Why Continuing Education is Important for Massage Therapists?

Massage Therapy is a growing field in our country and Massage Therapy Continuing Education classes help Massage Therapists and Massage Therapy Students to stay current with the latest advances in their field. With the ever-changing laws and changes to insurance coverage and business structures, it is important for Massage Therapists and Massage Therapy Students to keep abreast of Massage Therapy education and practice. Continuing education helps massage therapists and students keep abreast of the ever-changing business landscape.

Today, Massage Therapy is regulated by state laws and most states require continuing education for massage therapists who work in the public sector. Massage Therapy is covered by many types of insurance including Medicare and Medicaid. Massage Therapy is also considered an approved medical profession by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

Continuing Education for Massage Therapy is typically offered through local community colleges or through universities. Students may register for an online course or choose a self-paced program that meets their needs. Continuing Education classes are designed to help Massage Therapy students learn about new methods, technologies, and research, as well as update them on the laws that govern health professions and cover specific areas of Massage Therapy.

Continuing Education Classes

Continuing Education classes help a Massage Therapy Student: update him or herself on regulations, rules and policies, and laws that apply to them as a professional; understand the legal requirements that apply to him or her as a professional; and learn about new technological advancements and equipment. The number of classes needed to fulfill a continuing education requirement depends upon the State. A Massage Therapy Student must be twenty-five years of age or older when he or she begins a Massage Therapy Continuing Education class. In addition to taking a course in each of the four categories of continuing education, a Massage Therapy Student must pass a competency exam administered by his or her state’s Department of Health. The competency exam may be taken at any time, and students must pass it before the end of the current semester in which they are receiving continuing education credit.

Classes can be attended only once a year, regardless of whether a student is still a full-time student. In addition, some states have other laws in place that dictate what a student must do if he or she fails to attend a certain part of a course. States like Tennessee, which requires a Massage Therapy Student to notify his or her employer within thirty days of missing two or more classes, require that a statement be submitted to the Occupational Therapy Licensing Board in order to reinstate the license.

Continuing education credits are not evaluated for passing or failure based solely on when they are taken. Courses are evaluated based on the knowledge and skills that they impart, as well as on the students’ performance in those classes. Continuing education credits are issued when a student has successfully passed all five lessons in each section of a continuing education sequence, but the credits are not transferable unless approved by the Department of Health.

How Do I Become a Massage Continuing Education Teacher

Massage Therapy Continuing Education Credits

Massage Therapy Continuing Education credits can be used for any number of continuing medical education courses. They may be used to take specialized courses in anatomy, ethics, heath care, geriatrics, sports medicine, psychology, physiology and even foreign languages. Depending on the State, the credit hours required may vary from one State to the next. The student may be required to take an approved elective in these classes as well, though he or she may not need to.

All continuing education requirements must be met before a Massage Therapy Student is granted a “passed” status. There is no limit on the number of credits that a student can earn in a given year. Continuing education credits can be earned in a variety of ways: via the Internet, through the use of text books, by attending classes at community colleges and through other methods. Those who wish to continue their education via the Internet may contact local colleges and universities that offer Massage Therapy Continuing Education programs. These programs usually require that a student be a current student of Massage Therapy in order to be considered a participant.