You’ve seen them; people who are trying to juggle stressful jobs, parenting, family obligations, going to school etc. In today’s world, stress is a major cause of both physical and emotional distress. Hypertension, migraine headaches, muscle tension, chemical dependency, depression and anxiety are but a few conditions that often result from carrying a burdensome load of stress.

Traditional medicine can help with stress-induced conditions; but alternative medicine is rapidly becoming a good way to relieve physical pain and de-escalate emotional distress. If you’d like to be a part of the growing trend of alternative medicine, perhaps a massage therapy career is just what you’ve been looking for.

Massage therapy has its roots in ancient China, Greece, Rome, India and the Egyptian era. It is a form of healing where, by touching the patient in many therapeutic ways, a practitioner can relieve pain and promote general well-being. A massage therapy career is lucrative and exciting, although it can be challenging to work with patients with severe conditions.

These days more and more people are taking advantage of the holistic and natural healing arts. Your massage therapy career will provide you with an ability to ease pain and suffering without pills, needles, surgery and machines. Just you, your skills, and your gentle touch can make a difference in peoples’ lives.

How Do I Start a Career in Massage Therapy?

First, you must be willing to undergo intense, specialized training at a legitimate school of massage therapy. To have a career in massage therapy requires full-time training. You must have a high-school education to apply for admission to an accredited school. Massage therapists are licensed medical professionals; you can’t just rent an office and hang out a shingle that says “Massage Therapy Practiced Here.” Practicing massage therapy without a license is a crime of fraud; you can be criminally prosecuted for misrepresenting yourself.

For those wishing to pursue a career in massage therapy, financial aid for tuition is available at most schools. Tuition is usually about $9 per credit hour. For example, if you live in North Dakota, you must acquire 750 hours of education. Your school must be fully accredited, like a university in order for you to obtain state and national credentials in this art.

To make your career in massage therapy, you must pass the National Certification Exam to receive your license to practice. In addition to passing the NCE, some cities have their own regulation of massage therapy. If you live in a state and city that locally regulates your career in massage therapy, you must have both state and local licenses. You can find all the information you need on schools and licensing on many different web sites, including NaturalHealers.com. You will also need to acquire malpractice insurance.

As in every licensed career field, if you are nationally certified you must “recertify” every four years by carefully documenting required hours of continuing education programs. Medical ethics are a must in re-certifying; you must have two hours of ethics training for every recertification as any professional who touches patients must have ethics training.

Your career in massage therapy can begin today. Contact the licensing board in your state to find accredited schools – and you’ll already be on your way!

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