Why Cortiva? Choosing Where to Study

In my last post I outlined some of the reasons why I was drawn to a career in massage therapy, and now I will try to answer the question, why Cortiva? Of all the various massage therapy schools and programs in the metropolitan Boston area, why I did decide to enroll at Cortiva Institute in Watertown?

As I’ll explain in this post, Cortiva actually stood out for several reasons, including: overall quality of school/faculty, reputation, accreditation by COMTA and Dept. of Education, excellent curriculum, location and ease of commute, total cost (including availability of federal financial aid), program duration and schedule (12 months full-time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays), high job placement and national exam pass rates, etc.

There are several vocational/career schools in the Boston area that offer programs in therapeutic massage, and one of them, Everest Institute in Brighton, MA, is actually the one in closest proximity to me and offers the easiest commute. Lincoln Tech in Somerville, MA is a similar type of school that offers a program in massage therapy, and, for those who live in Boston and regularly take the T, you’ve probably seen Lincoln’s ads promoting their massage therapy program in the Boston Metro.

Quite frankly, though, I have to admit that, while Everest and Lincoln may both offer a perfectly fine massage therapy education (I’m not familiar with their programs, so I can’t comment on their quality), I’m usually wary of these types of schools and am turned off by the fact that their websites fail to include comprehensive information about their curriculum, class schedule, tuition, etc.

(To be honest, this is actually a criticism that I also have concerning Cortiva, whose website is not fully transparent and doesn’t disclose detailed information about tuition fees, etc. Personally, I don’t want to have to contact Cortiva, Everest, Lincoln, or any other school for these crucial pieces of information; since their websites are the first places I and many other potential students turn to when seeking information about their programs, I want all of this important information to be freely accessible online. If, after reading this information, I’m still interested in a particular school, then I’ll contact the admissions department, but I shouldn’t have to fork over my contact information simply to learn what days classes are offered, or how much is charged for tuition. Why can’t they have the same kind of information that’s contained in their handbooks and catalogs available on their websites, like a lot of other schools these days do?)

Another factor in my decision not to seriously consider enrolling at Everest or Lincoln is the fact that neither school is accredited by COMTA. COMTA is the acronymn for the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation, and, to be eligible for accreditation, a massage therapy school must meet certain criteria as outlined on COMTA’s website, which include being “legally organized and licensed by the appropriate state education and/or state licensing agency which authorizes the conduct of business in that state” and requiring “a minimum of 600 clock hours of instruction.”

COMTA’s website includes a directory of accredited massage therapy programs by state, and, at the time of this writing, there are currently six COMTA-accredited massage therapy schools and programs in Massachusetts (Cortiva Institute-Boston, Greenfield Community College – Stillpoint, MassBay Community College, Mount Wachusett Community College, the Salter School, and Springfield Technical Community College).

It’s also important to note, however, that being accredited by COMTA also requires the payment of a rather hefty fee, and some massage therapy schools may meet the eligibility criteria but simply be unable or unwilling to pay these fees. The most important criterion, in my opinion, is that a school be licensed by the Department of Education in its state, rather than or in addition to COMTA.

For instance, two schools in Massachusetts that I seriously considered attending – Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in Worcester and the Palmer Institute of Massage and Bodywork in Salem – are not accredited by COMTA, yet they still provide comprehensive and well-regarded massage therapy programs. If commuting to Worcester or Salem wasn’t such a huge hassle from where I live, I very well may have chosen to enroll at either Bancroft or Palmer instead of Cortiva, and at some point I’d still like to take continuing education courses at one or both schools. (For instance, as an animal lover and someone who shares an apartment with five cats, I’d love to learn how to massage cats and dogs through Bancroft’s small animal massage certification program, and Palmer offers a wide variety of energy work certifications and classes, including polarity, reiki, etc.)

So, while a school’s location should not be the most important factor when deciding where to enroll, it is something that one does need to consider. Before choosing a school, it’s a good idea to research all of the massage therapy programs in your area, both within your state and in any neighboring states that are within commuting distance (for instance, I also looked at schools in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, in addition to Massachusetts).

The most important factor, of course, should be the quality and reputation of a school, which must then be weighed against practical considerations such as distance, cost, schedule, etc. I’m fortunate enough to live within commuting distance of three excellent massage schools, so in the end, location was a deciding factor for me, but it wasn’t the only factor. Again, if it had been, I would have chosen Everest Institute, but fortunately for me, the commute to Cortiva won’t be too difficult or time-consuming. After a fifteen-minute walk to Brighton Center (which also happens to be where my daughter’s elementary school is located), I’ll be able to catch the #57 bus to Watertown. Once I get off of the bus in Watertown, it’s another short walk (approximately ten minutes) to Cortiva’s campus.

Again, Cortiva’s location is certainly an advantage for me, but the main reason the school appeals to me is because of its excellent reputation and quality of its curriculum. New licensing legislation that went into effect this year in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires a minimum of 500 classroom hours (increased to 650 hours in May 2010), and Cortiva’s program in professional massage therapy, which consists of 750 hours of instruction and hands-on work, exceeds this requirement. In addition to devoting substantial class time to anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, massage techniques, etc., Cortiva’s curriculum also includes coursework in psychology and business, which are also extremely important subjects for a successful LMT to master as she or he builds her or his own practice or enters into employment.

Before choosing a school, be sure to study its curriculum and ensure that it meets the licensing criteria of your state. Because licensing requirements vary, a program that meets one state’s requirements may not satisfy the requirements for another state (i.e., in New York, one needs 1,000 hours of instruction, not 500 as in Massachusetts).

Another reason why I chose Cortiva is because many professional massage therapists in this area graduated from Cortiva or its predecessor, the Muscular Therapy Institute. Furthermore, Cortiva has a high job placement rate for its graduates, and a large percentage of its students pass the national exam. Again, do your homework. If the school doesn’t publish these statistics in its literature, ask! If a school’s graduates are passing the national exam and finding work after finishing the program, obviously these testify to the quality of that school’s massage program.

Also, I personally prefer schools like Cortiva, Bancroft, and Palmer to schools such as Everest, Lincoln, and Salter because the former schools only offer massage, whereas the latter schools offer a variety of vocational programs (i.e., dental assisting, medical assisting, cosmetology, paralegal studies, etc. in addition to massage therapy). I like knowing that massage therapy is Cortiva’s sole focus and only available program of study. Yes, Cortiva, like many other vocational schools, wants to attract a lot of students in order to make a profit, but, unlike some of those other schools, all of its classrooms are set up for massage, there’s a student clinic on site, all of the instructors are experienced in their field, etc.

Although I haven’t started classes yet, I’ve been impressed with the people I’ve met so far at Cortiva, including the staff, faculty, and current and former students whom I met at Cortiva’s introductory workshop. I was confident then that Cortiva was the right massage school for me, and all of the research that I’ve done since then has only reaffirmed this belief.

Since Cortiva is accredited and provides federal financial aid to eligible students, my education – which totals just over $12,000 including books, supplies, massage table, etc. – will be almost entirely financed by a federal Stafford loan. Without financial aid, I definitely would not be able to afford massage school, so this was another reason why I was attracted to Cortiva.

Also, for low-income students who do not yet possess a bachelor’s degree, Cortiva also offers federal Pell grants. They’ve also recently instituted a student scholarship program, which is open to all newly matriculated students and requires an application and brief, 500-word essay. (I applied, but decisions won’t be made until October; there’s one $2,000 scholarship and two smaller $500 scholarships.)

However, not all schools offer federal and/or state financial aid to their students, so again, do your homework and choose the option that works best for you. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different, and your total out of pocket costs can vary greatly depending on the school, especially when you factor in financial aid packages, scholarships, private loans, payment plans, etc. By all means look at the total “sticker price” of the school or program, but don’t choose or reject a school based on tuition alone. With financial aid, that expensive school may actually be more affordable than you think, and a school with an outstanding reputation may pay for itself down the road.

For those who, like me, already have student loans from other colleges, you may be able to defer payments on them, depending on your school and the number of credits you’re taking (check with your lender and school’s financial aid office to see if you’re eligible). As a full-time student at Cortiva, I’ll be able to defer monthly payments on my federal Stafford and Perkins loans while in school.

Speaking of my Perkins loan, it is my understanding that borrowers can have up to 100% of their loans cancelled as a result of being employed as an allied health professional. Check with your lender to see if you qualify, but, according to the American Medical Association, a massage therapist is considered an allied health professional.

While researching massage therapy schools, be sure to explore massage therapy programs at local community colleges. For in-state residents, the cost savings may be substantial, yet the quality of the education may be just as good, if not superior, to that available at other, more expensive schools.

In fact, I looked at several massage therapy degree programs offered at various community colleges in Massachusetts, including Mount Wachusett Community College and Greenfield Community College. Although these programs sound excellent and are no doubt ideal for many students, one of the main reasons why I decided against them was due to their location; it’s simply much easier for me to commute to Cortiva, without sacrificing the quality of my education.

If I lived closer to Mount Wachusett, I’d be tempted to enroll in the joint complementary health/massage therapy degree program, but, since the commute would be a pain, I’ll stick with Cortiva. Besides, there’s always the option of pursuing Mount Wachusett’s complementary health certificate later, after I’ve received my massage therapy license. (Though I suspect that, rather than studying at the associate’s level, graduate-level studies would be my best bet, with Lesley University, the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, John F. Kennedy University, and Naropa University all offering programs of interest.)

Since I already have a four-year bachelor’s degree, I simply don’t need a two-year associate’s degree. If I didn’t already have a degree, then things would be different and, yes, I would much rather enroll in a program that led to a college degree rather than merely a certificate, but at this point my goal is not to receive a degree, it’s to become a licensed massage therapist, which means that a certificate will suffice.

When choosing a school, always keep your present and future career and academic goals in mind. If your goal is to get a degree, then by all means go for it, but if your goal is to become a licensed massage therapist, the degree may not be necessary. Again, the quality of one’s massage therapy and bodywork education is the most important thing to consider, along with factors such as overall cost, location, and desired program length (again, it generally takes two years to earn an associate’s degree, while a massage therapy certificate can be obtained in less than a year; some places, such as the Kripalu School of Massage in the Berkshires, offer short-term, intensive residential training for those who want to become licensed sooner rather than later).

Finally, for those massage therapy students and LMTs reading this blog, where did you study massage and bodywork, and why? What were the most important features of a massage school or program to you? If you had to do it all over again, would you choose the same place to study; why or why not? Please take a moment to share your comments and reflections on this topic with your fellow Soulful Massage readers below. Thank you!