which career should i choose? massage, physical or occupational therapy?

[~mrs. sanford~]

i'm going to be in college soon and i would like to pursue a career where i can help others, like massage, physical and occupational therapist do.
i know those three careers are almost all the same,well, according to me research,
but im so confused.

all three careers help people in kind of the same way
physical and occupational therapy are like the same, but physical therapist get paid more.
and they both are more the medical field than massage therapy.
but massage therapists can work almost anywhere, from cruises to doctor's offices.

i need answers and opinions from those who are either of these professions or know someone of these professions or people that just pick which one sounds better lol
thanks =)

 

[mistify]

I think you'll actually find more job security and opportunities as a PT or OT. MT jobs are typically low paying, part time and rarely offer benefits. Down turns in the economy hit the MT field hard. Very few people can take the repetitive stain of being an MT full time...most do it part time as a supplement to another career.

It's actually quite rare for an MT to work in a doctors office, and when they do its usually very limited hours. PT/OTs on the other hand can work in hospitals, schools, private practice, home health, industrial rehab, etc.

 

[Sabeena]

I used to be a massage practitioner and spa owner. Mistify is absolutely right. If I could do it all over again, I would choose Physical Therapy.

Massage practitioners are not respected like PTs and OTs. Most people consider them to be more like escorts or prostitutes, even if they don't admit it out loud. PT/OT jobs also offer benefits, unlike massage jobs.

PTs can work almost anywhere, too, and offer a much wider variety of services. There was a PT on my last cruise, in fact. Massage practitioners are trapped in one room working 12 hour days, forced to sell product on cruise ships.

If you life in the US the education varies by state, but the national average is 500 hours or 6 months of trade school for massage, no college required. OT varies from 4-6 years. Most states are going to a DPT which takes 6-7 years of real college to complete.

If you have the brains and talent to get into college, DO IT! You will enjoy a real professional career that will last you a lifetime. 90% of all massage practitioners quit in 3-5 years because of low pay, emotional and physical burnout. I quit after 6 years because it was more hassle than it was worth, and I grew very tired of being treated like an escort. I'm better than that!

Good luck in whatever you decide!