The first thing you may want to consider is ‘where’ you want to practice massage therapy. The profession nationally has differences in schooling, certification and licensing from state to state, as well as city to city in some cases. If you are hoping to gain enough schooling to be accepted in any state, then start searching for massage schools that offer 1200+ hours of training, which will take anywhere from a year to a year-and-a-half to complete. If you are focussing on a specific state or even city, then start with your state or municipal health department to determine the regulations in that area. From that information, you can then begin narrowing your focus on schools that will cover the number and type of hours required for certification or licensing. There are several accredited schools throughout the nation that can offer really good education, training and preparation for a career in massage. Most are privately owned, rather than being a part of a college or university setting. Make sure you visit a few schools and ask lots of questions in interviews with the school representatives to help you find a good fit for you. Currently, interests and training in biology, human anatomy, business and general medical knowledge can be really helpful to prepare for massage therapy schooling after high school. I wish you the best, and I hope this helps a little.