Massage Therapy Courses - Learn About Massage Therapist Schools And Certification
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Over the last decade, natural healing and holistic therapy has taken society by storm; with most people having had a professional massage at least once and many going on a regular basis. Many companies even provide insurance coverage for the therapeutic benefits of regular massages and the overal wellness it generates.
Career Prospects
With this field growing at such an increased rate, why not jump on the band wagon and look into studying at massage schools? The job outlook is strong and you are sure to have steady employment at rates of over $20 hour for years to come.
Duties
As a massage therapist, you will be responsible for the relaxation, well-being and therapeutic relief of your clients. Many massage therapists work for themselves, earning upwards of $50/hour, but it is most common to work at a health club, resort, hotel, spa, gym or community center.
You may also be hired by companies to massage their employees at the office. By massaging the body with different lubricants and alcohol, you will be increasing blood circulation, relaxing tense muscles, and easing stress.
Massage Therapy
These treatments can be beneficial for people with cellulite, varicose veins, poor circulation, and a variety of different muscle and joint pains. You may also use a variety of tools besides your hands, including vibrating machines, hot stones, steam and dry heat treatments, ultraviolet light or water therapy. You may also consult clients on nutrition, body treatments or workouts.
Massage Therapy Schools
There are many massage therapy schools where you can get your training in massage therapy. There are programs offered at massage colleges, but usually you will attend a vocational school for 6-12 months to complete your training.
There are also many online accredited programs that can have you completing your training in as little as 4 months and have you prepared to take your licensing exam in no time. If you are already licensed, it is recommended to take some continuing education classes, which you can either do at a school or online, to learn new techniques and stay up to date.
Massage Certification
Once you complete, there are currently 37 states that require you to get your massage certification. Each state has a different requirement, but it will entail taking one of the two certification exams offered: either the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM).
In your massage therapist courses you will take a variety of different classes to get a balanced sense of the body and its pressure points. Your programs will include anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, massage history, theory, techniques and practice, nutrition, ethics, assessing your clients and business.
Your programs will include a combination of classroom theory and clinical practice, with many schools having supervised massage clinics for clients to come in for you to practice on. These clinics will provide you with different types of people and work environments to gain some real hands on experience.
It is clear that the stressful environment we live in is very conducive to regular massages and opportunities to relax, and people will pay good money to ease their aching muscles or simply ease their stress for an hour. With training at massage schools, you can be licensed and ready to start before you know it and get your piece of this lucrative pie.
