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By admin, January 4, 2010 2:06 pm

How To Check The Credentials Of A Massage Therapist

Ok.  So you want a massage but you don’t want to do the whole spa thing.  A colleague of yours told you about a friend of his that went to this wonderful massage therapist or maybe you were browsing one of the popular classifieds site and came across a therapist that was offering a reduced rate.  How do you know if this therapist is qualified?  How do you check his or her credentials?

There are a lot of individuals that advertise their “massage services”.  Calling themselves “massage therapists”, “Bodyworkers”, “massage practitioners”, “masseurs”, and “masseuses” it can become very difficult for the consumer to interpret what the different delineations mean.

Most states require massage therapist to acquire a license to practice.  These states will restrict the use of titles such as “massage therapist” and “massage practitioner” to those who have met the requirements of state licensure.  Please be advised that “masseur” and “masseuse” is almost never used to indicate a licensed professional massage therapist and has a somewhat sexual connotation.  Be wary of those that label themselves as such.

The first step in checking the credentials of a massage therapist is to check with the state licensing board.  If the state you reside in requires state licenses for massage therapist you can visit the licensing board’s website and search by name. Most of these sites will also allow you to search for any complaints against a licensee.

The second step would be to check the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).  The NCBTMB credential verifies that a practitioner is both knowledgeable and skilled at his or her craft.  To become nationally certified, a practitioner must demonstrate mastery of core skills and knowledge, pass an NCBTMB standardized exam, uphold the organization’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, and take part in continued education.

You can verify that a practitioner is a nationally certfied massage therapist by using the search feature of NCBTMB’s website.  Consumers can file a complaint against a professional on this site as well.

If you are in a state that does not require state licensing or the National Certification Exam your next best way to check the credentials of a massage therapist would  be to ask the therapist for a copy of their massage diploma or transcripts.  Don’t be ashamed.  You want to make sure the person working on you is qualified to do so.  Massage is a natural healing art that most associate with relaxation and an increased feeling of well-being.  When performed by a skilled individual with the right intent you can reap the numerous benefits of this therapy.  However, when performed by a under qualified individual those benefits probably will not be experienced and possibley even worse injuries may occur.  Massage Therapy effects the entire body, not just the muscles and joints.  Individuals with certain health conditions or injuries should avoid massage or receive only specific types of massage from an appropriately trained professionl.  So, as you see all massage therapists are not created equal.  If you are looking to use the services of a massage therapist that you haven’t been to before make sure you slow down and take the time to check their credentials.  You’ll be happy you did.

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NAMT: National Association of Massage Therapists