Tampa Bay School of Massage Therapy

Questions you should ask any massage school you are considering...

At Suncoast, we consider the following questions to be vital to your decision regarding which massage school to attend:

Q. What is the length of your program?
A. The length of the program is fundamental to your personal goals. After all, you want to know how long you need to attend school before you can graduate, take you licensing examination, and start earning an income. Some schools may have more than one program. If so, they should outline that and tell you the length of each program for which you qualify. We have heard that some schools say that they cannot determine the length of your program in a phone conversation and without a personal, face to face interview. Suncoast II does not believe this is true. All accredited programs must be the same length for all students. It is our opinion that schools that take this approach are trying to get you into their facility where they can pressure you into enrolling in their school. To us, this is an ethically questionable practice.

Q. What is the cost of the program?
A. Again, this is a question some schools say they cannot answer without a "one on one" interview. This is not true. As in the length of the program, unless you are transferring credits from another accredited school, all students must incur the same cost. Be sure to ask about the cost of books, supplies, and any other materials that you are required to buy. In some cases, the cost of tuition is just the first step.

Q. Is financial assistance available?
A. Different schools may have different forms of financial assistance and some in fact have non. At Suncoast II, qualified students are eligible for Pell Grants, Federal Title IV, student loans, VA Educational Grants, loans from private banks and Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Programs. Pat Beasely, the Vice President for Student Financial Aid at Suncoast II, will be happy to discuss your specific options.

Q. How do your students perform on the licensing examination?
A. Most accredited schools are required to disclose their "pass/fail" rate to any prospective student who asks for this information. This rate is the percentage of graduates who take the NCTMB (National Center for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) Exam as required for the Florida Licensing and "pass or fail" the exam.

Q. How many and what kind of teachers do you have?
A. Different schools approach the process of faculty selection differently. Most of our instructors have extensive private practices; either in basic Swedish massage or in one or more specialized areas of massage. We believe this adds considerable depth to their value as instructors. It is difficult to conceive a comprehensive program, taught by only a few people. All members of our faculty are LMT's (Licensed Massage Therapists). In fact, everyone who works at Suncoast is an LMT.

Q. How many other professions or occupations does your school offer training for? Will I be required to take courses that are primarily designed for these other occupations?
A. We have heard of massage therapy students being required to take courses in data entry, document preparation, nursing assistants, and other unrelated subjects. At Suncoast II we do not require these courses.

There are many other questions that you may have, and we would like an opportunity to answer these questions for you. We will answer all we can on the phone, because, frankly, we have nothing to hide. Should you become a Suncoast II student, we want you to know what to expect. We would welcome a visit from you. Should you visit, we will provide you with a personalized tour of our facility, encourage you to sit in on a class, should you desire, introduce you to our staff and faculty members and encourage you to talk to our current students during class breaks or after class. Should you call for an appointment, we can make sure that all these opportunities will be available to you as well as having Pat Beasley available to discuss Financial Aid, if you wish.

Academic Programs

Suncoast II offers classes for healthcare professionals or for those who wish to develop into professional massage therapy practitioners. Learn more...

Admissions

Admissions guidelines, fees, registration information, and student services. Learn more...

Continuing Education

For a list of continuing education courses, class dates, and registration information click here.

 

  • Faculty

    Our faculty is the core of our continued success. Learn more...

  • Alumni

    Click here to learn who in your community received their education from Suncoast II.

  • Professional Clinic

    Given by Suncoast II graduates, our professional clinic is open serve the general public. Learn more...