Today, you can earn a Massage Therapy Certificate in a matter of a few hundred hours of hands-on-training. Depending on individual state requirements and massage school offerings, an aspiring student wishing to gain a Massage Therapy Certificate can now do so in just a few weeks or months.
Most Massage Therapy Certificate programs cover an in-depth curriculum that is practical in nature, but nonetheless, quite comprehensive. Students enrolled in a Massage Therapy Certificate program can anticipate basic courses in anatomy and physiology, massage theory and application, kinesiology, pathology, business ethics and practice, and CPR and First Aid. In addition to foundational classes in primary teachings, massage therapy students will also learn about a variety of massage modalities. For example, in a Massage Therapy Certificate program, students may learn routine methods of massage such as Swedish massage and/or deep tissue massage.
Several Massage Therapy Certificate programs allow students to participate in more advanced bodywork classes that encompass massage techniques in myofascial release, reflexology, infant and prenatal massage, sports massage, geriatric massage, manual lymph drainage, and much more.
Typically, students who desire to enter a Massage Therapy Certificate program should have earned their high school diploma or GED, and should have a desire to become part of today's health care scene. Successful candidates who have acquired their Massage Therapy Certificate will have gained the competence, knowledge, and skills to become a practicing massage therapist. Graduates will be able to help patients with a variety of massage techniques designed to relieve pain and stress, improve circulation, and enhance overall wellbeing.
Furthermore, students who have earned a Massage Therapy Certificate, and have met all other requirements for practicing in his or her state of residency, will discover an abundance of career potentials, as massage therapy is anticipated to be a rapidly-growing field of work in the coming decade. Students who possess a Massage Therapy Certificate in massage therapy training can expect earnings up to over $30 an hour, depending on experience, reputation, location, and education. Graduates of Massage Therapy Certificate programs may find work in hospitals, clinics, day spas, massage therapy centers, physical therapy offices, chiropractic offices, or other natural health care facilities.
