Massage Therapist Certification

When you make the decision to become a massage therapist, it’s important to know what’s required to do so. Each state has its own set of regulations and laws that you must follow. It’s easy to become sidetracked by massage therapy diplomas and certificates from schools that are not accredited. You can achieve one or both of these and still not be able to legally practice your trade.

Check School Accreditation – Once you select as school, make an appointment to speak with the administration. If they speak to you regarding financial aid or scholarship opportunities, it is a good sign that they are accredited. There are many schools to choose from in several countries as well as Canada and the United States. Once you decide on an accredited school, you must find out what you need to receive your license.

Licensing – Typically, you will have to take a government-certified examination with both a practical and written component to become certified or licensed. You may want to find out in advance what the requirements are in the state in which you want to practice. It is also becoming increasingly common for graduating students to take national and international certification exams shortly after completing school. Find out how widely recognized your certification will be. One program may lead to certification in one state, while another school may lead to national certification. The latter may provide more flexibility. For more information about certification, contact your local massage therapy association. It can be very helpful to your career to belong to a professional association, since most offer benefits, programs and services that can help your practice succeed.

What’s needed – To practice massage therapy in most states requires certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Many states also require certified massage therapists to be licensed. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork requires that candidates acquire a minimum number of 500 hours of training from an approved school (accredited by the US Department of Education or approved by the state of practice); required education must include:

40 hours assigned to pathology training

125 hours of any other instruction deemed important by the school

40 hours of pathology

10 hours of business and ethics, including at least 6 hours of ethics

200 hours of massage and bodywork assessment, theory and application

Massage therapy students must also prove competent by completing hands on practical exams. Each student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of practices of a professional massage therapist. You may be also asked by your state to keep up with the latest techniques of massage practices. The administrators and teachers at the schools can be good resource for you.

Expert Natural Healer – Being a massage therapist can be very rewarding. As an expert in natural healing you can learn various techniques such as Swedish, sports, shiatsu and therapeutic deep-tissue massage. Your certification and training will gain you respect in your field. Today, there are many many jobs available to recent graduates that have their Massage Therapist Certification or perhaps a Massage Therapy Degree. Check it out today!