What is Massage Therapy?
As mentioned in the introduction, therapeutic massage is an alternative form of healing that provides relief from pain and helps people function better. The massage therapist manually stimulates skin, muscles and tissue to diminish stress and alleviate pain and tension in their patients. Swedish, or Classic Massage, is the type of massage that many of us relate to when researching therapeutic massage, and almost all Greenacres FL massage therapy schools offer it as their primary type of massage. But keep in mind, there are numerous other types of massage that programs have the option to include as part of their syllabus. Following are just a few examples.
- Neuromuscular Therapy Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Sports Massage
- Shiatsu Massage
- Thai Massage
- Hot Stone Massage
- Pregnancy Massage
Practitioners that work in massage therapy are properly referred to as massage therapists. On occasion one may hear them called a masseur or a masseuse, which refers to a male or female massage professional. Unfortunately, these terms generally carry a derogatory connotation among the general public and Greenacres FL professionals alike and should be avoided.
Massage Therapy Education Requirements
The majority of Greenacres FL 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 Certificate or a Diploma to as long as two years to earn an Associate’s Degree. The lengths of the programs will also be State specific dependent on the number of hours required for licensing. An additional factor that can also influence the length of the program is whether classes are scheduled during the daytime or in the evening. Also, an Associate Degree in Massage Therapy may have general education requirements and the credits may be transferrable into a related Bachelor’s Degree Program. Once you have received your Certificate or Degree, 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 have requirements for both number of hours and subjects covered, such as ethics or HIPAA compliance.
Massage Therapist Licensing
Once you have graduated from an accredited Greenacres FL massage therapy school, you will then need to become licensed in the State where you will be practicing. The Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), is a test controlled and administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and is required by most States as a portion of the licensing process. There are States that have their own or additional exams, so find out from your State before enrolling in a massage therapy school. If you fail the MBLEx in the first attempt, you can take it again after thirty days but must pay an additional testing fee. Once licensed, you will need to renew it in most states, which means paying a renewal fee and satisfying renewal requirements. As earlier mentioned, 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. Every State regulates massage therapy differently, so do not assume that you will automatically be qualified for licensing. Check with your new State before moving to confirm that you have satisfied the requirements to legally practice there.