What is Massage Therapy?
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 reduce stress and eliminate tension and pain in their clients. Classic, or Swedish Massage, is the type of massage that many people relate to when discussing massage therapy, and the majority of Cambridge MA massage therapy schools teach it as their principal form of massage. However, there are numerous other forms of massage that schools may or may not include within their syllabus. Below 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. On occasion you might hear them called a masseur or a masseuse, which refers to a female or a male massage practitioner. However, these titles generally have a negative connotation among Cambridge MA professionals and the public at large and are better avoided.
Massage Therapist Education Requirements
The majority of Cambridge MA schools offering massage therapy require enrolling students have a high school diploma or a GED to qualify. Programs can range in length from a few months for a Certificate or a Diploma to as long as 2 years for an Associate’s Degree. The lengths of the programs will also be State specific based on the number of hours required for licensing. Another factor that can also influence the length of the program is whether classes are scheduled during the daytime or at night. Also, an Associate Degree in Massage Therapy may have general education requirements and the credits may be transferrable into a similar Bachelor’s Degree Program. After you have received 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 HIPPA compliance or ethics.
Massage Therapist Licensing
Once you have graduated from an accredited Cambridge MA 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 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. Some States have additional tests or their own, so find out from your State before enrolling in a massage therapy program. If you fail the MBLEx in the first attempt, you can take it again after thirty days but will be charged another exam 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 previously mentioned, completion of a specific number of continuing education hours are usually required as a prerequisite for renewal. And if you decide to move to a different State, licensing will be required for that new State also. Each State regulates massage therapy differently, 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 have satisfied the requirements to practice legally there.