Massage Therapy Training

Massage Therapy is being integrated into more and more traditional healthcare settings. This is due in part to the training requirements for massage therapists, as well as the proven effectiveness of the therapy they provide.

Individuals who wish to become professional massage therapists typically attend special schools that have specific programs of training.  Entrance requirements for such schools vary considerably.  Most schools require a high school diploma. In addition, some schools want the prospective students to have some prior knowledge of the topics which make up their curriculum (see below).   Other schools have no such course-related requirements but do require a pre-enrollment interview to assess various personal qualities, along with basic communication skills.

Curriculum

Massage Therapy schools generally require students to study a range of subjects dealing with the structure and function of the body.  Although the curriculum will vary across school, most require students to study the following:

• Anatomy - the structure of the body, both its internal and external structures, and how the structures of the body are related to one another.

• Physiology - the biological and mechanical functions of the various body parts and systems.

• Kinesiology - the motions and movements of the body and its parts.

• Nutritional Considerations - overview of nutritional factors and how they interact with lifestyle to enhance or retard healing.

• History and theory of massage - the origins of massage therapy and current theories on how it works.

• Massage Techniques - the actual techniques of massage therapy; how to perform specific types of massage. Includes hands on practice and feedback.

• Massage Therapy Ethics - principles and procedures to maintain an ethical practice.

• Business Considerations -  information and guidance to help the individual understand business practices as they apply to a massage therapy.

Beyond School:
Professional Regulations

The practice of massage therapy is regulated by governmental entities in many parts of the world. In the United Sates 39 states license or otherwise regulate the practice of massage therapy. Often the regulations require therapists to pass an examination.  Students often take these examinations shortly after they graduate from school.  There are many books on the market that help students to prepare for national and state examinations (see books page)

To become a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association, therapists must meet one of the following criteria: (a) they must graduate from a program that requires 500 in-class hours; (b) they must have a valid city, state, or province license (some locales demand more than the 500 in-class hours of training in order to be licensed),  or; (c) be certified nationally by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

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