Find Massage Therapy Certification programs in the United States and Canada. Earning massage therapy certification is an essential step in advancing your professional bodywork career. Because state requirements vary, formal education is the key to gaining eligibility to sit for both state and/or national massage therapy certification exams.
Depending in which region you reside, massage therapy certification can be earned upon successful completion of a quality massage therapy program. Generally, basic massage training entails studies in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, body mechanics, and various massage techniques. In some advanced massage therapy certification programs, however, students gain knowledge and hands-on training in a wider range of massage modalities including acupressure, meridian therapy, medical massage, geriatric massage, lymph drainage, myofascial release therapy, craniosacral therapy, among others.
Massage therapy certification programs give students hands-on experience in clinical environments - for example, a number of massage therapy colleges and schools provide open clinics to the public where students can gain practical training (with instructor supervision) on clients. Some of the diverse therapies that students administer in these clinics include reflexology, sports massage, deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, chair/corporate massage and more.
In addition to actual career training, students enrolled in massage therapy certification programs will sometimes learn about CPR and first aid, business management and communication skills, herbal medicine studies, aromatherapy and essential oils, and other relative subject matter.
While most massage therapy certification programs are on a local level, national massage therapy certification* can be attained through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) - eligibility requirements for this exam consist of a minimum of 500 hours training from a state-licensed school. Practicing massage therapists retain this massage therapy certification for four years. At the end of the four-year time frame, massage therapists must complete a minimal of 200 hours of therapeutic massage and 125 hours of associated studies. (*National certification requirements and governing boards vary in Canadian Provinces.)
Graduates of an accredited massage therapy school or college, who have earned massage therapy certification, (either State or National levels), can expect positive job prospects* as the field of massage therapy is expected to increase faster than other jobs in ensuing years. (*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding massage therapy certification programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
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National Massage Therapy Certification
Massage therapy is not just a wonderful way to help people kick back and relax their tense muscles. Massage therapy is also a healing art that can help people live normal, better and more comfortable lives. If you are more than just a client or a fan of massage therapy, then you should consider the different massage therapy class options.
Massage Therapy Careers
People may enroll in massage therapy classes for personal reasons or for career options. Some are just curious while others would like to learn how to better achieve relaxing and bonding moments with loved ones. There are however quite a lot of people who are interested in massage therapy class options because of the wealth of career opportunities massage therapy can provide. More and more Americans are simply growing conscious of their health and studies show that massage therapy is the perfect answer for a variety of conditions.
As a graduate of a massage therapy class course, you can put up your own facility or you can work in clinics, hospitals, spas, sports centers, cruise ships, nursing homes, companies, resorts, fitness clubs and health centers. Even without your own clinic or facility, you can still hope to earn a minimum $10-$15 for an hour's work. That's not bad at all.
Informal Classes
Massage therapy class courses can vary greatly. Most of us know that there are now numerous schools that specialize in massage therapy class courses. But before you decide to make a career out of massage therapy, you could at least try out a few informal sessions just to see if you like the job.
Ask around in various health centers and community organizations and medical colleges about any offerings of an introductory class on massage therapy. An introductory massage therapy class would typically give you an idea of how massage therapy began and what various techniques are there. Some classes will also give you an overview of various muscular and health problems that can be treated with massage. Of course, you will also learn the most basic massage forms and movements and when they should be used.
Formal School
As previously discussed, there are several schools that offer different types of massage therapy class options. Not all schools are the same though. Different schools offer different subjects, different class hours and training hours. You may have to meticulously check a school's program and curriculum before enrolling.
Before enrolling in the school, check if their curriculum can give you the right number of hours and the proper training for the board exam. A serious practitioner should take the board exam. Some schools will clearly provide details on how their program can prepare you for the board exam. It would be a good idea though to check state regulations first so you can see for yourself if a school is good enough.
You should expect, though, to deal with more than just the many different kinds of massage when you enroll in a formal massage therapy class. In a formal massage therapy class course, you will also be taught pathology, medicine and business. This last aspect is crucial in any good curriculum because it is necessary to enable future practitioners to build lucrative businesses.
Both CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd & Janette Lindz are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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