Massage therapy career requirements and employment in Miami

MASSAGE THERAPY Local: Miami State:Florida Institution: Miami Dade College Health Care Career Report Instructions 1 Miami Dade College Medical Center Campus Health Sciences Related Studies HSC 0003, Introduction Health Care Health

Job description

A massage therapist is an individual who has been trained to provide massage therapy to patients or clients mostly for medical benefits. There are many kinds of massage therapies, but the most common are aromatherapy massage, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, Thai massage, and reflexology. A massage therapist should specialize in different techniques to ensure they can cater for different client needs. Massage therapists are required to provide the following in their job description. Apply hand and finger pressure to specific places of the body, they should assess a client's joint quality, joint function, soft tissue condition, motion range, and muscle strength Crosby, 2000.

They should also interview clients in order to establish the required and best massage therapy, assess the client's symptoms, medical history, and other information before commencement of treatment, and massage the soft tissues and muscles of the client's body to provide treatment for medical conditions.

Massage therapists are also required to consult with other professionals in the health care field like chiropractors, physicians, physiotherapists, and psychologists to ensure they develop correct treatment plans Finch, 2004.

They should also maintain all records of client treatment. A massage therapist should also provide guidance to clients on techniques for stretching, postural improvement, relaxation, rehabilitative exercises, and strengthening.

A massage therapist is required to have the following certifications

National certification

State licensing

Training and education from an accredited school

Membership in a professional association

Education and Certification

To become a certified massage therapist one needs to obtain training and education from an accredited institution. Students are taught kinesiology, anatomy, physiology, management, business, and ethics "COMMISSION ON MASSAGE THERAPY EDUCATION RECOGNIZED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION," 2002.

The prospective student is required to study the practice and theory of massage therapy. Finally, they will have to undertake some elective subjects before they can complete the course. Massage therapy is offered in Miami by the following institutions Florida Academy, The Praxis Institute, Steiner Education, Sarasota School of Massage, Dade Medical College, Ridge Career center, and Loraine's Academy Inc. The American Massage Therapy Association, 2013()

The length of time required to complete the course is between 500 hours to 1000 hours. The differences mostly occur depending on the institution one attends. The approximate cost for the course is $15,000.

Depending on the institution one attends the certifications or degrees are

Therapeutic Massage Technician

Advanced Therapeutic Massage

Massage Therapy Associate of Science Degree

Massage Therapy Diploma

Professional activities

To become nationally certified provides a massage therapist with the opportunity to practice nationally. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is charged with administering the certifications. The licensing exam will cost $185 and board certification is $250 The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, 2013.

The Board certification is only valid for two years thereafter one needs to recertify. During recertification one has the option of taking the exam again or having a background check be conducted.

There are many journals one can subscribe to in the massage therapy industry. Two of them are International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, and Massage Therapy Journal. The Massage Therapy Journal costs $25 for a one year subscription. The journal can be obtained online at www.amtamassage.org. There is continuing education that is offered by AMTA. The program provides massage therapist with an opportunity to stay current within the profession. The program provides an opportunity to advance skills and knowledge. Continuing education within the profession is not expected, but it is recommended. This will ensure one acquires new skills in the profession.

Each state has different requirements for continuing educational units (CEU). In Florida, it is required that each professional undergoes an hour each month of training. This training is undertaken from the last renewal and will last around two years. New York State requires the CEU's to be undertaken every three years.

Conclusion

This profession provides a person with the opportunity to advance and establish their own practice easily. There are also many opportunities to work in different states with different people. The demand for massage therapists has been increasing steadily. This indicates that it is a growing field and people have started appreciating the services provided by massage therapists. The most meaningful information was that one needs to obtain certification and licensing from the state and National board. With national board certification, one can be assured that they can practice all over the country in different states. Licensing is also important as it ensures that professionals adhere to the code of conduct in service provision.