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Becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor and Continuing Education Provider
I created the following article about becoming a massage therapy instructor and continuing education provider in response to a message from Heidi Krenzke, "I am interested in teaching massage, any help on how to begin this process?" I provided information about the National Certification Board certification process and the Texas approval process. I'd appreciate your contributions and insights. Warmly, Ariana Vincent, Ariana Institute
On Becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor and Continuing Education Provider
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. - Pericles
Have you thought of becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor and Continuing Education Provider? Is it time to share what you have learned?
Picture in your mind’s eye how you would look sharing your knowledge with others. Visualize yourself sharing the knowledge you have gained in a way that is profound, meaningful and life-changing. Allow yourself to feel the sensation of satisfaction when you know in your heart that you have enriched and inspired the professional and personal lives of those who are on a similar healing path.
What does it take to become a massage therapy instructor and continuing education provider? It varies state-by-state. The is no uniformity.
To become nationally certified as an NCBTBM Approved Provider, please visit http://www.ncbtmb.org/ceproviders.php for detailed information. The fee for an individual is $175 and for an organization the fee is $400. The prerequisites include (1) You must be an established provider (individual or organization) that has taught at least one course once in the last three years, (2) your course(s) must be appropriate to the field of massage and bodywork and exceed a basic 500-hour core massage therapy and bodywork curriculum per NCBTMB criteria, and (3) your course(s) may not be longer than fifty (50) hours in length; if so, we ask that the course be offered in segments, e.g., Section 1 of 2, Section 2 of 2, etc.
Becoming nationally certified does not mean that you can offer CE courses in every state unless you conform to that state’s specific requirements; however, there are many states that do accept NCBTMB approved providers without requiring you to submit additional paperwork or pay additional fees. It is necessary for you to check on a state-by-state basis to determine the requirements in each individual state. For example, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas require additional paperwork and the payment of additional fees even if you are an NCBTMB approved provider. Check with the specific state(s) where you are interested in offering courses to see what their rules and regulations are since they are not uniform nationwide.
In Texas, for example, there is a requirement that an applicant complete a 30 hour Adult Learner Course for Massage Therapy Instructor Certification prior to submitting this application to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This Adult Learners Course is offered by several schools and individuals, including Ariana Institute. Here is a description of Ariana Institute’s Adult Learner’s course: “This online home study cognitive course is designed for massage therapy professionals who desire to become effective Massage Therapy Instructors. This 30-hour Teaching Adult Learners continuing education course fulfills the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) requirement for completing an acceptable Adult Learners Course prior to submitting an application to become a Massage Therapy Instructor to DSHS. The focus of this course is centered on learning strategies and theories, the teaching process, classroom activities, lesson planning, mindfulness and the learning process, assessments and marketing strategies. This course is designed for future Massage Therapy Instructors who aspire to offer their classes independently or in a formal school environment. After completing this course, you can submit your course completion certificate along with your application to Texas DSHS to begin the process of becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor. Participating in this Teaching Adult Learners course through Ariana Institute could be an unparalleled life changing experience.” Additional details are available at www.arianainstitute.com/online.htm.
Once you have completed the MTI Adult Learner Course, then the process of applying to the state massage board begins. In Texas, to qualify for a license as a massage therapy instructor, a person shall: (1) be a licensed massage therapist (not a temporary registration); (2) have a high school diploma, a general equivalence diploma or a transcript from an accredited college or university showing successful completion of at least 12 semester hours; (3) submit a statement of assurance that the licensee has been engaged in the practice of massage therapy for at least one-year and has conducted 250 hours of hands-on experience (does not include internship hours). Hours accumulated while holding a provisional registration can be applied to the requirements of this paragraph; and (4) complete a 30-hour course on teaching adult learners or demonstrate competency in teaching adult learners. Courses attended may include an instructional certification program, a college level course in teaching adult learners, a continuing education course in teaching adult learners, or an advanced program approved by the department in teaching the course of instruction. Demonstrated competency means teaching adult learners varied subjects in a formal educational setting, including the development of lesson plans and assessment methods, which may be verified by a letter of reference. Effective January 1, 2002, applicants for licensure as a massage therapy instructor must complete the 30-hour course on teaching adult learners.
In Texas the next step is to complete the MTI Application for the State of Texas which includes the following: 1. Read the Massage Therapy Act, (Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 451) and the department's rules (25 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter141) relating to the regulation of massage therapy. The Act and rules were provided with this application; 2. The application fee for licensure as a massage therapy instructor is $215.00. This fee may be paid in the form of a money order, cashier’s check, or personal check, made payable to Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS); 3. Mail the completed application, supporting documentation, and fee to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS); 4. Completed applications and fees are processed through the DSHS Fiscal Division before they can be reviewed by the Massage Therapy Program staff. You will receive notification of approval or disapproval. If additional information is required in order to process your application, you will receive a notice of deficiency from this office. It can take up to 3 to 4 weeks from the date you mail the application for processing; and 5. Only official transcripts with original signatures or a notarized copy of the original transcript will be accepted. The DSHS program will return unofficial transcripts to the applicant. The renewal fee for your Massage Therapy Instructor’s license in Texas is $208 for a two year term.
Becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor would allow you to teach in a school environment offering core curriculum courses and non-kinesthetic, cognitive courses. You could also offer independent non-kinesthetic, cognitive courses. If you would like to offer kinesthetic, technique-oriented, continuing education courses, it is necessary to obtain pre-approval as a Continuing Education Provider from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Continuing education providers may apply for provider pre-approval on Texas DSHS forms, along with an application fee of $200. Approval of provider applications will be determined by review of the application and determination of applicants' ability to comply with department rules. Pre-approvals are effective for twenty four months from the date of approval. New applications must be submitted to the department every two years accompanied by the required fee.
Massage therapy educational programs and pre-approved providers of continuing education must ensure that continuing education activities meet the department requirements set out in 25 TAC, Sec. 141.20 and Sec. 141.21. Pre-approved providers of continuing education must maintain attendance records of all continuing education activities for a period of three years. Pre-approved providers must also issue a certificate of attendance to each participant in a program that contains the name of the pre-approved provider and approval number; the name of the participant; the title of the program; the number of clock hours of the program; the date and place of the program; and the signature of the pre-approved provider. Massage therapy educational programs may issue a certificate or a transcript as proof of attendance. Once you are pre-approved as a Continuing Education Provider, you can offer Continuing Education courses as long as they meet DSHS requirements. The renewal fee to maintain your pre-approved Continuing Education status is $200 for a two year term.
Of tantamount importance is to be patient with the paperwork and enjoy the light at the end of the tunnel. Remember that the job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves in ways that will affect their lives in a very positive way. You can never tell where your influence stops. As Pericles so aptly phrased it, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
Ariana Vincent
Ariana Institute
www.arianainstitute.com
On Becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor and Continuing Education Provider
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. - Pericles
Have you thought of becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor and Continuing Education Provider? Is it time to share what you have learned?
Picture in your mind’s eye how you would look sharing your knowledge with others. Visualize yourself sharing the knowledge you have gained in a way that is profound, meaningful and life-changing. Allow yourself to feel the sensation of satisfaction when you know in your heart that you have enriched and inspired the professional and personal lives of those who are on a similar healing path.
What does it take to become a massage therapy instructor and continuing education provider? It varies state-by-state. The is no uniformity.
To become nationally certified as an NCBTBM Approved Provider, please visit http://www.ncbtmb.org/ceproviders.php for detailed information. The fee for an individual is $175 and for an organization the fee is $400. The prerequisites include (1) You must be an established provider (individual or organization) that has taught at least one course once in the last three years, (2) your course(s) must be appropriate to the field of massage and bodywork and exceed a basic 500-hour core massage therapy and bodywork curriculum per NCBTMB criteria, and (3) your course(s) may not be longer than fifty (50) hours in length; if so, we ask that the course be offered in segments, e.g., Section 1 of 2, Section 2 of 2, etc.
Becoming nationally certified does not mean that you can offer CE courses in every state unless you conform to that state’s specific requirements; however, there are many states that do accept NCBTMB approved providers without requiring you to submit additional paperwork or pay additional fees. It is necessary for you to check on a state-by-state basis to determine the requirements in each individual state. For example, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas require additional paperwork and the payment of additional fees even if you are an NCBTMB approved provider. Check with the specific state(s) where you are interested in offering courses to see what their rules and regulations are since they are not uniform nationwide.
In Texas, for example, there is a requirement that an applicant complete a 30 hour Adult Learner Course for Massage Therapy Instructor Certification prior to submitting this application to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This Adult Learners Course is offered by several schools and individuals, including Ariana Institute. Here is a description of Ariana Institute’s Adult Learner’s course: “This online home study cognitive course is designed for massage therapy professionals who desire to become effective Massage Therapy Instructors. This 30-hour Teaching Adult Learners continuing education course fulfills the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) requirement for completing an acceptable Adult Learners Course prior to submitting an application to become a Massage Therapy Instructor to DSHS. The focus of this course is centered on learning strategies and theories, the teaching process, classroom activities, lesson planning, mindfulness and the learning process, assessments and marketing strategies. This course is designed for future Massage Therapy Instructors who aspire to offer their classes independently or in a formal school environment. After completing this course, you can submit your course completion certificate along with your application to Texas DSHS to begin the process of becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor. Participating in this Teaching Adult Learners course through Ariana Institute could be an unparalleled life changing experience.” Additional details are available at www.arianainstitute.com/online.htm.
Once you have completed the MTI Adult Learner Course, then the process of applying to the state massage board begins. In Texas, to qualify for a license as a massage therapy instructor, a person shall: (1) be a licensed massage therapist (not a temporary registration); (2) have a high school diploma, a general equivalence diploma or a transcript from an accredited college or university showing successful completion of at least 12 semester hours; (3) submit a statement of assurance that the licensee has been engaged in the practice of massage therapy for at least one-year and has conducted 250 hours of hands-on experience (does not include internship hours). Hours accumulated while holding a provisional registration can be applied to the requirements of this paragraph; and (4) complete a 30-hour course on teaching adult learners or demonstrate competency in teaching adult learners. Courses attended may include an instructional certification program, a college level course in teaching adult learners, a continuing education course in teaching adult learners, or an advanced program approved by the department in teaching the course of instruction. Demonstrated competency means teaching adult learners varied subjects in a formal educational setting, including the development of lesson plans and assessment methods, which may be verified by a letter of reference. Effective January 1, 2002, applicants for licensure as a massage therapy instructor must complete the 30-hour course on teaching adult learners.
In Texas the next step is to complete the MTI Application for the State of Texas which includes the following: 1. Read the Massage Therapy Act, (Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 451) and the department's rules (25 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter141) relating to the regulation of massage therapy. The Act and rules were provided with this application; 2. The application fee for licensure as a massage therapy instructor is $215.00. This fee may be paid in the form of a money order, cashier’s check, or personal check, made payable to Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS); 3. Mail the completed application, supporting documentation, and fee to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS); 4. Completed applications and fees are processed through the DSHS Fiscal Division before they can be reviewed by the Massage Therapy Program staff. You will receive notification of approval or disapproval. If additional information is required in order to process your application, you will receive a notice of deficiency from this office. It can take up to 3 to 4 weeks from the date you mail the application for processing; and 5. Only official transcripts with original signatures or a notarized copy of the original transcript will be accepted. The DSHS program will return unofficial transcripts to the applicant. The renewal fee for your Massage Therapy Instructor’s license in Texas is $208 for a two year term.
Becoming a Massage Therapy Instructor would allow you to teach in a school environment offering core curriculum courses and non-kinesthetic, cognitive courses. You could also offer independent non-kinesthetic, cognitive courses. If you would like to offer kinesthetic, technique-oriented, continuing education courses, it is necessary to obtain pre-approval as a Continuing Education Provider from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Continuing education providers may apply for provider pre-approval on Texas DSHS forms, along with an application fee of $200. Approval of provider applications will be determined by review of the application and determination of applicants' ability to comply with department rules. Pre-approvals are effective for twenty four months from the date of approval. New applications must be submitted to the department every two years accompanied by the required fee.
Massage therapy educational programs and pre-approved providers of continuing education must ensure that continuing education activities meet the department requirements set out in 25 TAC, Sec. 141.20 and Sec. 141.21. Pre-approved providers of continuing education must maintain attendance records of all continuing education activities for a period of three years. Pre-approved providers must also issue a certificate of attendance to each participant in a program that contains the name of the pre-approved provider and approval number; the name of the participant; the title of the program; the number of clock hours of the program; the date and place of the program; and the signature of the pre-approved provider. Massage therapy educational programs may issue a certificate or a transcript as proof of attendance. Once you are pre-approved as a Continuing Education Provider, you can offer Continuing Education courses as long as they meet DSHS requirements. The renewal fee to maintain your pre-approved Continuing Education status is $200 for a two year term.
Of tantamount importance is to be patient with the paperwork and enjoy the light at the end of the tunnel. Remember that the job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves in ways that will affect their lives in a very positive way. You can never tell where your influence stops. As Pericles so aptly phrased it, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
Ariana Vincent
Ariana Institute
www.arianainstitute.com
Views: 1924
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karina Braun on
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Great information Ariana. I wish that I would have been given this information when I started on my search. It would have saved me many hours figuring out state and national requirements. My input is to be patient and do not get frustrated with the paperwork you have to fill out. Hopefully some day the requirements will be the same across the country. The states all have their different rules and some do not even require continuing education.
This info is excellent for future instructors and ce providers. Good luck on the journey.
Karina Braun
Igetintouch.com -
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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Well that is really interesting! Here in WA you can take just about anything and providers don't have to be approved for anything! It would be good to get a list of what is required by each state by Ce providers. I will work on it myself and put it on my new website I am creating on massage ce.
So you go through all of that and is there a way to market your class and get them filled with students? Do you have a ce calendar in TX? What do other states have?
I have more questions and thoughts but need dinner first!
(Can I post this info on my new ce site? I'll have to make a whole section for ce providers on how to become a provider)
Julie
www.massagecareerguides.com -
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Permalink Reply by Ariana Vincent, LMT, MTI, BCTMB on
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Dear Julie - Here are some of the regulations in Washington. Warmly, Ariana Vincent, Ariana Institute, www.arianainstitute.com
Here is a link to the Washington Administrative Codes (WAC’s) that pertain to CE for massage practitioners in WA. I hope this information is helpful.
LINK: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-830-460
WAC 246-830-475
Continuing education requirements.
(1) To renew a license, licensed massage practitioners must complete twenty-four hours of continuing education every two years.
(a) A minimum of eight hours must be direct supervised massage skills training; and
(b) A minimum of four hours must be in professional ethics, communication, and/or Washington state massage laws and regulations. Two of these hours must include professional roles and boundaries; and
(c) The remaining twelve hours may be met by meeting the requirements in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) For the purposes of this chapter, continuing education is defined as any of the following activities that involve direct application of massage therapy knowledge, skills, and business practices:
(a) Attendance at a local, state, national, or international continuing education program.
(b) First aid, CPR, or emergency related classes.
(c) Self study through the use of multimedia devices or the study of books, research materials, and/or other publications.
(i) Multimedia devices. The required documentation for this activity is a letter or other documentation from the organization. A maximum of twelve hours is allowed per reporting period.
(ii) Books, research materials, and/or other publications. The required documentation for this activity is a two-page synopsis of what was learned written by the licensee. A maximum of two hours is allowed per reporting period.
(d) Teaching a course for the first time, not to exceed eight hours.
(e) Business and management courses not to exceed eight hours.
(f) Specialized training. Training must be provided for a fee by an individual who has no less than three years of expertise in that area.
(g) Distance learning. Distance learning includes, but is not limited to, correspondence course, webinar, print, audio/video broadcasting, audio/video teleconferencing, computer aided instruction, e-learning/on-line-learning, or computer broadcasting/webcasting. A maximum of twelve hours is allowed per reporting period.
(h) Active service on massage related boards or committees. A maximum of twelve hours is allowed per reporting period.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many continuing education hours am I required to report and when?
To renew a massage license, you must have sixteen hours of continuing education every two years. The continuing education hours must have been obtained during the preceding two years, from birth date to birth date. If you are reporting this year any CE that was obtained before your birth date two years ago or after your current birth date, it cannot be used to satisfy the continuing education requirement.
Does the Board pre-approve continuing education?
The Board does not pre-approve continuing education courses for presenters or licensees.
Can I get an extension of time to complete my continuing education?
Extensions may be granted for emergency situations only. It is not advisable to wait until the CE is due to request the extension. If you have exhausted all possibilities for fulfilling your continuing education requirements and are contemplating requesting an extension, keep in mind that:
• Requests could take six weeks or longer. If your license is set to expire before your request can be considered, you can’t practice without an active license.
• The average extension of time granted by the Board is three months.
• If your request is denied, you will still have to complete the 16 hours of CE prior to your expiration date.
• If an extension is granted, you must complete all past due requirements in addition to the 16 hours of CE required for the next renewal cycle.
• The Board grants extensions of time to complete continuing education requirements only for extenuating circumstances, such as a medical illness.
What happens if I am audited?
The Board audits a percentage of all currently licensed massage practitioners to ensure compliance with the continuing education requirements. If audited, you will be required to:
• Prove compliance which may include course or program certificates of training or transcripts.
You are required to keep records for four years documenting attendance description of learning.
Where do I get information on continuing education classes?
The Board does not provide information about continuing education courses. It is your responsibility to find courses that meet the requirements of the massage rules that define what qualifies for continuing education credit. For more information, please read WAC 246-830-475 Qualification of program for continuing education credit. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-830-475
When in doubt, the Board recommends that you not report the course as part of the sixteen-hour continuing education requirement for renewal.
Are home study course hours limited?
Yes. They are limited to four hours, whether it be viewing of video tapes or anything else.
Can I use First Aid and CPR toward my continuing education?
Yes. First aid, CPR or emergency related classes can be used toward your continuing education requirement.
Is my school approved?
The Board of Massage website provides a listing of approved schools. You can check to see if your school has been approved at School List
What is the process to get school approval?
The Board of Massage has a very specific application and organizational structure that is required of all schools applying for approval. The application must be presented:
• In triplicate separated in three ring binders,
• with the provided Table of Contents in the front of each copy of the application,
• with an index,
• with consecutively numbered pages, and
• an original current school catalogue in each copy.
When the application is received it will be initially reviewed for completeness. At that time, any additional information or materials deemed necessary will be requested. The application will then be provided to two Washington State Board of Massage members for review. The reviewing members will report their findings to the full Board at the next available Board meeting. The Board will then vote to deny, approve, or conditionally approve the application.
Before the program is approved, the Board may conduct a site-review and periodic site reviews thereafter, to ensure continued compliance with the standards for approval. The site-review will consist of a self-evaluation, to be completed by the school, and a visit to the school by a representative of the Board.
JULIE'S ORIGINAL POST
Julie Onofrio said:Well that is really interesting! Here in WA you can take just about anything and providers don't have to be approved for anything! It would be good to get a list of what is required by each state by Ce providers. I will work on it myself and put it on my new website I am creating on massage ce.
So you go through all of that and is there a way to market your class and get them filled with students? Do you have a ce calendar in TX? What do other states have?
I have more questions and thoughts but need dinner first!
(Can I post this info on my new ce site? I'll have to make a whole section for ce providers on how to become a provider)
Julie
www.massagecareerguides.com -
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Permalink Reply by Nancy Toner Weinberger on
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Aside from the specific requirements in your state, there is training available. I offer the Teacher Training Intensive for massage school teachers and Teaching Skills for the Workshop Leader for aspiring continuing education teachers. The class for CE Instructors is a real workshop, in which you design and work on your courses. There is an optional half day at the end in which we go over the NCBTMB application and fill it out. However the course learning is applicable to pretty much any CE application for any organization. NCBTMB CE hours are available for both courses. Read more at www.dynamicequilibrium.com. Just use the shortcut link at the bottom of the first page to go to training for massage school teachers or become a continuing education teacher.
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Yes I know what they are here in WA as I have a CE Website www.wa-massage-therapy.com/ce
I would like to know what they are in each state and as in TX the process of what you have to go through to be able to teach - or is TX the only one with such hoops to jump through?
I am creating a new site www.massageceguide.com - that only has a few pages up but it will be comprehensive. It will be a resource for ce providers too on how to promote their classes online, how to start teaching, etc.
Julie
Ariana Vincent, LMT, MTI, NCTMB said:Dear Julie - Here are some of the regulations in Washington. Warmly, Ariana Vincent, Ariana Institute, www.arianainstitute.com
Here is a link to the Washington Administrative Codes (WAC’s) that pertain to CE for massage practitioners in WA. I hope this information is helpful.
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Dear Julie - Best wishes to you in this worthwhile endeavor. It will be good to have comprehensive information on a national level. One way to approach it would be to contact the national massage organizations and see what help they can offer you and then proceed with contacting each state individually, reviewing their rules and regulations and then contacting the director of the massage program if further clarification is necessary. Thank you so much for your service to the massage therapy community, Julie. Warmly, Ariana Vincent, Ariana Institute, www.arianainstitute.com
Julie Onofrio said:Yes I know what they are here in WA as I have a CE Website www.wa-massage-therapy.com/ce
I would like to know what they are in each state and as in TX the process of what you have to go through to be able to teach - or is TX the only one with such hoops to jump through?
I am creating a new site www.massageceguide.com - that only has a few pages up but it will be comprehensive. It will be a resource for ce providers too on how to promote their classes online, how to start teaching, etc.
Julie
Ariana Vincent, LMT, MTI, NCTMB said:Dear Julie - Here are some of the regulations in Washington. Warmly, Ariana Vincent, Ariana Institute, www.arianainstitute.com
Here is a link to the Washington Administrative Codes (WAC’s) that pertain to CE for massage practitioners in WA. I hope this information is helpful.
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