I recently attended a 4 day seminar in Salt Lake City, to begin the federal level school accreditation process, so that The Newport Massage School at SAMA can be eligible to grant federal financial aid to my students. SAMA is already credentialed by the state, as well as some other organizations, but NACCAS is the *big daddy*.....the one the Feds require. Oy. Trust me, these 4 days of policies and regulations bored me to death, but I did meet tons of other school owners that offered to share their experience, friendship, forms and procedures with me ---which really helped polish the infrastructure of the school to take us to the next level, while also allowing me to make more friends in the industry! I did feel like a fish out of water though because massage, healing, ayurveda and Vedic astrology are my skills. I speak that language very well, but the all the rules, regs, policing and penalizing strategies for stepping out of line was like German to me! Surrounded by over 500 school owners, I had a headache on the 4th day and deeply missed the ocean and home. Regardless, I persevered and made it through! I am now onto the 2nd step, with several more to go! This proces will take 1 year, with much more work and lots of money before I am out of *candidate status* and into the full enchilada! I will need all of you to cheer me onward because this is the most painful, tedious process I have ever encountered in the world of the healing arts business. Once I succeed, my great reward will be this: *I wont have turn away students who are true healers but can't afford to attend anymore.* I will be able to say YES. It's been breaking my heart to say no, when deep inside, I know that student is meant to work in the healing arts. Who would have ever thought I would want to hold hands with the Feds? But alas, if it means I can help my fellow healers take the next step in their education, then bring it on! YES!