Continuing education is required by most massage therapy licensing boards.
Massage therapists take continuing education courses to broaden their skills or learn advanced techniques. In most states, they also have to log a certain number of classroom hours to maintain their licensing or certification. State licensing requirements vary greatly, and there is also a national certification board, which claims it oversees 90,000 certified practitioners. Continuing education (CEU) providers can apply for certification at the state or national level, depending on their goals and local requirements.
Instructions
1. Check with the licensing body in your area. Learn the continuing education requirements and ask about the guidelines and qualifications for continuing education providers. If the licensing board has its own approval process, you will probably have to provide your credentials, teaching background and an outline or syllabus for each course you plan to teach.
2. Ask if the state has a reciprocal relationship with the national certification board. It is likely that the state will accept any providers who are already approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); in that case, you will want to apply to the NCBTMB, which is based in Illinois.
3. Visit the NCBTMB website to apply for approval. Applicants must have taught massage or bodywork courses within the last three years and hold a degree, license or certification that demonstrates mastery in their field. As of April 2011, initial application fees are $175 for individuals and $400 for organizations. Applicants must provide their professional credentials and detailed course outlines for the classes their plan to teach. The NCBTMB also requires CEU providers to follow a code of conduct that outlines expected standards for everything from classroom conduct to billing and cancellation policies.
Tags: continuing education, Applicants must, certification board, Continuing education, education providers, national certification, national certification board
