Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Certification

Massage therapy that provides a therapeutic benefit encompasses a variety of specific techniques. Most states require a massage therapist to be certified before they can perform massage on customers. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is the regulatory organization for massage therapists in the United States.

Education

A massage therapist must graduate from an accredited school to obtain certification. The NCBTMB accredits these programs to ensure they adequately prepare students to perform massage therapy. The requirements include at least 500 hours of instruction consisting of 200 hours of massage therapy and 125 hours of additional massage techniques. An accredited massaged therapy program must also include 125 hours of anatomy, kinesiology and physiology. Additional training include 40 hours of pathology, six hours of ethics and four hours of business practice. The student may be able to substitute some practical experience for formal education.

Application

A graduate from a massage therapy program must submit an application for certification to the NCBTMB along with the application fee, currently $225 as of 2010. The NCBTMB reviews the application to ensure the student meets the educational requirements. Massage therapists must also agree to abide by the ethics require of this profession. The student may then select an exam date within three months of approval.

Examination

The NCBTMB certification exam requires up to four hours and consists of 160 questions. The subjects on the exam include anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, assessment, application and ethics. The score on the exam ranges from 100 to 400 points with 300 being the minimum passing score.


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