Credit hours and employment

My husband is a certified massage therapist. He has completed over 600 credit hours. He went for a job interview two years ago for a local spa and lost the job to a woman who completed the requirements for New York which is over 1000 credit hours. While the time both of them spent in hands on work is the same, she was required to take additional medical courses and the employer considered that as more experience.

Since then he has worked full time as a bus diver and does massage jobs on and off in his spare time since then. He decided to go back to school and is now enrolled in night classes doing shiatsu and acupressure. The course is 13 months long. After he finishes he plans on taking the national exam.

I am just wondering how much of a difference credit hours make as far as what an employer considers relevant experience. I don't want him to spend all that time and money only to find that he can't get a job doing what he wants. A concern for him is also good compensation he wont take a job that doesn't pay at least a fair wage $8.00 an hour isn't going to cut it he is looking for at least $40 an hour. From what it sounds like on the boards it doesn't sound like its going to be that easy.

I also hope that the amount of training pays of in terms of finding lucrative employment pays off.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Thank you

Cynthia in Wilmington, Delaware said: My husband is a certified massage therapist. He has completed over 600 credit hours. He went for a job interview two years ago for a local spa and lost the job to a woman who completed the requirements for New York which is over 1000 credit hours. While the time both of them spent in hands on work is the same, she was required to take additional medical courses and the employer considered that as more experience.

Since then he has worked full time as a bus diver and does massage jobs on and off in his spare time since then. He decided to go back to school and is now enrolled in night classes doing shiatsu and acupressure. The course is 13 months long. After he finishes he plans on taking the national exam.

I am just wondering how much of a difference credit hours make as far as what an employer considers relevant experience. I don't want him to spend all that time and money only to find that he can't get a job doing what he wants. A concern for him is also good compensation he wont take a job that doesn't pay at least a fair wage $8.00 an hour isn't going to cut it he is looking for at least $40 an hour. From what it sounds like on the boards it doesn't sound like its going to be that easy.

I also hope that the amount of training pays of in terms of finding lucrative employment pays off.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Thank you

Some states require you be Nationally certified to practice massage so that is a good thing. Also Major hotels or small spas will pay a percentage and an hour rate as well. For example the Four Seasons pay about 10. an hour plus 20 for the massage and the tip which averages about 50 a maassge. other spas pay anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of the treatment. Chiropractors pay about 20 to 25 a treatment and then you charge what you want for your own customers. Hope that helps.

I'm really doubtful the number of hours the female therapist had over your husband had much to do with why she was hired over him.

The truth of the matter is most potential clients would prefer a female therapist over a male therapist, esp if there is a choice.

The employer can say the reason is more training for the hiring decision, but in the end, it was probably more of a business decision than anything else.

If your husband really wants to make money with massage, my recommendation is not to spend his money on more massage education, but instead, invest it in a community college small business degree, which might provide enough business savvy to make a decent income as a therapist.

www.male-massage-therapist.com

Sean Slovik in Melbourne, Florida said: I'm really doubtful the number of hours the female therapist had over your husband had much to do with why she was hired over him.

The truth of the matter is most potential clients would prefer a female therapist over a male therapist, esp if there is a choice.

The employer can say the reason is more training for the hiring decision, but in the end, it was probably more of a business decision than anything else.

If your husband really wants to make money with massage, my recommendation is not to spend his money on more massage education, but instead, invest it in a community college small business degree, which might provide enough business savvy to make a decent income as a therapist.

www.male-massage-therapist.com

Starting his own massage practice is not an option my husband wants to pursue right now. He understands the difficulties in starting his own practice, and because of time and financial constraints the better option for him right now would be to work for a while to build a practice. Then after a couple of years when he's established himself and built up his clientèle, start his own practice.

I have seen other massage therapists perform chair massages at public places like malls and outdoor markets. I've suggested he should try doing that, but I don't think thats what he really wants to do.

So thanks for the suggestion it looks like it won't make much of a difference anyway whether he gets more education or not. I know that he will work very hard to be successful and I know there are a lot of successful male massage therapists out there. So I know he will make it.

What school was your husband trained at? Do they help with job placement?