Massage Therapy Certification: Education Matters

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.

Massage Therapy Certification: Education Matters
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