Thursday, April 30, 2009

Massage Therapy Online Certification

Online courses teach massage theory.


Online training offers students convenient access to coursework and many massage therapy students have pursued certification through online classes. While online massage therapy training can teach students large amounts of information about massage practices, students must balance the need for convenience with the absence of physical practice opportunities.


Course Contents


Online massage therapy courses, according to Massage Therapy 101, often place emphasis on massage theory, history of massage and a number of common strokes. Online massage classes often more closely resemble self-help lessons than traditional massage instruction.


Certification Requirements


Though requirements vary from state to state, the online training resource Learn Massage Online reports that massage therapist candidates typically require at least 600 hours of training.


Hands-On Practice


By nature, online massage therapy training lacks opportunities for hands-on massage experience. According to the Natural Healers, students do not need a specific amount of hands-on experience to qualify for licensing in some states, the American Massage Therapy Association strongly recommends students participate in massage therapy sessions with other students and alumni at training facilities. Online massage therapy schools do not offer this opportunity.


Benefits


Online massage therapy training, according to Massage Therapy 101, provides an excellent and convenient resource for licensed therapists to refresh their knowledge or learn about new techniques.


Considerations








Though online massage therapy courses offer a wealth of information about massage history and theory, Massage Therapy 101 recommends beginning students pursue training at an institution which offer hands-on practice and training.

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