Massage Therapy

» CaseyKinney - Is study accepted as bonafied in another country?

I've got just a quick question regarding international study, and certification in different countries.

While I understand that the regulations and requirements to become registered and/or licensed varies (sometimes extremely) from state to state or country to country, I wonder if the hours of study obtained in one country are counted in registration or licensure in another country.

My more specific question is this: If I were to go to school in British Columbia, Canada, attaining a 3,000 hour education and registration certificate, is it possible to go back into the States and be able to test for my lisencure/registration in any given state? Would the "Canadian hours" be equivilant to "American hours"?

-- posted by CaseyKinney

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» Sylvia Carlson - Is study accepted as bonafied in another country?

In response to Is study accepted as bonafied in another country? posted by CaseyKinney:

Hi Casey,

Because there are no consistent standards across Canada or the United States, I can't really answer that question without going to each province and each state to find out what the requirements are. Having said that, however, the 3,000 hours of massage training in B.C. far exceed the minimum standards required in most states which is 500 to 1000 hours. Most states require you to be certified from an accredited school (The West Coast College of Massage Therapy is accredited). I have posed your question directly to the WCCMT and will be back shortly with their response.

Here is a list of resources for you to get more specific information.

1. American Massage Therapy Association

http://www.amtamassage.org/membership/pr...

The American Massage Therapy Association requires you to:

. Graduate from a minimum 500 in-class-hour massage therapy training program, or
. Pass the National Certification Examination in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, or
. Possess a current AMTA-accepted license to practice

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia regulate massage therapists in the U.S.

http://www.amtamassage.org/about/lawstat...

2. National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

http://www.ncbtmb.com/faq.htm

The primary national credential is the designation - Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, which is designated by the initials NCTMB. [minimum requirement is 500 hours of training].

3. State Boards of Massage

This is an excellent resource to help you find the state specific laws:

http://www.amtamassage.org/pdf/2006_Stat...

State Boards Administering Massage Practice Laws - ranges from 500 to 1000 hours of massage therapy training.

Some states require an State Board Massage Therapy Examination and some require that you also become nationally certified (NCTMB) http://www.ncbtmb.com/faq.htm, and some may allow you to be eligible for licensure by endorsement.

Typically, you will have to take some type of government certified written and practical exam to become state certified or licensed.

Does that answer your question?

Sylvia

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