What is Therapeutic Massage?
As previously discussed, massage therapy is a holistic form of medicine that provides relief from pain and helps people function better. The massage therapist manually stimulates skin, muscles and tissue to diminish stress and alleviate tension and pain in their patients. Swedish, or Classic Massage, is the type of massage that many of us relate to when researching massage therapy, and most Macon GA massage therapy schools offer it as their principal form of massage. However, there are many other types of massage that schools may or may not include as part of their course of instruction. 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 therapeutic massage are properly referred to as massage therapists. From time to time you might hear them called a masseur or a masseuse, which refers to a male or female massage practitioner. Unfortunately, these titles generally have a derogatory connotation among Macon GA professionals and the public at large and are better avoided.
Massage Therapist Education Requirements
Almost all Macon GA 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 for an Associate’s Degree. The lengths of the programs will also be State specific dependent on the training hours required for licensing. An additional factor that may also have an effect on the program length is whether classes are scheduled during the daytime or in the evening. Also, an Associate Degree in Massage Therapy may have general studies requirements and the credits may be transferrable into a related Bachelor’s Degree Program. Once you have received your Degree, Diploma or Certificate, the education does not end there. The type and amount of continuing education you will need to complete will depend 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
Once you have graduated from an accredited Macon GA massage therapy program, 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 mandated by the majority of States as a portion of the licensing process. Some States 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 30 days but must pay an additional testing fee. After obtaining your license, you will need to renew 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 decide to move to a different State, you will need to get licensed in that new State as well. Every State has different regulations for massage therapists, so it is not safe to assume that you will automatically qualify for licensing. Check with your new State before moving to confirm that you meet the requirements to legally practice there.