How to Choose Massage CEUs
Continuing Education for the Massage Therapist
Most massage therapists are required to take continuing education workshops, seminars and classes every couple of years. Regulations vary by city, state, county or region and should be researched by the practitioner.
There are hundreds of courses for massage therapists to choose from. Planning in advance can save, time, money and the therapist’s sanity.
Honing Massage Skills
Instead of taking every CEU course available in the area, consider the value of the course to clients and the overall practice. Recent graduates may find massage workshops in building your own practice and business management more helpful than a spendy course on Thai massage.
The massage therapist can sit down and come up with a game plan to hone his or her talents for the long-term. Does the LMT love working with athletes? Focus on CE courses that delve into sports medicine, stretching intensives and advanced anatomy and physiology if the original massage program was lacking.
Take a Massage Workshop as a Learning Vacation
Mixing business with pleasure can be a great thing for bodyworkers. Many workshops and courses are held in beautiful locations. Take a Lomi Lomi class in Hawaii or learn Thai Foot Massage in the rain forest of Costa Rica. Exotic locations combined with unique courses can be both vacation and continuing education for the massage therapist.
Some self-employed bodywork professionals find it difficult to schedule time off for vacation. This can be caused by finances, heavy workload or simply the first years of business. A learning vacation makes the decision much easier on the small business owner; after all “it’s for the business.”
Finding Short CE Courses Online
It can happen to even the best of planners – the licensing or membership renewal is due in and the massage therapist is just shy of meeting the required continuing ed hours. Instead of hitting the panic button, try google! NCBTMB approved online courses come in all shapes and sizes. These home study classes give the therapist a few hours when she’s in a pinch. While it isn’t recommended to take a home study course for a hands-on modality, some good options include:
- Ethics
- State laws and rules overview
- Business – everything from office policies to bringing in new clients
- Anatomy overview
- Self care
Research the CE Provider
The student should research her options as well as research the instructor, company or institute before signing up for a course. Ask colleagues, or get testimonials from the instructor. Some question to help determine if this is a legitimate course:
- How long has the company been in business?
- Is their continuing education certificate still valid with the national board?
- What are the cancellation and refund policies?
- Where, exactly, will the course be held?
Massage membership associations keep lists of continuing education providers, as well as national board organizations. These can be helpful in finding legitimate courses.
Choosing a Massage CE Class
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Health & Wellness
Latest Articles