CE for Massage Therapists
Developing your career as a massage therapist doesn’t end with graduating from massage therapy school and passed your licensing exam.
Just as it would be in other fields such as education and healthcare, earning continuing education (CE) credits is essential to your professional development and ability to provide quality care.
Below, we discuss four big reasons you need to continue education in massage therapy. They add up to more than merely fulfilling a state’s licensing requirements.
1) It’s Required
As of 2018, massage therapists in North Carolina must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years to qualify for license renewal. Members of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) must complete 48 hours every four years to maintain active professional membership.
Other states may have different requirements, but accumulating a certain number of CE hours periodically to maintain licensure is standard. States may also require that some courses be in particular subjects such as ethics or business management.
Not all hours need to be done live. Check your state’s requirements for details, as some have changed within the past year due to COVID-19.
2) Continuing Education Keeps You Current
Beyond licensing requirements, massage continuing education courses allow you to get up to speed on the latest news and developments in the world of massage therapy. It’s all about keeping you on the cutting edge.
It doesn’t matter how good you are as a massage therapist or if you consider yourself an expert in the field already. There’s always room for improvement and growth. Continuing education courses allow you to expand your knowledge, provide better care to clients, and help build your business.
In addition to keeping you abreast of the most current knowledge and trends in massage therapy, it’s an opportunity to connect with colleagues. In addition, the knowledge you pick up in CE courses can be brought back to your office so everyone can be kept up to date.
Finally, because your state’s CE requirements often include classes on business management, this is an opportunity to develop business skills, get more referrals, and operate more efficiently.
3) You and Your Clients Will Be Better Served
CE courses teach new techniques and approaches, and they also cover essential issues involving client care—something not always learned in school. They also offer an opportunity to explore specialized skills that may help carve out a professional niche.
Massage continuing education courses expose you to new techniques that can help you add to your usual services or even introduce you to a new passion. Taking on a niche such as sports massage or craniosacral therapy can make you the go-to referral for that specific area of treatment. Physicians and patients will seek you out specifically.
Opportunities provided by niche CE courses allow you to deliver your education and skills to more clients.
4) Career Growth
Continuing education in massage therapy is necessary to fulfill most massage therapists’ professional requirements. On top of that, the opportunity to learn more, connect with colleagues and physicians, and stay current in the latest developments all go a long way in strengthening your business and standing as a quality massage therapist.
All around, it’s a wise decision, both personally and professionally.
If you are a massage therapist needing CE credits, be sure to check out our courses!
