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So My Degree Means Nothing???

Let me first say, that if I mumble and ramble in this blog, excuse me. I am pretty upset about this and would like some feed back.
Now I work for a company where everything was all rosy in the beginning; offering better opportunities than the competition, which seemed to plan out at first. But as time has passed by, and this location has not been open for a year yet, the cons are beginning to show up. Anyone every working at companies like this always run into a problem with the front desk people and "corporate" because of their lack of knowledge about massage and their concern more about money than the therapist. But now, the place I work is offering CEU courses for the modalities that they offer, but the problem arises when not only is the course a lame deep tissue deal, but they are making it mandatory to take.
I just graduated in August from a fourteen plus month program in massage with an Associates degree were deep tissue was covered greatly. Pllus, I have 48 CEUs, so I have 4 years before I would need more. My whole complaint is that they want us to take this course and follow their routine. I would never get as many repeat request as I have dong this routine, or any other for that matter, so I am conflicted. I'm not the only one that feels this way, and other therapist have opt not to do it because we have to do 6 massages outside work, and one on a manager. It wouldn't be too bad if we had the option to do it, but we don't, and we are on a less than thirty day time limit to do it. Ok, so now I am rambling. What's your opinion my community?

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Comment by Mike Hinkle on February 4, 2010 at 11:01pm: Ok, so back to your original question... So My Degree Means Nothing? It seems that is up to you. You can stay and deal... or you have the knowledge and skills to move on! Always good to have the next job lined up first brfore leaving the other. Let me know how it works out. I am sure others will share their input as well.

Comment by Darcy Neibaur on February 4, 2010 at 10:58pm: Hi JB,

Sounds like the CEU course I took in Hot Stones for Massaage Envy. Yes, I chose to take it and I love it. Like with any CEU certification there is practicals that have to be done to learn all the porticals and proceedures before we can be certified. With Reflexology I had to do 100 before I could be certified. With those practicals I couldn't charge but could receive tips. So having to do 6 practicals is nothing. I was able to do them outside of Massage Envy because I had my own stones. Some did the practicals at the center because they did not have stoane. You will be glad for it in the end if you choose to take the course. We had the choice to take or not to take. It was not required. I had to get used to massaging with the stones. It was not easy at first but is now second hand for me. Plus, I make the highest amount I can for Hot Stones. I am now doing around 4 Hot Stones Massages in a week which I'm grateful for as they are so much easier on my hands. Once you take the course, you will see that the Massage Envy Hot Stone Massage is not a Deep Tissue Massage. It is about the heat penatrating deep into the muscles not the pressure of the Stones on the muscles.

Comment by JB Harding, III LMT A.A.S. on February 4, 2010 at 10:46pm: We have to do ^ massages once, plus on on a manager for the course. It has just been made mandatory after I was employed. I got my Associates in Missouri.

Comment by Mike Hinkle on February 4, 2010 at 10:00pm: Whoa, you are saying as a condition for your employment that you have to take mandatory CEs that they set as standards and that they benefit from financially? You are saying you must do 6 massages a month "off the books," plus massage the manager to retain employment?

What state did you get your 14 month program in? You've been licensed a couple months?