What is a Massage Therapist?
As mentioned in the introduction, massage therapy is an alternative form of medicine that helps people feel and function better. The massage therapist manually stimulates muscles, tissue and skin to diminish stress and relieve tension and pain in their clients. Swedish, or Classic Massage, is the type of massage that most of us relate to when researching therapeutic massage, and almost all Hot Springs National Park AR massage therapy schools teach it as their principal form of massage. However, there are many other forms of massage that programs may or may not include as part of their syllabus. Following are some of the more popular examples.
- Neuromuscular Therapy Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Sports Massage
- Shiatsu Massage
- Thai Massage
- Hot Stone Massage
- Pregnancy Massage
Practitioners that work in therapeutic massage should be referred to as massage therapists. From time to time one may hear them called a masseuse or a masseur, which is generally the name of a female or a male massage professional. However, these titles generally carry a derogatory connotation among Hot Springs National Park AR professionals and the public at large and are better avoided.
Massage Therapist Education Requirements
Most Hot Springs National Park AR schools offering massage therapy require that the enrollee has earned a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. Programs can range in length from several months for a Diploma or a Certificate to as long as two years for an Associate’s Degree. How long the programs are will also be State specific based on the training hours required for licensing. An additional factor that can also have an effect on the length of the program is whether classes are scheduled during the day or in the evening. In addition, an Associate Degree in Massage Therapy often has general education requirements and are often transferrable into a related Bachelor’s Degree Program. Once you have earned your Degree, Diploma or Certificate, the education does not end there. The amount and type of continuing education you will need to complete will vary based on the State where you are licensed. Some states require both a certain number of hours of continuing education as well as specific education in subjects, such as ethics or HIPAA compliance.
Massage Therapy Licensing
After your graduation from an accredited Hot Springs National Park AR massage therapy school, the next step is to obtain your license in the State where you will be practicing. The Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), is an exam conducted and controlled by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and is mandated by the majority of States as a portion of the licensing process. Some States have additional tests or their own, so check with your State before enrolling in a massage therapy school. If you do not pass the MBLEx in the first attempt, you can take it again after 30 days but will be charged another exam fee. Once licensed, you will be required to maintain it in most states, which means complying with renewal requirements and paying a renewal fee. As earlier stated, renewal typically requires a certain number of hours of continuing education be completed. And if you should move to another State, you will need to get licensed in that new State as well. Each State regulates massage therapy differently, so do not assume that you will automatically be qualified for licensing. Confirm with your new State prior to moving that you have satisfied the requirements to legally practice there.