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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....
For training in massage therapy in a setting that emphasizes the spa and beauty industry as well as allied health, the Milan Institute in San Antonio provides an answer. The school is known for its training programs for work as an administrative medical assistant, esthetician, facialist, cosmetologist, dental assistant, healthcare billing and coding provider, massage therapist, medical assistant, and pharmacy technician. The Woodcrest campus takes advantage of the San Antonio city center to provide training in keeping with industry standards in and around the area.
According to their mission statement, the Milan Institute sets out to “meet the needs of students and employers by offering quality short term educational programs in career fields with solid growth potential.” This can be translated to understand that students are provided with career-focused training that doesn’t exceed a two-year education format.
The school currently serves in locations across Texas, California, Idaho, and Nevada. It is one of the only allied health and spa-focused vocational schools in the West. Some students combine their training in massage with accounting, office administration, or one of the cosmetology programs to provide a more well-rounded educational background.
Milan Institute 5403 Walzem Road
Students in the massage therapy program are trained to become entry-level practitioners suited for jobs in spas, hotels, resorts, healthcare centers, and as self-employed massage therapists. Although no job is guaranteed, the program seeks to teach students the basics of human anatomy as well as specific massage modalities. These include Swedish massage, various Eastern techniques, and sports therapy. Additional courses in spa-related treatments and general business classes round out the course, which culminates in a certification of completion.
Training is largely hands-on, with instructors leading the classroom both in an academic and a skills lab setting. In both settings, class sizes are small and focused on more one-on-one attention than is available in a larger university setting. Instructors are also expected to bring experience from the current massage industry right to the classroom, which is believed to help boost the chances of post-graduation employment success.
The learning environment at the Milan Institute is meant to emulate the real working world. To this end, the equipment and tools are modern and in keeping with industry standards, and students learn on the materials they can expect to encounter later in their careers. An on-site Student Salon & Spa helps round out the educational experience, and students are asked to work in the spa to provide low-cost massages to the public as part of their education.
The Windcrest campus of the Milan Institute is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS). The NACCAS is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit cosmetology schools and beauty schools. This accreditation only counts toward non-degree programs like those offered by the Milan Institute.
Financial aid is available in several different formats to those who qualify. All prospective students are asked to fill out and mail the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines eligibility for federal grants and loans. (Note: Students are not required to accept this form of financial aid if they feel it isn’t right for them.) The Milan Institute also participates in most Veteran financial aid programs and offers private payment plans for those who opt to pay for their own education.
San Antonio is an epicenter of culture and commerce set in the warm and welcoming backdrop of Texas. As the second-largest city in Texas and one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, there is plenty to see and do in terms of both work and play. Many vocational school graduates go on to work and thrive in the area, while also taking advantage of amenities like the downtown River Walk, a number of golf courses and parks, the Alamo, various theme parks, and some of the best nightclubs, restaurants, and shops in the world.
© 2012 Massage Schools Guide