal training and medical assisting, and expanded to campuses in both Kansas City, MO and the Lawrence, KS location.
The school’s mission is to “provide focused and efficient career training within the broad field of health and wellness; and to launch our graduates into fulfilling careers in which they help others achieve optimal health.” This is accomplished through both traditional education and the required externship program.
Wellspring School 947 New Hampshire St # 100 Lawrence, KS 66044-3074
The massage therapy program offers a combined focus on theory, technique, and practical experience. The bulk of the coursework is made up of hands-on massage therapy courses, though students can also expect to serve some time in the student clinic/externship location and doing community service events. Coursework includes basic knowledge (anatomy, physiology, wellness and nutrition, pathology, and general body assessment), specific massage modalities (Swedish massage, Eastern techniques, sports massage, and kinetics), and general business courses (interpersonal communication, ethics, and customer service).
At a full-time rate, the course can be completed in as little as 8 months. At a part-time evening schedule, it generally takes up to a year. It includes a total of 750 clock hours, which is enough for students to sit for the national certification exam and, with a passing score, become licensed in the state of Missouri. (In Kansas, individual cities govern licensure.)
The instructors at Wellspring are guided to provide as much one-on-one time as possible, with an interactive learning environment that uses lecture time, presentations, classroom discussions, and hands-on activities. Class sizes are always kept at 18 students or less.
The Lawrence campus has been in operation since 2007. Located in the heart of downtown Lawrence, the school has worked hard to create ties to the community—particularly in terms of charitable service and the healthcare industry. Most of the learning takes place in the massage lab or student clinic, both of which are in keeping with current massage therapy standards.
Wellspring is accredited by Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), which is the only agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education specifically for healthcare education. It is also approved to operate by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and the Kansas Board of Regents. For massage students, the school is a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) and American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), with further approval from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) for continuing education credits.
Most students rely on some financial aid in order to pay for their education. Wellspring participates in the Missouri and Kansas Workforce Investment Acts, the Veterans Education Assistance, and the Federal Title IV program. This means that students can get government aid (in the form of loans or grants), although they must qualify and agree to the repayment terms. A limited number of scholarships based on merit and academics are available before each class starts, and students are encouraged to contact the financial aid department for more information.
Lawrence is a mid-sized town in northeastern Kansas, located less than an hour’s drive from both Topeka and Kansas City, MO. It is considered a college town and an affluent suburb, both of which combine to create a welcoming environment that puts education high on the list of priorities. In addition to Wellspring, Lawrence is where you’ll find the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University—and it’s also why the town is consistently ranked as a Best College Town.
© 2012 Massage Schools Guide