Information for Parents

The US Department of Labor anticipates a 21-35% growth rate in massage therapy opportunities from 2000-2012. Massage therapy is among the top 25 fastest growing health care occupations in Oregon, according to the 2006 Oregon Workforce Needs Assessment. In 2005, there was currently a 7% vacancy rate for Oregon employers seeking massage therapists. Even our own Professional Clinic has therapist openings we are unable to fill! There is significant growth occurring in this field, particularly for therapists working in salons, spas, and medical/chiropractic offices.

Ashland Institute of Massage is "real school." Massage therapy training requires college level understanding of the human body, which we offer in our academic human science courses – Anatomy & Physiology, Kinesiology (study of muscles & movement), and Pathology. Our massage modality classes often include an academic component, as well. Classes may, for example, include a review of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology specific to the area of body being addressed, scientific theory related to the modality, or assessment skills (critical thinking) correlated to developing treatment protocols for clients.

Beyond the academic and modality instruction that students receive, Ashland Institute of Massage requires that students develop strong communication skills, an understanding of their personal and professional ethics, and business skills. Massage school can be the “path” for students who know this is what they want for their career or a "stepping stone"– AIM graduates have gone on to chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy school, become specialists in specific massage modalities, and become entrepreneurs and successful business people.

Finally, we are a family-owned school. Our class sizes are kept intentionally small (20 or fewer students), so that we can keep track, to some degree, of what is happening in our students’ lives, knowing that massage school is often challenging intellectually, emotionally, and physically. We want our students to be successful and do everything we can in supporting them to that end. We also, however, are an institute of adult learning and expect that students are accountable and responsible for their own learning and results. Ashland Institute of Massage can be a wonderful place for young adults (and not-so-young!) to "step up" in these ways.

We are happy to take time to discuss our program with you in depth, so that you can be a partner in your daughter or son’s desire to find the appropriate massage school.