Massage Therapy Certification

Welcome to the Massage Therapy Certification Zone. The purpose of the Zone is to provide a wealth of accurate, up-to-date information about what is required for a person to become a massage therapist. From sports massage to spiritual massage, the Zone contains everything one needs to know about accredited schools, financial aid, massage certification, licensure, types of massage, places to work, establishing a business, and more.

Some states do not yet require massage therapists to demonstrate proper training through licensing requirements, but as massage therapy and other types of bodywork become more and more popular, that is changing rapidly. Currently thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have licensing massage therapy certification requirements. Even in states that do not require massage certification, many counties, townships, and municipalities do have such requirements. Regardless of a person’s reasons for wanting to make a career of massage therapy, a strong foundation is key. The Zone not only wants to support the educational efforts of students, but provides a job board as well. Persons who are not yet licensed can visit the job board to get a sense of what types of work are available in an area. Individuals who are already licensed may find a perfect professional fit on the board.

Woman Getting a Massage

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, massage therapy is a rapidly growing field that is expected to see a 20 percent increase over the next decade. Bodywork is offered in a multitude of venues. Many health clubs and beauty salons offer massage therapy services, and there is a national trend toward massage therapy at senior centers and assisted living homes. Doctors in private practice, chiropractors, hospitals, and hospices all employ massage therapists. Cruise ships and vacation resorts are also places to ply the trade of massage therapist.

A person can complete an accredited massage therapy certification program in as little as six months, and the same federal and private loans, grants, and scholarships are available for future massage therapists as for other types of students. There is really nothing standing between a person and a successful lifelong career doing something that makes that person—and everyone he or she touches—serene.

What Is Massage Therapy?

What does a certified massage therapist do? While many people come to massage therapists to relax and feel good, massage therapy is much more than simple soothing touch. It has been used throughout human history to ease pain, provide comfort, and speed healing. There are literally hundreds of different approaches to massage. From the gentlest of touch to deep work that can, at times, be painful, bodywork has been proven to help a wide range of ills. The manipulation of muscle and soft tissue can release tension and, along with it, emotional blocks. For this reason, it is important that those involved with bodywork are not only comfortable with all types of physical bodies but with the range of human feelings as well.

Some massage therapists limit their work to pleasurable massages designed to increase the client’s sense of well-being and tranquility. However, the added benefits of massage include improved circulation and flexibility as well as an increase in the rate at which toxins are released from the body. For this reason, many practitioners focus their massage therapy on chronic pain, sickness, and physical injuries in their bodywork sessions.

All massage therapists use fingertips and palms. However, some types of massage involve pressure on trigger points or along muscles using knuckles, a fisted hand, or an elbow. Some practitioners even bring feet to their practices, using their balance and weight to walk along a client’s spine. People visit massage therapists for relief not only from obvious ills such as chronic back pain and work- related stress, but also from joint diseases such as arthritis, as well as conditions such as migraine, diabetes, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Many studies have shown that massage can speed recovery following surgery as well.

As massage therapy becomes increasingly acknowledged and recognized, not only by the medical community but by all types of people, from athletes to new mothers, massage practices are opening at many different types of locations. They are found at health clubs and beauty spas, private clinics, chiropractors, assisted living homes, wellness or yoga centers, and a wealth of other places. As more and more people turn to bodywork to enhance their health and daily living, the demand for this growing profession increases.

Types of Massage

Before selecting a program of study, people who have made the decision to become massage therapy certification will want to consider the different purposes that massage serves, as well as the various types of massage therapy. This will help those who are interested to choose a path that resonates with them.

The kind of massage discipline to pursue will depend, to some degree, upon a person’s orientation. Would the person like to work in a clinic or a nursing home? Does the idea of working with athletes as a sports massage therapist appeal? If the answer is yes, the person will want to look into programs that are geared to work in tandem with Western medicine. If the individual is more interested in types of massage that can be used to release pain as an alternative to drugs or massage as a spiritual practice, he or she should look into Eastern approaches.

There is a wide diversity in massage practice. In addition to traditional approaches, many practitioners blend two or more techniques. Among the various kinds of massage, the most familiar is probably Swedish massage. This approach incorporates oils or lotions that reduce friction and involves kneading, long strokes, and moving in circular patterns. With this, as with all types of massage, oils can be infused with essential oils designed to invigorate, relax, calm, or inspire, adding an aromatherapy dimension. Swedish massage is designed to be soothing. In Swedish massage, only the uppermost layers of muscle are worked. In contrast, deep tissue massage works across the muscles with shorter, slower strokes to create friction. Practitioners of deep tissue massage work as deeply into muscle and tissue as possible. This is done to release tightness, correct posture, and speed healing to torn or damaged muscles. A third type of massage is prenatal massage. It is important to become certified prior to working on pregnant clients, as adjustments to position and technique will be necessary. Prenatal massage not only helps expectant mothers to relax, it can reduce swelling and pregnancy-related pain. Sports massage uses rapid, long strokes to help muscles loosen up in order to avoid injury during or after a workout.

More Eastern approaches include shiatsu, reflexology, hot stone, and Thai massage. The type of massage known as Japanese shiatsu works the same meridians as acupuncture, using the pressure from fingers or knuckles instead of needles. Shiatsu is said to realign the body’s energy and increase healing. Thai massage also applies mild pressure to meridian points, but adds interactive yoga-like stretches through which the massage therapist moves the client, who remains still. Reflexology, like shiatsu and Thai massage, uses the thumb and fingers to work points in the feet that are related to the organs of the body. Some people believe it can be used to identify illness before it becomes apparent. Finally, hot stone massage uses smooth, warm stones to relax muscles and return imbalanced energy to equilibrium. It is a gentle approach, especially useful for clients who do not care for heavier types of massage.

To be a successful massage therapist requires focused training, both physical and emotional sensitivity, and a strong body. A therapist must stand for as long as two hours, and the physical exertion can be intense. However, for those who are committed to devoting themselves to helping others through touch, massage therapy is a growing and very satisfying profession.

Massage Therapy Certification Tips

Currently, thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia require massage therapists to be licensed. But what is the difference between massage therapy certification and massage therapy licensure? On the surface, it can appear confusing, but a little explanation will clarify things.
National certification is mandatory for most states requiring licensure. In other words, it is not possible to secure a massage therapy license without first becoming certified. More information about licensing is included in the article “Massage Therapy Licensure.”

Massage therapy certification on the national level has been put into place for a number of reasons. First, a client who visits a certified massage therapist knows that therapist has received a substantial education that includes a minimum of 500 hours of education. This means that the massage therapist is fully qualified. Secondly, certification means that massage therapists so designated abide by a code of ethics. Third, certification must be earned. Because it cannot be purchased or used without proper qualifications, the term “massage therapy” cannot be co-opted by sex workers using it as a euphemism.

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork rewards practitioners with massage therapy certification when they have finished an accredited school program and successfully passed the appropriate massage therapy examination. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork administers two examinations. The first is the National Certificate Examination for Therapeutic Massage. This test is accepted by some states for licensure, but not by others. Alternatively, the National Certificate Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is also offered. While some states will accept passing results from either test, others limit themselves to one but not the other.

It is important to know that massage therapy certification is transferable from one state to another as long as certain additional qualifications are met. If the minimum number of hours required by a particular state for certification is equivalent to or less than the number of hours completed as part of federal certification, the therapist will be able to transfer the license. In the event that some hours are lacking, the therapist will need to complete those hours as well as any other state requirements before certification will be recognized.

For those who are curious about the massage therapy exams, the Massage Certification Zone has created a number of practice test questions. Attempting these questions before training can give a person an indication of whether a career in massage therapy might be suitable for him or her. For those who have already started their studies or know something about massage therapy, these certification practice test questions can give them a sense of what information they will need to review in order to pass the exam.