a community of practitioners

Hours Needed To Be A Massage Therapist?

Ok, the debate is out there so if members of this group could respond in a quick poll, it would help.

1. How long have you been a therapist?

2. How many hours should you have to go to massage school before testing for work on the public and charging for the service (licensure, certification or registration)?

That's all.

Thanks,

Mike

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on February 11, 2011 at 11:46pm

I learned about massage in Dec. 2005, When I had my very first professional massage at Pensacola Massage Center. I went to school April 2007, and became Licensed February 14, 2008. Valentine' s Day, which will always be special to me is my Massage Annaversary. All of this happened to and for me because of you. You had a 500 hour school and a couple years later I had a 640 hour schooling. Same School, same price maybe, I am not sure. Now this same 640 hour school is $6000 more than when I went to school. Why? Because school owners can. I think price gouging for massage schooling is another area that needs to be addressed. Just my humble opinion.

Is 640 hours enough? Well, all I can say is, there is something to be said for experience. All the educatiuon in the world is not going to make for a better massage. Experience makes for a better massage. So settle on 500 hours and let those therapists get out there and address folk's issues and begin massaging. Just my thoughts.

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on February 12, 2011 at 12:02am

Thanks Darcy

3 years- 500 hours right?

Thanks!

Permalink Reply by rudy m smith on February 12, 2011 at 5:53am

30 years

500 - but course curricula needs to change

psychological eval of students may be a good idea

Permalink Reply by Tony Spitzer on February 12, 2011 at 7:35am

1. I have been a therapist for 7 months.

2. Minimum of 500 hours.

Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on February 12, 2011 at 7:58am

Certified and licensed 12 years. At that time 250 was regarded as a long program in California. Many schools only offered 150 hours.

I think 500 hours including 120 hours of internship is a good program. Nothing beats hands on experience with guidance and learning what the work environment is for development. We are talking about entry level, being able to do basic massage without harm to the client or yourself. A curriculum should educate not only in basic massage with contraindicators, anatomy, physiology, pathology, but in my opinion the work environment from outcall to spa to medical. This gives students a clearer idea what is available in the profession.

Permalink Reply by Mary Ann Zumpfe on February 12, 2011 at 9:18am

I have been a therapist since 2004. My program was 500 hours.

I immediately took national boards and remain nationally certified to this day.

Invest in your knowledge on a consistent basis. Experience and knowledge make for a great therapist.

Most of all, enjoy what you are doing.

Permalink Reply by Mark Lechtner on February 12, 2011 at 9:56am

I have been a therapist since October 2009

Education was 500 hrs. I think more was needed.

Permalink Reply by Michael Kapsos on February 12, 2011 at 1:27pm

I've been a certified and licensed therapist for 7 months. My program was 600 hours.

I agree with Darcy and Daniel, an internship/apprenticeship is the best idea. Getting out there and working on people is the real teacher. It would be better to have more time in a real work environment while your a student. Maybe a 500 hour program and add 300 hours of internship, before your out their trying to run your own business. For me as an older beginning therapist, I have 35 years of what I think are related skills(reflexology, Tai Chi, Qigong, Chi Nei Tsang, teaching gymnastics) to incorporate into my practice. Those skills make me who I am as a therapist, but not until I've had time to merge them with my new skills. I think more time in a guided work environment would have helped me become better qualified to provide quality massage and get a jump start on merging my past skills.

Permalink Reply by Lara Rininger on February 12, 2011 at 3:56pm

1. I have been an LMT for 1 day. :)

2. My massage program was 751 hours. I think that was reasonable. I guess I'd say 500 would be the minimum.

Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on February 12, 2011 at 5:14pm

YEAH! LARA CONGRATULATIONS!

Lara Rininger said:

1. I have been an LMT for 1 day. :)

2. My massage program was 751 hours. I think that was reasonable. I guess I'd say 500 would be the minimum.

Permalink Reply by Amy Coy on February 12, 2011 at 8:00pm

Currently I am still a student with plans to graduate in June after 600 hrs. I am eligable after 500 hours and I believe that isn't enough schooling and experience to be turned loose. I believe that provides a new therapist with just the bare minimum to survive.

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on February 12, 2011 at 9:29pm

Amy, how many hours have you completed so far? We never seem to have enough hours. And it is great you feel that way, you should "never" stop learning.

If you would, when you get to 500 hours, let me know how things are at that point. I hope you are in a good school. Thanks!