Physical Therapy Schools|Benefits Of Massage Therapy Schools

I opened Sarah Robarge Massage Therapy in Ithaca, NY in 2009. I worked out of an attic treatment room in my house and saw on average three or four clients a month. Every few months or so, I would gain a new client via word of mouth. My practice was a part-time gig that I would dream about making full-time, but, I didn't know how. I inadvertently made a few small changes to my business and in a period of a few weeks, my appointment calendar filled up completely. These are business choices I am sure most massage therapists are familiar with. What surprised me about these business practices was their immediate impact on my massage business. My practice is now my full-time and only job. It is a rare week I do not fill my appointment calendar. I thought I might share these small changes I wish I had made ages ago. I am willing to bet they will work for your massage practice too.

I Rented Office Space

I made this decision for myself out of necessity. My husband and I were working on a number of home improvement projects and I was just too embarrassed to drag my clients through piles of wood and sawdust to my office. I tried doing just out calls for a little while, but with a massive wood massage table I had to find another way.

I found a massage office building just six blocks from my house. I rent, by the hour, in a facility that has four treatment rooms and a very nice waiting room.

There is something legitimatizing about having an office instead of space in my home that clients reacted very positively to. Very often when I am at social events, people will ask if I have a massage office or work out of my home. When I say I have an office, the reaction always seems, "Oh, you mean you do this for real."

I Built A Website

This was a project I had always intended on doing but somehow never got around to. I am very far from being tech savvy and the letters HTML strike fear into my heart. In January of 2012, my massage association announced a competition for massage websites. I am a competitive person and I just had to build one and enter.

My website has a complete description of all the services I offer, the benefits of these services, and an option to schedule and pay online. Now almost thirty percent of by business comes from people searching the internet.The easy online scheduling software spares me the back and forth phone and email tag it takes to get an appointment scheduled.

I Maintain Professional Boundaries

I like to read reviews online about other massage therapists so I know what clients really appreciate and what they do not appreciate. Many clients complain of their therapist talking too much about themselves. Another common complaint is a messy office space. I did notice that most of the complaints had nothing to do with the massage itself but the professional container the therapist failed to maintain. By educating myself on common client complaints I make sure that I: begin and end my appointment at scheduled times; the treatment room is warm, clean and free of clutter; I do not talk about my personal life to my clients even when I am sorely tempted to; and I make sure I have a reliable CD or MP3 player.

I feel that I am rewarded greatly for my professionalism. More than 95% of my clients return for one or more appointments.

I Switched to High Quality Products

One thing I remember about being just a massage client was how expensive massage seemed to me. It was an investment. I keep this in the forefront of my mind with every client. In the beginning I used cheap, often mismatched linens. I was always silently hoping my clients wouldn't notice the poor quality of my products.

One of my first big purchases for my business was top of the line massage table linens and high quality massage oil. Right away I received great feedback from my clients on how good the linens felt and how good my organic oils made their skin feel. My clients seemed to relax much more easily when I used these products. My clients sense that my quality products are an investment in them and in return it is easier for them to invest their trust and business in me.

I Began Asking One Simple Question

"Would you like to schedule you next appointment?"

This question doubled my number of bookings immediately. I can be very shy at times and during the first few year of my practice I truly felt less than other massage therapists. I never asked clients after sessions if they would like to schedule their next appointment. Once I started, I realized most people expected that I would ask for a return appointment. When I didn't ask a client if they would like to come back, some assumed that they had done something wrong as a client.

Most of my clients reschedule when I ask. If a client is unsure, I often suggest they schedule so they may have their preferred time and can cancel if they change their mind. I have noticed when one of my clients has scheduled an appointment on the books, they rarely cancel or reschedule.

I have discovered immense satisfaction of being my own boss and working full-time in the profession I am passionate about. There are many ways that therapists can grow their practices. It was these five changes that made a tremendous difference for mine.

By, Sarah Robarge, LMT

A massage therapy career is not the right choice for everyone, but it might be a great one for you. Let's talk about the massage therapy education you will submit yourself to and the challenges that await you.

Massage therapy training covers a wide range of topics. Some courses you should expect to take are anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Those courses all deal with studies of the human body - location of organs, muscles, tissues, how the body's mechanics work. Of course all that is necessary knowledge for someone who will dedicate his or her career to healing people's pains.

In addition to learning about the physical aspects of massage therapy, many massage institutes teach courses that at first may seem irrelevant. Some of these courses may be ethics, or business management. Really, though, these courses are just as important because a massage therapist not only performs on clients, but must build relationships with them. The relationship should be businesslike; it has to be one of trust and commitment. In school you learn how to build these therapist-client relationships, the ethics of running a business and the ethics of dealing intimately with your clients.

You will have to touch people. Get used to it! Hands-on training cannot be avoided, and, really, why would you become a massage therapist if you can't stand touching people? In order to learn to give proper massages you will have to touch human beings.

Hygiene, kindness and communication. You'll want your clients to feel comfortable around you. While you're in massage school, you'll have to learn to keep good hygiene of your hands, tables and other materials that you'll use. You will also have to develop bedside manners--treat your teachers, classmates, clients, and anyone else in the industry with the respect that they expect! Learn to listen. Open communication between a massage therapist and his or her client allows everyone to feel relaxed, and your sessions will feel much less tense.

Study, study, study! Getting high marks on your work should be an obvious priority, but don't lose focus. Concentrate on the material because the better you know it, the better you will eventually be able to treat your clients. Happy clients equals more money!

If you think you can dedicate your time in school to the things listed above, then you should go to massage therapy school. There's a lot of opportunity once you receive your certification. It will take hard work and dedication but it will also be fun and rewarding. So if you think it's right for you, start checking out massage therapy schools and apply to one that you think will be best for you. It's your first step to starting your massage therapy career!

The beauty of massage is that you can do it yourself and you can do it multiple times every day and that's how massage is best done.

Always feel around in the muscles for points or places that make you feel good and relaxed. Massage is a mechanical stimulant for the muscles and though it moves the muscles passively, it can be quite effective because it helps to keep the muscles soft and pliable.
Massage movements can help the muscles to twitch if the motor point (nerve muscle meeting point) of the muscle can be found and stimulated mechanically through manual movements. If you can find pleasurable and relaxing points within the muscle, then the massage is able to twitch (contract) these points which are the motor points and the massage will be even more effective in relaxing the muscles.

If some places in the muscle are too tender, do not use strong pressure in those areas because it can irritate and make the muscle spasm in these areas even more intense. Therefore massage can induce pain or aggravate pain instead of relaxing the muscle.

Pounding the muscles with your hand or using an electric massager can be very effective in massaging large muscles.

Briefly squeezing the muscle with your hand and immediately letting it go can be quite useful especially in the neck or on small to medium size muscles. Also, an effective way for massaging the forearm and arm muscles is to twist the muscles in clockwise and anti-clockwise motion across the shaft of the bone.

For massaging the small muscles of the hand and feet use two fingers, press or roll the muscle with one finger on the top of the hand or foot and the other finger on the palm of the hand or sole of the foot.

The most important areas to massage are the muscles along the side of the spine from the base of the skull to the base of the lower spine. Massage also the slopes the shoulder for the trapezius muscles and muscles over the shoulder blade and along the inner border of the shoulder blade and between the shoulder blades. Include also the latissimus dorsi muscle that runs from the back of the armpit along the back of the chest to the lower back. Massage horizontally also along the lower angle of the shoulder blade wrapping to the side and front of the chest. There are motor points along the upper border of the latissimus dorsi muscle and massage can help twitch to induce relaxation of the muscle.

You can effectively massage the muscles of the back by yourself by leaning against a 1-2 pound plastic coated barbell. This will help to also stretch the back muscles. If you have too much pain, you may wrap the barbell in a small towel or just use a soft rubber ball or a tennis ball to lean against.

You may find it useful also to lean the spine muscles against the edge or corner of a table, door, cabinet or wall. You can slide yourself sideways across that corner to get a better massage effect.

Massage to include as many muscles as you can. These muscles lie on the back and front of the body, the outer and inner aspect of the limbs. Massage to include the lower limb muscles, the gluteus maximus (buttocks), hip, thigh and calf muscles. Include the scalp muscles as well as the facial muscles.

The pressure of the massage should vary according to the tenderness felt during massage. If it is too tender, do not use too much pressure to avoid inducing or aggravating pain. If you should find points that are relaxing and pleasurable, you may massage these areas longer and also find more of these relaxing points.

Do you know what is Iliotibial Band Syndrome or ITBS? To understand more about ITBS, it's essential to learn about the iliotibial band. The iliotibial band is a ligament that runs down the hip to the shin on the outside of the thigh. Working in conjunction with other thigh muscles, the iliotibial band offers stability to the knee joint. This band becomes narrow when it comes near the knee, and it can rub against the bone, causing inflammation.

ITBS is a common injury for serious runners, cyclists or hikers. When the leg is repeatedly turned inward, the iliotibial band is inflamed, and the result is Iliotibial Band Syndrome. This inflammation usually takes place on the outside of the knee joint at the end of the thigh bone where the lateral epicondyle is located. Under normal circumstances, the smooth gliding motion of the iliotibial band is facilitated a bursa which is found between the muscle and the bone. Once the iliotibial band is inflamed, it cannot glide quite as smoothly, resulting in pain in the knee. Since the pain occurs on the outside of the knee, many people who suffer from ITBS mistakenly assume that they have a knee injury.

One thing about ITBS is that it affects both amateur and seasoned athletes. When iliotibial band is inflamed, you will feel pain when you exert pressure on your knee joint. Some people stubbornly try to work through the pain but they will discover that the pain becomes more intense as they continue running, walking, or cycling as they exert more pressure on the knee joint. What are some of the symptoms of ITBS? The most common symptom of ITBS is the detection of pain on the outside of the knee. In the beginning stages, you may feel a pricking or stinging sensation, and then, you will feel some pain when your heel hits the ground. As the situation becomes worse, the pain may be so excruciating when you climb or descend a flight of stairs or even when you walk. In some cases, there will be a popping or snapping sensation when the knee is bent, and there may also be some swelling in the affected area.

How do you treat ITBS? The easiest treatment is rest. One of the main causes of ITBS is overexertion of the iliotibial band so it makes sense to rest the band to allow it to recuperate. Another treatment is to use ice on the affected area. This will help to settle the inflammation and relieve the pain. You have probably seen some professional athletes with ice packs on their knees so it's an effective treatment. There are also anti-inflammatory medications which may be helpful like naproxen and ibuprofen. It's best to consult your doctor before you take these medications because they may have side effects or interactions with other medications. Other types of treatments for ITBS include massage, physical therapy, and some special stretches or exercises. Depending on the severity of the ITBS, it can take weeks or months to recover fully so it requires a certain level of patience.

Going to an esthetics school means that you are looking for a career in cosmetology or you want to put up your own skin care business. Whatever the case may be, if you want to become a good esthetician, you will need to first get the education required to become one. This means you will need to find the best esthetics school to enroll in and to get your diploma from. To help you determine whether or not the esthetics schools you are looking to get into are the best ones for you, here are some things you might want to know about these schools:

1. The best esthetics schools you can find will offer you both lectures and hands-on training to complete the course. This includes online schools that require you to attend hands-on lessons at institutions that they are affiliated with.

2. Esthetics schools basically teach you the specialized techniques and skills needed in the field of facial care. This includes deep pore cleansing, facial skin analysis, facial mask applications and even facial massage.

3. Depending on what esthetics school you choose, you can get an Associate's degree or a course certificate for your completed course. These courses often run for a minimum of 12 months to a maximum of 2 years for Associate's degrees.

4. Also included in the training modules of some of the best esthetics schools in the country are lessons on customer relations and communication skills, handling of different skin types and even business management for those who want to open their own skin care business in the future.

5. Esthetician training programs vary from one to the other with some having more course modules than others. Some of the lessons you may or may not get from these training courses include exfoliation techniques, chemical peels and techniques, makeup artistry, body wraps, use of facial equipment, waxing and hair removal and salon business management.

6. Depending on which school you choose to go to, you may be required to present a high school diploma before you are allowed to enroll.

7. Some esthetician schools require their students to practice not only their esthetician skills but also their communication skills since this is an important part of the job that the person will be getting into upon finishing the course.

8. You should be careful about online schools and check on their accreditation before you enroll. This is due to the fact that some cosmetology boards of certain states do not acknowledge the training a person gets from online institutions unless these are accredited by them beforehand.

9. If you are thinking of practicing your craft in a certain state, it would be best to get your lessons from a school found in that state. Each state has individual licensing practices in place therefore it would be best to get your education from a school that is found in the state you will be working in as an esthetician.

10. To help you see exactly what an esthetician school has to offer, do not simply rely on its website. Instead, pay the school a visit and see what facilities they have for their students and interact with some of the students there to get a feel of the school itself.

Massage therapy is widely accepted as a wonderful remedy for many health related issues. Massage helps in rejuvenating tissues,equip skins to fight aging, relieves tension and also making the blood circulatory system sound and healthy. Sports massage therapy is one of the field which is intended to provide the wonderful effects of massaging therapy to the sport people to improve their stamina and vitality. There are many schools for sports massaging therapy.

Sports massage is very essential for an athlete as it improves the blood circulation and hence enhances the vitality; physical ability to undergo training, helps to prevent injury and also improves the performance of the sports personal. Added to all the above it makes the body fit by removing fat contents, unnecessary waste deposits and also the massaging rejuvenates the tissues with the use of antioxidants and the required nutrients for the skin and body. The sports massaging will give the athletes a feeling of physical well-being, and also increases the mental strength in facing the challenging competition with ease and free of injury. It improves significantly the stamina of the sports people and brings an energetic and enjoyable condition in their sports life.

Sports Massage Schools are offering service to the fitness professionals to bring smile into the faces of sports personals by stimulating the coronary circulation and also by relieving stress. This will help athletes to keep tie physical fitness at the peak and also help them to avoid future injuries.

The Sports Massage Schools conduct classes for specific techniques of massaging which effectively uses various skills namely smooth movements for stretching, compressing and gliding. The main objective of sports massaging is the maintenance of healthy tissues, manipulation of them and the rehabilitation of soft tissues. The sports massaging instructions are taught in these schools in a very professional way. The curriculum covers the massaging techniques in general, sports massaging techniques in particular tailored to the well being of sports personals and athletes. This course also covers the precautions need to be taken in massaging therapy, the advantages of the sports massaging and also the disadvantages. The health benefits of the massaging, the general massaging remedies for strains and pains, the ways to improve the overall muscle strength and many skin-massaging techniques are also dealt in these schools of sports massage therapy. Also in sports massage schools students are equipped with detecting deep tissue damages and imbalances in the body. Also there will be lessons to correct these types of drawbacks in the physical body of the athlete.

Generally sports massage schools offer certificate courses lasting for 180 hours. The fees are very reasonable and the benefits from these schools are price worthy.

A physical therapy aide's job can be demanding as well as challenging. They carry out important duties such as assisting patients when needed to walk with crutches as well as other needed equipment. Responsibilities can include helping a physical therapist and assistants prepare the equipment needed for the days sessions. They will work directly under a physical therapist as well as the medical doctors. They are also responsible for at times keeping records as well as checking on the progress of patients. Depending on experience as well as which state you reside in will depend on a physical therapy aide salary.

Physical therapy aides help a therapist achieve their patient goals as well as help to make a session with a patient productive. Aides are under the supervision of the physical therapist in most settings. Statistics have shown that in 2008 there were around sixty thousand physical therapy assistant jobs available and around forty thousand vacancies for physical therapy aides.

In order to work as a physical therapy aide a student is not required to have completed an accredited program. This career does not require an associate's degree but there are many certification courses available, as well as experience that can help with employment. In order to be able to participate in a program a student generally must have obtained a high school diploma. Many of the employers provide in-house training. This profession does not require a license nor do they have to sit a board exam in order to work.

The US Bureau of Labor statistics have shown that job opportunities are excellent and more and more opportunities are presenting themselves and have rapidly grown over the recent years as opposed to other similar occupations. A P.T. aide salary potential is between $24,000 annually or $11.49 per hour, whereas a physical therapy assistant will earn around $49,000 annually and around $23.00 per hour.

In order to find out how much one earns in the various different states you can make use of the salary calculator at salary.com which will define the salary scale in each city in the US.

Overall the main job description for this rehabilitation profession is to keep the treatment area of a physical therapists practice organized and clean, as well as prepare the treatment room for each patient's therapy and treatment. Often the P.T. Aide will also make sure that a patient goes to and from the treatment area safely.

A physical therapy aide salary will be influenced by factors such as their education level as well as the city of employment as well as experience. The more experience a aide has the better the salary scale will be and they can earn around $10 to $15 an hour to begin with and after around fifteen years experience they can earn $20 to $25 an hour. For more information a student can contact the Bureau of Labor Statistics and request their occupational outlook handbook which will give the salary scales for all 50 states.

Massage therapy for the therapist is not just about making money - though the money that can be made from this profession can be a very lucrative living indeed, for the therapist it must be more of a love for human beings, their wellness, an understanding of how the body works on all levels and a knowledge of natural and alternative remedies. You will not get much repeat business if you concentrate on the money rather than on the person in front of you.

It is also a fantastic way to make a living, imagine offering that secure, peaceful, relaxing place to those that crave it but can never seem to find it. Imagine being able to give the relief of the tension and stress to those that really need it, have always lived with it and don't know what it is like to live with out it - imagine being able to show them the way, help to make them feel really good and be a major part of the changing of their lives for the better. Imagine doing all that good and being paid for it...

With so many different types of massage therapy to choose from it would be a good idea, if you're thinking of going into this profession, not to limit yourself to just one type and area of massage. Offer as many different types or areas of massage as you feel you can to your client base and bring the best to them. In this way you can hone your skills to meet your client's needs and recommend different treatments that may be beneficial to them without your customers leaving your client base.

Also it is a good idea to be insured as this gives clients more confidence in you, your business, shows that you are professional and taking your role as a massage therapist seriously. Most if not all insurance companies like you, the therapist, to continue in your studies whilst you are actively working, so your learning is continuous. You will need to provide proof that you've attended extra courses or gained new information to help your business grow and maintain that you are up to date with new therapies or treatments to offer your clients.

Dress code and appearance is very important to a massage therapists business - as first impressions last and I can't imagine anyone wanting a massage from a therapist who has a cigarette hanging from the corner of the mouth, looking unwashed, with crusty food down the front of his/her top! No - the dress code we are taught is college is very different:

Hair should be clean and neat, if long (shoulder length or longer) should be tied back.

Clean and ironed uniform should be worn (usually white top and long black trousers).

Enclosed flat shoes, in a dark colour (though shoes and uniform may differ depending on where you work and what their dress code is).

Hands and nails should be clean and free from nail varnish (as some people are allergic to nail varnish - it also hides dirty nails).

Finger nails should be short - so there isn't a chance of injury to your client.

Make up should be kept to a minimum.

Be aware of personal hygiene, garlic or cigarette breath is not nice for anyone, cigarettes along with some other things make your hands smell and isn't pleasant for your client being massaged.

The consultation should be offered with every appointment (even to a recurring customer), is as important as the massage itself. This is the time when you build trust with your client and the relationship between you and your client grows, it is important that your client trusts you and he/she will not do this unless you spend time talking to one another.

Make sure that you take enough time for this before and after the massage treatment, ask the client how they are feeling, which area they feel they would like to have more attention. Check past information they have given you on other appointments to make sure that nothing has changed or needs to be added. Find out how the client felt after the last massage and the time in between. Make the client aware that all information given to you is confidential and make sure that you keep it that way.

Let your client know and feel that they are important, make sure they feel it - it will help to keep them coming back, they will also recommend you to their friends and family which will help to grow your business. When you get new customers ask how they heard about you - it is always interesting to know where your business is coming from, thank relevant clients for recommending your services - you don't have to say names as it's very probable that your client will know who he/she has recommended to you and when their appointment was! (On this point - never be drawn into a conversation with a client concerning another client this is a breach of confidence, and should be avoided, try to steer any conversations away from the subject).

Give your client every opportunity you can and actively encourage them to impart information about themselves, their health and lifestyle. The most important information tends to be given in conversation rather than in a questions and answers scenario (however this does not mean don't ask questions, just let your client talk).

Your client will enjoy feeling like that they are the center of the universe for an hour or so, in today's busy life style it could be the only time your client feels this way, so when booking appointments keep this in mind and give yourself enough time.

Make sure that you answer all your client's questions as fully as you can and leave no hesitancy in your clients minds to your knowledge and/or expertise - if you don't know the answer to the question let your client know that it is a very interesting question and that you will look into the answer for when the client returns on her next appointment - and make sure that you do it as the client will want to know what you've found out and more importantly that you've taken time for her.

Enjoy the massage, keep your mind as clear as possible, concentrate on your client's well being and send good caring thoughts her way.

For some people, the amount of salary of a particular job is not always the reason for them to pursue such a profession. More often than not, we are looking for a career that we will enjoy and love, and of course one that will give us job security. Nevertheless, it is still important to know how much you can expect from a certain profession, just to have an idea as to how profitable it can be in the future. If you are planning to build your career as a physical therapist, you may also be wondering how much physical therapists get paid.

The most reliable source of information you may use to know the salary levels received by physiotherapists these days is the US Bureau of Labor Statistics along with their information on Occupational Employment Statistics. The latest data available from the bureau is the result of the survey conducted in May 2010. From this data you will find that the salary of a therapist is relatively high, and has actually gone even higher in the last couple of years.

Presently, the median annual salary of a PT is $76,310. The upper 25% of this figure gets as much as $90,350 while the upper 10% has the potential to earn more than $107,920. On the other hand, those therapists in the bottom 10% can earn up to $53,620. There is no doubt that these are amazingly huge numbers. These numbers also imply that regardless of how long you have been in the industry, you can really get a huge salary.

Aside from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are a couple of other means we can know how much PTs earn on average. One is by looking into the various workplace settings a PT may choose to work at and how much these industries pay their therapists. Among the most popular places or work for a physical therapist is in the office of healthcare practitioners, where they can earn a median wage of $76,860. This is almost the same amount of salary PTs receive form general hospitals.

There are many other areas that can be chosen by a physical therapist to work in, and they vary greatly in terms of the average salary of their PTs. If you decide to work in a home health care facility for instance, you can expect to receive up to $86,590 a year. Meanwhile, for private services, you can earn as much as $81,970. The field of technical and management consulting services is actually the one that offers the highest physiotherapists salary, which is around $91,220.

As you may have seen, the career in physical therapy is indeed a promising one especially in terms of the salary. Even physiotherapists who come straight from school can enjoy really huge salaries. And what's even more amazing about this profession is the fact that taking care of people with physical disabilities is already a rewarding job to do. And considering the great salary levels available for a physical therapist, you will find no reason at all not to consider taking this path.

Many people have interest in massage therapist jobs. Individuals that are interested in this industry appreciate the opportunity to help other people. People that are looking for this type of opportunity usually are trying to find a way to provide for themselves and help others at the same time.

Usually individuals involved with this industry will rent out space in order to provide the service. Building a client base can be a very positive challenge. Working on the bodies of individuals who have various levels of pain can be very gratifying. Once a person has established a relationship with the client they will try to retain the individual to the best of their ability.

Helping people to manage their pain is the main goal of a person that is involved in the profession. Using their hands to work through any physical discomfort that a person is having is the main service that a person in this industry provides. These individuals can work as part of a group or start their own business.

People involved in this industry can set their own hours. They also have the option of choosing to set their own pay scale. This is advantageous for any person that is trying to expand their financial portfolio. People also have the opportunity to work in a health club or other fitness related facility.

Making sure that people are as comfortable as they could possibly be is the main goal of this kind of professional. Accomplishing the goal is a gradual process that people enjoy taking part in. The service provider will be able to help people to maintain a greater quality of life. These individuals also will be trying to encourage a person to live a healthy lifestyle.

The job market is growing. More than ever before insurance companies are starting to cover the service. This is advantageous for people who choose this career because it means that the number of clients that they are doing business with is constantly expanding. People that are able to expand their business will have an enhanced quality of life.

It is fantastically easy to understand the positive aspects of the massage therapist jobs. People in this profession help others and get paid in the process. They also have a chance to help their fellow members of mankind to live a healthier life. This is an amazing opportunity for anyone that seeking in order to find a solid career choice.

As practice owners and many times new business owners, we are thrown into the worlds of marketing and advertising to bring new customers into our practice. This includes patients but it also includes physicians, DME providers and relationships with community resources. These customers are necessary compliments to the services provided in rehabilitation including local fitness centers, community centers and programs to provide continued education and support to our patients.

Once a client base is established, it is vital to continue to bring new clients into a practice but to also show appreciation for their loyalty and continued support. Customer relations management can be the difference between practice sustainability and high volume turnover which takes a large amount of staff and time to manage. By developing a plan for customer loyalty, the basis of a company is not only acquiring patients but continuing to provide them with updated service and quality care. An ongoing CRM plan can include many activities to assure customers are happy with the services they have received and to assure they will continue to seek your services in the future. A plan may include:

1. Be honest: A customer must know what they are purchasing, whether it is a tangible item such as a piece of equipment, or a service such as Physical Therapy treatment. By having a discussion about covered benefits and non-covered services in advance, a plan of care can be established and agreed upon prior to initiating services.

2. Don't surprise the individual with additional/hidden costs: Customers appreciate your honesty and value having all information necessary to make an informed decision. Surprise costs will lead the customer to think there are other items they are not aware of which will lead to distrust over time. This perceived deception will ultimately ruin a customer-provider relationship.

3. Help find what the customer needs: Assisting a customer access necessary service is a vital part of being a Physical Therapist. Whether the customer needs to access local community programs or to access services closer to their home to increase compliance, these acts of good service will lead to improved customer relations. These acts will come back to the practice by having the customer then share their positive experience with others they come in contact with reinforcing your marketing strategy. Providing bridges of access to necessary services is a responsible cornerstone of practice management.

4. Add personal touches to the care: Send a simple handwritten Thank you note after a client enrolls with your service/practice or a congratulations card once they achieve their goals. The note is a gesture which states your true appreciation of the customer choosing your service in a competitive market. Thanking someone for their effort in choosing your service establishes a basis of mutual respect and appreciation.

5. Call the customer/Solicit Feedback: Taking time to call patients and customers to ask what they think is an extremely valuable tool. This provides an opportunity to check on patients after discharge to see if they have maintained their goals and exercise programs, assure they have accessed the appropriate community services to support their rehabilitation, as well as assess their level of satisfaction with services provided. The phone call is an opportunity for open discussion as well as gaining targeted information from that consumer. This can head off future problems and work towards establishing an ongoing relationship with the customer. This will again lead to customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and developing consumer loyalty is achieved through simple, calculated tasks. By showing customers you are loyal to and honest with them, they will be satisfied with your services and be loyal in return. Feedback in any format will help you understand how your services and attempts at consumer satisfaction are perceived. Consumer perception is vital to the long term growth and sustainability of your practice. Without it you operate in a vacuum implementing strategies which may be unnecessary or unwanted. Loyal customers are your biggest asset in the maintenance and growth of your company.

Help Your Body Heal

You may be able to help your body heal itself with medical massage therapy. More and more doctors are beginning to prescribe medical massage as a way to aid your own body's natural ability to heal itself. They do this to minimize, or avoid, using high doses of prescription pain medications, and sometimes it can even help avoid surgery. Sometimes the therapy can relieve pain. In some cases, it can actually aid healing.

Medical Massage VS. Relaxation Massage

It is important to understand the distinction between medical massage and relaxation massage. While both may have some medical benefits, a medical treatment will be designed to help with a particular problem.

You may call yourself to schedule relaxation massage at a day spa, resort, or beauty school. Lots of people enjoy these sessions in order to relax, improve their mood, or relieve sore muscles. A session will probably be applied to the whole body, or to whatever parts of the body you request.

Compare that to a medical treatment. This will probably be applied to the part of your body that is affected. It is very specifically designed to help treat a certain injury or illness. The treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, and it should be performed by a qualified therapist.

A medical doctor will prescribe this treatment, much as they might prescribe medication. And this type of treatment may actually reduce the need for medication too. It can also relieve pain, relax muscle spasms, and improve blood circulation. Sometimes one treatment will be enough, and sometimes a patient need to schedule regular visits over a course of time.

Common Massage Therapy Treatments

There are a variety of uses for massage therapy, and more uses are being studied all of the time. Some are to relieve chronic pain caused by illnesses or pregnancy. Some may help with bloating or constipation. Still others may help people who have been injured in an accident. Patients who get treatment also tend to report an improved mood, along with relief from pain.

Warnings About Medical Massage Therapy

Keep in mind that doctors do prescribe the treatment. This is because the massage therapists are not expected to diagnose a problem, but simply to relieve it. For example, some heart problems could present themselves as back or arm pain. But if this is the case, a massage could be very dangerous. That is why a medical professional must prescribe the treatment, and the patient cannot go out and seek it on their own.

Will Health Insurance Cover Medical Massage Therapy?

Since this is accepted medical treatment, prescribed by a doctor, and performed by a licensed professional, will health insurance cover it? Many insurers do help pay for these treatments.

If you want to find out if your plan covers this, you need to do a couple of things. First you should call your insurer to find out how they will handle payments. Secondly, you will need to make sure the therapist is on your plan. Some types of health insurance, like PPO or HMO health plans, may have a list of network providers you can use. This may actually be helpful because the therapists will have to be qualified to make the network list. Other insurers may approve your treatment, but require you to file your own claims.

If you think going to a spa house for a Thai Massage will be just like any old massage therapy experience, think again. Here are several reasons you should give this form of massage a try:

- Body conscious? You don't have to take off your clothes to get a massage. Thai massage is different from the popular Western concept of massage in that the recipient of the massage remains fully clothed. Unlike in most massage types that have become prevalent in Western countries where you are asked to remove several or all of your clothes and are covered either with sheets or towels, in a Thai massage session you don't have to be unclothed. In fact, should there be a need to do so, you will merely be asked to change into loose-fitting clothing.

- No lotions and oils that stick to your body. It goes without saying that since you will not be asked to shed off your clothes, no aromatic and/or medicinal oils and/or lotions will be used in the course of the session - something that likewise sets this form of massage apart from other types. This is good news to those who only have a couple of hours to spare since their free time will be maximized, as well as to individuals who have highly sensitive skin and are wary of having any type of oil or lotion from coming in contact with their skin.

- You get to do yoga, too. In most places, Thai Massage is alternately called "Thai Yoga Massage", and with good reason. One of the six crucial points in this form of massage therapy - along with acupressure, meditation, exercise, healing, and reflexology - is yoga. If you are looking then to increase your flexibility while at the same time relieving yourself from stress caused by your busy schedule, you might want to consider getting this type of massage regularly.

- There are a lot of benefits to be had. The usual list of benefits one can enjoy in other forms of massage therapy naturally applies to Thai massage, too. This list includes the following:

o relaxation
o pain relief
o bodily tension relief
o invigorated nervous system
o improved blood circulation
o improved energy flow
o heightened awareness
o overall feeling of well-being

- It can give you so much more. Other than the above-mentioned advantages, should you decide to try out this form of massage, you are in for other, unique benefits. First, you get to increase your flexibility through the passive yogic positions that the practitioner will assist you into doing. Second, a genuine Thai massage session - that is, if it is facilitated by a knowledgeable practitioner who follows the procedure to the letter - can reward you with a sense of self-healing that can help alleviate not only physical but likewise emotional, mental, and spiritual strain. This is due to the fact that the primary purpose of Thai massage is to bring about harmony amongst the three aspects of an individual - mind, body, and spirit.

Who makes the rules? Do you ever get tired of "this is required" and "that is required" no matter what it is you are trying to accomplish? How can someone let out his or her creative streak if there are always invisible stop signs?

What am I talking about?

I'm talking about everything ... college requires you to take classes that are irrelevant to your interests and major or minor. They say that it will make you more "well-rounded". Come on now. How does attending a math class half baked from the night before and listening to a teacher read the book to you make you more well rounded? Not to mention, the tests. The tests are multiple choice and you have to buy your own damn Scan-trons. If you want to know the truth, the learning process is the budgeting of your money and getting all the details right. Which Scan-tron do I buy? Where can I get the best deal on my textbooks -- eBay or Amazon? How much money will I have left for Ramen Noodles if I buy this package of pens? If it's not A and it's not B, it must be C. Let's get real. I'm not completely dissing college. I understand that there are professions that need the degree -- doctors, dentists, architects -- you know, jobs in which the public's health depend on them. (I said architect because we don't want buildings to come crashing down on us.) But even they are subject to taking required courses that don't matter. It's about making extra money for the larger entity, not necessarily about making well-rounded students.

Rules. I even had them at massage school. Aren't they forgetting that some of their students are adults, not teenagers that just graduated high school and haven't an inkling about what it's like to live in the real world? I've worked jobs that pay two times more than what the people teaching me get paid, and they were telling me what to do and when to do it. I don't appear to have a problem with authority, and really I don't (I swear), but whenever I hear a condescending note come out of someone's mouth, I can't help but roll my eyes and wonder why I subject myself to such things. It makes my stomach sour when I see a woman old enough to be my mother clam up because someone basically yelled at her or "put her in her place". It's not right. We are adults. We know how to do our work along with taking on a full-time school schedule. Give us a break please. Don't mark down that I am five minutes late for my clinical when I am there ten minutes before my scheduled shift, don't charge me $260 for NOT attending one day of an elective for being sick, and then not have that elective available to me until after I graduate, don't have the "principal" come in and yell at my class for being too noisy or forgetting to turn off our cell phones ... we have lives, we are human adults, and we make mistakes. These rules only make the school look less of what they are trying to be, which is holistic, caring and open-minded.

Rules. Who ever decided what the format of a book or novel should be? Oh, uh ... it HAS to be 70,000 to 100,000 words, it HAS to be 12-point Times New Roman (I DESPISE 12-point Times New Roman!), you have to have some "things under your belt" or "some articles published" before even considering writing something of that magnitude. Why? What does it matter? Isn't someone who takes the time ... perhaps years ... to write the perfect novel, more persistent than the person who writes piddly articles for a Health & Fit Magazine? I would think so. And doesn't it take more balls to write something from the heart than about politics, sports or the newest way to lose weight? But guess what folks? It all boils down to one thing -- you guessed it -- money. People make money writing about arbitrary subjects, because for some reason that is what the majority of people want to read. I just have to hope that there will be some people out there who will want to read something absorbing, frightening, interesting and unusual. Will there be? Who knows. But I'm going to break the rules to find out.

And having the college degree to succeed -- that is the final "rule" of America that I will discuss today. I have met so many people that have college degrees that have no more good to say than someone that just graduated junior high. I have also met many people who do and don't have degrees that are so wise beyond their years that my heart opens up to them and lets them in immediately. But for some reason, the ones with degrees (even advanced degrees) that are shallow, annoying and ignorant, tend to piss me off the most. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that I wanted school to be a part of my life at the time right after high school, and I didn't go. I know that is part of the reason. The other part is that some people just assume that having the eduction makes them better, smarter and more important than people who don't. They can't even give you a good reason why. It's just what they think. When I meet people like this, I want to scream in their faces, "SO WHAT!" So they went to school for 4-6 years full-time and did homework, went to parties and listened to interesting teachers for hours a day. SO WHAT. The majority did not work full time while doing this. Some didn't work at all. THAT was their job -- to go to school. How is that accomplishment compared to someone working and living in the real world instead of going though school? How? Yes, I know some people complete degrees as adults WHILE working full time ... and those people I do commend very much. It's the after high school crowd that annoys me. And I'll say it many times before I die, I'm sure. It's just a bone of contention, but I can honestly say it's not because I want the experience now, I don't, it's because the ones that are having the experience don't appreciate it, and they do not understand what the real world is until they are at least 25 or 26 years old. I confirmed yesterday that I no longer want to pursue an English degree when I met the strangest individual that talked for an hour about her hamster friend and how he speaks three dialects and sleeps on her pillow at night. She has a Master's degree in English. Yikes. I'll stick with where I'm at, thank you.

These are "A" Rules. Paying taxes. Not drinking and driving. Stopping at a stop sign. Don't kill anybody. Don't drink bleach. These rules make sense.

These are "B" Rules. Don't walk across the street until the blinking light says so. Pay the city money for a sidewalk they decided to replace. Pay money to school when you change your mind about a class. Take yoga classes at school because it's required. Don't cuss in front of children. Don't change careers or jobs too often. Don't write a book, that's stupid. Eat slowly. Don't open a massage practice until you graduate. Go to the dentist twice a year. Get your eyes checked once a year. Go to the gyno once a year. Get all the tests and labs done that your doctor tells you even though you don't understand why. Get your dog licensed in your city. Declaw your cat. Don't eat eggs after the expiration date. Pour milk down the drain on the day it expires. Don't move in with someone too soon. Get married before you live together. Getting married is the best day of your life. Kids change EVERYTHING. You have to buy gifts for people you don't know because, well, it's "expected" of you. Drive the speed limit in residential areas. Don't let it be known that you spoil yourself sometimes ... or god forbid, that you love yourself! Don't write fragment sentences. Don't question authority, even if it's 86 years old.

"A" Rules are meant to be followed. "B" Rules are meant to be broken.

Have a very "B" day.

Have you ever had a massage before? If you haven't, then you are certainly missing out. If you have, then you know that it just feels great. Sometimes we don't know how stiff or parties are until we actually get a treatment. The tension seems to build in our bodies without us even knowing. This is why it is important to get daily massage treatments.

Most people almost laugh about the idea of getting a daily therapy treatment. They think wow what a life that would be to get daily massage treatments. Getting daily therapy treatments is no longer the exclusive life of the rich and famous. Massaging chairs make it practical and economic to get daily therapy treatment in your home or office.

Massage therapy has been used for centuries and in almost every culture. It has been used to relieve tension in the body and help with relaxation. This has been used to enhance the health and well-being of people for generations.

Massage therapy is known to enhance the body's circulation, reduce the symptoms of stress and relieve muscle aches and pains. These are some tremendous health benefits. However, the true benefits are only attained if therapy is received on a frequent and regular basis.

Getting therapy treatments should be viewed like brushing your teeth. It is something that should be done on a regular and frequent basis. After all, it does benefit your help substantially and helps to reduce the symptoms of stress.

Most people simply do not have the time or inclination to run off to the spot on a daily basis. We just do not have time in our busy schedules. It also is not always convenient or practical to do so.

Thanks to technology, massage chairs are able to deliver daily therapy treatments in the comfort and convenience of your home or office. These technological wonders deliver full body massaging capability.

Massage chairs offer you a wide variety of different movements and techniques techniques. They have full body capability and offer you such famous techniques as shiatsu, sports, acupressure and even Swedish techniques. All of these are available by choosing the technique from the remote control.

Massage chairs are great timesavers for receiving a treatment. A massage therapist can only work on one part of your body at a time. A massaging chair can work in parallel on many parts of your body at once. This enables you to get multiple areas of work done at the same time. So rather than having to take a full hour for a massage, you can get the same effect in 20 minutes.

Massaging chairs also offer you the convenience of availability. You do not have to go to a certain place at a certain time. Massage chairs can be put in your home or office and used as frequently as you like. You do not have a minimum time that you must use it or a maximum.

Get the benefit of daily therapy with a massage chair. They provide you with a convenient means to get the wonderful and therapeutic benefits of daily therapy treatments. This is an excellent way to reduce your stress while it is just beginning.

Massage chairs provide you with total control over the movements and techniques and where you would like the massage. They work much quicker than a masseuse and can easily fit into your busy schedule. This enables you to get the health benefits of receiving frequent massage treatments.

When I massaged my seventy-three year old father's feet he said, "I need this everyday for the rest of my life!" Seniors everywhere can benefit greatly from Geriatric Massage Therapy. The upsides to seniors getting massage are endless but below are many of the more commonly known and observed benefits.

1. Increased circulation of Blood and Lymph. Massage already has the wonderful benefit of increasing the circulation of blood and lymph on a regular person, imagine how it can help a senior who may be less active or physically limited.

2. Stronger Immune System. Massage has been shown to improve and strengthen the immune system. Many seniors can be vulnerable due to weaker immune systems and therapeutic touch has been shown to be very effective.

3. Muscle Stiffness. As you age, the muscles become stiffer and need to constantly be stretched out. Massage helps with stiffness and painful conditions due to aging. Keeping muscles more limber helps to prevent injury

4. Less Inflammation in Joints. Massage helps to reduce the inflammation in joints due to the increased circulation of lymph. Lymph fluid carries away the products of inflammation and other toxic debris out of the body.

5. Reduces Anxiety and Depression. Seniors respond very well to massage as it helps to fulfill the need for caring human touch. Getting massage on a regular basis can greatly reduce and get symptoms of anxiety and depression under control.

6. Improved Range of Motion. Seniors can improve their range of motion when getting massage that incorporates passive stretching and range of motion. The passive movements help seniors to get a better stretch than they can get on their own.

7. Better Attitude. There's nothing like healing touch to perk up someone that needs a little lift. Seniors who get massage on a regular basis have a better outlook on life than those who have no physical contact with others.

8. Improved Alzheimer's and Dementia Symptoms. Therapeutic massage has been shown to improve symptoms of both Alzheimer's and Dementia by reducing agitation and quieting some the symptoms related to both.

9. Greatly Improved Balance and Agility. Therapeutic massage helps to bring awareness to the body of the elderly helping to improve balance, coordination and agility.

10. Controls Blood Pressure and Heart Rate. Since massage helps to lower blood pressure through accessing the Autonomic Nervous System, It's a great alternate way to control the heart rate. Regular massage helps with this by reducing stress levels in seniors.

Seniors love to be touched and many are starved for regular caring touch. If you've ever considered giving geriatric massage, I can tell you that you'll have a very enthusiastic audience. Anyone still in massage school should consider giving senior massages as a wonderful and rewarding student project. Also, this would be a very special and unique area of focus for someone to practice in.

Cosmetology school is an institute that offers different type of programs which are related to the elements of beauty such as hairstyling, skin care, grooming and general physical appearance. Various cosmetology schools offer different fields.

Today we are going to talk about different cosmetology courses, their costs and other related things to these schools. So, first of all let us take a look on the fields which can be offered by these kinds of institutes.

These schools offer diverse fields that includes; cosmetology, barbering, electrolysis training, massage therapy, skin care or aesthetics, hair designs, make-up artist training, permanent make-up training and nail technology. If you are interested in any above mentioned fields then there are many schools that help you to specialize in these various fields.

Whenever a person attends this kind of school, he or she would ask to select the field in which they like to train in. They also receive the detailed information about each field and its scope which really helps the students to choose a perfect field.

In these institutes you can get theoretical knowledge as well as hands on experience. Without the hands on experience, it is really difficult for the students to learn the use of different products and tools. After graduating from the school, the cosmetologists can write an exam for the state license. This license would be the general permit for cosmetologist. Actually it is very important to get this permit in order to work in a company or on your own.

Now let us talk about the costs of cosmetology schools. Actually the cost of the particular school is extremely depends on the location, type and standard of the school. The schools in big cities like New York or any major city of the world could cost more than the schools which are in relatively small cities. The type of program you choose will also greatly affect the price which you have to pay.

Nowadays the demand of cosmetology services is growing very rapidly. The cosmetology industry is also considered as the steadiest and most stable business in the world. The large number of salons and spas are opening every day which means that the people who have specialized in the various beauty skills will get jobs very easily. So, if you want to make some good money as a cosmetologist then these schools are perfect place for you to groom your skills.

Massage therapy is not always performed in the same way. There are many varieties. When a body is stressed, there is muscle tension which can create pain and improper function.

While many people may still believe that massages are simply for pleasure, there is growing realization that they are actually very helpful to their recipient's health. Massage therapy can be performed in a variety of ways.

It is almost like religions in that the main beliefs and goals are similar but the methodology is not. Since many practitioners are now recognizing the intense mind-body connection of a human being, mental ailments are also seen to be helped by massage. Touch is such a basic human need that without it infants fail to thrive and marriages can fail. Marriage counselors are now advising couples to have a minimum of seven minutes of physical contact each day in order to ensure a happy union. Neck rubs and back rubs can fill the bill.

There are many options of massage therapy touch available in countries around the globe. Some examples include:

Ayurvedic: This is a form of natural health care which originated in India. It is a combination of touch, yoga, herbs and meditation. Heated oils also play a part in ayurvedic.

Barefoot: Barefoot deep tissue systems work with stretching, transverse friction, compressing, utilizing trigger points and combines eastern and western techniques.

Balinese: These motions are subtle and intended to relax the person receiving the treatment. Aromatic oils are used to add an additional sensory element.

Hot stones: Hot stone technique involves heating up smooth river rock and placing them on specific locations on the body. This heat relaxes muscles and is combined with touching.

Bowen: This was developed by a man named Tom Bowen and involves rolling motions. Joints, fascia, ligaments and tendons are addressed as well as the musculature. It does not involve as much rubbing friction as other methods but rather a light touch.

Reiki: Reiki is a bit different from what is traditionally thought of as massage but it is bodywork. Reiki practitioners heal and move energy without actually touching the skin surface but instead feel and work with the energy above the body.

Breema: In this sort of bodywork, an individual would remain dressed and would be manipulated by stretches which are performed rhythmically.

Deep tissue techniques: This methodology targets a deeper range than many other types. The masseuse applies quite a bit of force and pressure to certain body regions. Deep tissue is a good way to address pain which has resulted from athletic strains.

Lomi Lomi: Lomi Lomi originated in Hawaii and involves heat and pressure. It is also popular on the island of Samoa. Depending on which island a masseuse was trained, each interpretation may be a bit different than others.

Swedish: Swedish strokes are lengthy and flowing in order to create relaxation. Tapping motions may also be utilized and are said to help with arthritis and joint pain.

Although the styles of massage therapy may be different, they share a common goal. That is to create well being and relaxation in their recipients.

Vulvodynia is a complicated condition that affects so many women that there is no consensus as to how many actually suffer from this type of chronic pain. Vulvodynia is a pain syndrome that involves the vulva, labia, and entrance to the vagina. The pain associated with this condition is described as burning, stabbing, achy, itching, throbbing or irritated. The syndrome can present generalized or localized pain and can be triggered by pressure or can occur at rest.

Experts believe that some risk factors may contribute to the development of vulvodynia. One consideration is an injury to the nerves that supply sensation to the vulva. Another cause may be an abnormal response of various cells in the vulva to environmental factors such as infection or trauma. Other considerations might include genetic factors associated with susceptibility to chronic vestibular inflammation or a localized hypersensitivity to yeast (Candida). Lastly, researchers have speculated that spasms of the muscles that support the pelvis might be correlated to vulvodynia. Though it is undetermined what triggers individual cases of vulvodynia, the pain is pervasive and massage can help to manage some discomfort associated with this chronic condition.

Women who suffer from vulvodynia oftentimes have associated hip, sacroiliac, coccyx or low back pain. Many women also experience tightness in their adductors, hamstrings, and gluteal muscle groups that are in constant state of contraction due to the body favoring the pain of the pelvic floor. The attachments of these muscles can become tight and inflexible, adding further pain in the pelvic region. The excess muscle tension occurring in the hamstrings, adductors, gluteals, and lower back becomes a pain cycle and can worsen the physical symptoms of vulvodynia, leading to decreased quality of life. Some women have reported disengaging from activities that they once enjoyed because the pain of their condition prohibited movement or interest.

Muscle relaxation training and massage therapy is an important and overlooked treatment method for addressing vulvovdynia. The physiological effects of massage have shown to provide relief for women suffering from vulvodynia. Massage helps to relax and soften injured and overused muscles by causing vasodilation in the skin and muscles that have become used to stimulating and stressful responses of the sympathetic nervous system. Deeper tissue massage causes the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers. If pain is diminished, the body is under less stress and the parasympathetic nervous system is more likely to be activated, which helps to support homeostasis. Thus, since massage relaxes the client and reduces sympathetic activity, pain is likely to be less intrusive and disruptive to the individual.

Occupational therapy assistant schools and universities in the US offer various certified programs for students who are keen on pursuing a course in occupational therapy assisting. Occupational therapy assistants help people develop and regain lost skills either as a result of injury or due to some chronic illness or prolonged hospitalization. The occupational therapist works closely with the clients and focuses not just on the physical aspects but helps address their psychological needs as well. These degree courses are offered in many schools in the US.

Selection of Occupational Therapy Assistant Schools

The first important thing that a prospective student must look for while choosing the assistant school is accreditation. All the students who successfully complete the course will have to take a national certifying examination. Students will only be allowed to sit for their exams if they have attended a school that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the year 2009, there were about 135 accredited schools in the US alone.

Diverse Coursework

The coursework will be diverse as occupational therapy assistants are normally called upon to assist with in-patient care as well as outpatient calls. Generally, the assistant program offers classes in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, health communications, computer basics, development, growth, mental health principles, psychology, administration, human occupations, and kinesiology.

On-Job Training

These schools generally offer students fieldwork at any of the affiliated on-campus healthcare centers. Most of their work can be picked up while they are on the job, which is a good thing as they receive on-job training. This also aids in building professional experience which is an integral part of the educational program.

In general, the assistant training helps students offer assistance to clients and help in rehabilitation, in order to increase mobility while also improving the quality of life. Students will then complete a 1-year accredited certified program, or a 2-year degree program. The student will also need to pass the national licensure examination and get the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Some of the top colleges offering the courses are:
Miami Dade College - student population of 57,222
Prima Community College - student population of 34,136
Broward College - student population of 33,448
De Anza College - student population of 26,056
Florida Community College at Jacksonville - student population of 25,903

The courses that are offered are spread over a period of two to four years. There are a number of occupational therapy assistant schools other than the few that have been mentioned above, and all these colleges offer the courses. It is important to note that the overall personality of the student must match the job profile. Patience and compassion are two virtues that these students will have to possess.