Recently in Massachusetts where I live, we got state licensure for Massage Therapy. (no golf claps here; raucous Yahoo's! will do thank you very much) After a long struggle, and thanks to our wonderful AMTA for funding a serious voice in the state house, we now do not have to a) pay separate fees to every health department in towns we wanted to work (i.e. if you practiced in 3 towns you could expect to pay one town 100, one town 50, one town 250--whatever the extortioners, oops! health dept. decided), or b) jump through whatever hoop each health department decided was relevant. I've been fingerprinted, VD checked, had to appear before a board to determine my "good moral standing" among other insults. As the State Board struggles in its growing pains, and tries to do right by all of us a big issue has recently come up that is tearing me apart this morning.
The State Board would like to elevate the amount of hours required for licensure from 500 to 650. Some schools in the area have already been training students at a higher level of hours (hello Cortiva!--750) than what the state required. I graduated Ben Benjamin's school, the Muscular Therapy Institute at 1200 hours when Massachusetts only required 500. Incredulously, some schools are balking at having to add another 150 hours to their curriculum. These same schools are arguing against adding the additional hours and are gearing up for a throwdown at the State House this Friday.
I can only throw up my hands in the air and say to those who oppose, "What are you thinking?" Call me opinionated. Guilty! Why on earth would an organization that is dedicated to the art and practice of massage as a profession balk at training their graduates to be even more educated, more prepared, more marketable as contractors/employees/sole proprietors? There's some interesting arguments as to why there is dissent. In my humble and greatly biased opinion, I think it comes down to money. How little has to be offered, and how slickly can it be packaged for people to plunk down their hard earned cash for training? Are the dissenting opinions really interested in graduating excellent practitioners? Are they interesting in eleveating the profession as a whole for all of us to be seen in a professional light? Sadly, no. Granted, I am a businesswoman too. I understand you have to make money to stay in the game. But it's all about the spin folks. When prospective students come to look at schools, it's not about how fast they can get out and get working. They won't be working for long if they're not prepared. Incidence of injury and burn out will be high if proper technique is not covered thoroughly. Having a life long career that is satisfying and frutiful comes from knowledge, preparation and practice.
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