How To Find A Qualified Massage Therapist

 It is essential that you trust the person who will touch you. You need to feel confident and comfortable with your massage therapist.

The place to start is with proof letters. Regarding state regulation, 33 states and the District of Columbia now regulate massage therapists. If you are in one of these states, you will want to find out if your prospective massage therapist is licensed, although in some states it is referred to as state certification or registration. Some local governments may also have some form of regulation.

The primary national reference is the Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork designation, which is designated by the initials NCTMB. Professional certification differs from government regulation because it is private (i.e. non-governmental) and not mandatory. The NCTMB designation is issued by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), which is a non-profit corporation. The board is elected by the people who are nationally certified.

People earn the NCTMB designation by meeting certain requirements, generally with education and experience, to take an exam. If they pass it, they will be nationally certified for 4 years.

They must then meet certain requirements to re-certify every 4 years. Of particular importance to consumers is that the National Certification Program is accredited by the National Commission on Certification Agencies (NCCA), located in Washington, DC. . AMTA is proud to have been a primary contributor to the establishment of the national certification program.

Another criterion is education. The minimum number of hours of training AMTA recommends to seek is 500 hours, which is the standard followed by most states that regulate massage therapists, although the required number of hours is increasing in some places. AMTA recommends that you look for a graduate of a training program accredited by the

 Committee for Accreditation of Massage Therapy (COMTA) as an agency with equivalent standards. But why? To be accredited by COMTA, a training program must provide a curriculum that meets certain requirements, submit a comprehensive self-evaluation, undergo an on-site site inspection by a team of experts, and be evaluated by an independent accreditation board. 

This means that a training program accredited by COMTA has qualified faculty to teach, appropriate equipment and classrooms, required subject areas, and other features necessary to adequately train students in massage therapy. In turn, you can give the consumer some certainty about training for massage therapists if your potential massage therapist has graduated from an accredited training program.

Another factor to consider is whether a prospective massage therapist belongs to a reputable professional association, such as AMTA. Of course, this was AMTA's website in part for AMTA .... and for reasons that are also good for consumers and the public. To be eligible for AMTA, a massage therapist must pass the national certification exam, graduate from a training program accredited or approved by COMTA, 

or have a current AMTA-approved state, provincial, or city license. AMTA has standards of practice that promote the highest standards in the profession. AMTA members must also adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, for which AMTA members are held accountable. Violations are subject to complaint procedures. AMTA is a non-profit organization whose leaders are democratically elected by its members so that their commitment to high standards and the advancement of the profession remains strong.

Next you might want to ask about your potential massage therapists approach to massage therapy. While some massage therapists may use only one or two types of massage, most massage therapists use a variety of techniques in their practice. What you want to find out is if what the massage therapist offers is compatible with what you need. You can find out more about the different types of massage by looking at the glossary of definitions. 

The more specific your needs, the more important the approach of massage therapists and specific skills may be. You can also ask how many years of experience the massage therapist has. In fact, some massage therapists with many years of experience may have started at a time when there were not so many training programs and many of the standards for occupations were not yet in place. You can, if you wish, take their experience into account when considering their credentials.

Finally, you might just find the "right" massage therapist for you the first time you visit. However, you should also try different massage therapists to find the "right fit" for you, because, besides proof letters, there is also a personal element to massage. Personality fit is also important, so is confidence ur massage therapist. Communication is an important element in massage therapy. Dont be afraid to discuss any apprehensions or concerns.

We have a way to make finding a massage therapist a little easier. AMTA’s Find A Massage Therapist national locator service! By using this service, you can receive the names of several qualified massage therapists near you. If you or someone you know needs to find a massage therapist, AMTA’s Find A Massage Therapist national locator service is available on this Website to assist you.

Questions to Ask When Looking for a Massage Therapist

- Are you currently licensed as a massage therapist in this state? (If you are in one of the 33 states or the District of Columbia which regulates massage therapy)

- Are you a graduate of a training program accredited or approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), OR

- Are you certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork?

- Where did you receive your massage therapy training? How many hours of training did you complete?

- Do you have advanced training in any specific massage techniques?

- Are you a member of AMTA?