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Many of us love to get therapeutic body massage services such as reflexology massage, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, back massage and foot massage. We even purchase massage gift cards for ourselves, our loved ones and our friends. But did you ever consider that massage can be dangerous if given by massage therapists who have not undergone proper training? To check if the massage therapists you go to in Charlotte NC have the proper training and accreditation, you should know the national standards for such training and accreditation.
What does a person have to go through in the United States in order to become a licensed massage therapist? The prerequisite is, of course, getting the proper educational background. He or she should take full courses in massage therapy in a school recognized by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). The required course work covers an average of 500 hours of study on physiology, anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, massage theory and techniques, hydrotherapy, clinical practice, first aid and CPR, sanitation, business, communication, ethics and legal issues. On top of this, he or she should have actual hands on experience in massage therapy.
Thirty eight states in the US require massage therapists to be registered, certified or licensed in order to practice. Such registration, certification or licensure is in turn offered in 39 states. Most states require massage therapists to be Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB). This is achieved through the certification program and tests of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. One may also be certified by providing documented proof of specified amounts and quality of training and experience.
When a massage therapist is said to be registered this means he or she has attained a specified educational requirement. When a massage therapist is said to be certified this means he or she has attained specified higher educational requirements. When a massage therapist is said to be licensed, on the other hand, this means he or she has met the most rigorous process of all since this is the highest regulatory level.
Thirteen states in the United States accept the MBLEx certification exam given by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. A large number of states also allow State Endorsement from another state, meaning the massage therapist has already been licensed in that other state. The requirement, however, is that the standards of the previous state in its written and practical examination is comparable to or more severe than those of the second state.
If the massage therapist has not been previously licensed in any other state, he or she must meet the minimum required educational attainments in the state and then pass the required written and practical examination in order to get a license. The required educational attainment may vary among states. In some states, holding a license in an approved health related field in that state has credited value and only a certain number of hours of course work in massage therapy has to be added. The approved health related licenses usually include those of a medical doctor, physical therapist, occupational therapist, registered nurse, doctor of chiropractic or licensed practical nurse.
The first thing you should do when you choose a therapeutic body massage clinic, therefore, is to ask for official documentation on the accreditation and training of their massage therapists. Do not even consider getting reflexology massage, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, back massage and even foot massage services from untrained persons who call themselves massage therapists. You may end up worse off than you were to begin with. You will certainly find the accreditation and training you seek from professional massage therapists if you go to a reputable massage clinic in Charlotte NC.
