01
The non-negotiable
Verify eligibility where you intend to practice
Ask the regulator whether the exact program satisfies current education rules. Accreditation, state approval, and licensing eligibility are related concepts, but they are not interchangeable.
- Name the accreditor
- Verify the school and campus
- Confirm any distance-learning limits
02
The complete experience
Tour the practical environment
Meet instructors, inspect classrooms and the student clinic, ask about supervision, and understand how students practice consent, draping, feedback, sanitation, and accommodations.
- Ask for the practical student-to-instructor ratio
- Speak with current students
- Review complaint and withdrawal policies
03
The claims
Make outcomes explain themselves
A pass rate or placement percentage means little without a time period, denominator, exclusions, job definition, and calculation method.
- Ask for first-time and overall exam rates
- Separate massage jobs from any employment
- Treat testimonials as stories, not statistics