Massage Therapy Continuing Education
Massage therapy is not only about learning how to rub someone up the right way - it requires one to enroll and successfully complete nationally recognized certifications courses to be a trained as a masseuse or masseur
Modern lifestyles have added stress even as they have made so many advancements for people of today, which is why apart from the regular needs of medical healthcare professionals who recommend physiotherapy for patients in need of muscular pain relief; there are several thousands of people who go in for massage therapy for their general well being. This is the reason why massage therapy experts are so much in demand today, but they do need much more than a passing knowledge of the human anatomy and a healing touch; they need a continuing education plan to maintain a career in massage therapy, which may be required by state law as in the case in the US.
This mainly includes having access to the American Massage Therapy Association (which is the most important governing body for this field of work) as a qualified member and obtaining a certification from NCBTMB (or, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork). Besides these qualifications, a trained massage expert also needs to regularly update training as expected by the National standards governing Massage Therapy Continuing Education Panels of their state/country.
At times, the regulatory requirements for massage therapists differ from state to state in the US with nearly 13 states only applying certain local ordinances for these experts and the way they are to function; but, for students keen to take up this work as a career option, it is important to gain knowledge beyond local requirements so they can practice legally in other states if so desired, for better career prospects.
This is why gaining comprehensive knowledge about the pursuing added qualifications for a massage therapist is important for students who are serious about being recognized as professionals on a national basis.
For example, 37 states and the District of Columbia have a common standard for licensure laid down by the AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association), which is a form of the NCBTMB certification and therapists wishing to practice in these states need to have an education guided by this body's format to be qualified to practice anywhere in the continent.
Some of these continuing education needs put down by the AMTA include students needing to put in a minimum of 48 hours of massage therapy every 4 years as continuing education, beginning with their 1st full year that they hold a Professional Active Membership in this body; other programs they join must fulfill the specifications of the AMTA or have NCBTMB approval to be considered legal besides actual and experiential trainings as well as theory training and research!
After the completion of their coursework that fits under the above criterion, the studenttherapists must submit proof they have worked in this field of continuing education and also renew their membership every 4 years (an AMTA requirement, which can be done by filling up a form online)
So, renew the interest in a massage therapy career that is bound to flourish with the way the world is turning to alternate forms of healing today - and go for it!