Hot Tip -- by Christina Marriott

The field of massage therapy is an emerging profession. Professional standards for both individuals and massage training programs have advanced over the past five years. If massage therapy is the career for you, choosing the right school is an essential step in your career path.

Popular around the world, massage therapy is a profession that incorporates the use of touch to stimulate circulation, relax muscles, and promote a sense of positive health and wellbeing. Today, massage therapy is both a healing art and a science.

To get the inside scoop on choosing a massage therapy school, I contacted Gloria Cormican, Program Administrator of the Massage Therapy program at Lethbridge Community College. According to Gloria, massage is an extremely varied program. Individuals need to know what direction they wish to take with their career, how long they are willing to invest in the program, and how well rounded the program is.

"Students looking to get into a program should make sure that it is addressing the area they are looking to practice once they have completed the program," stated Gloria. " For example, Lethbridge Community College offers a basic therapeutic massage program, and then there are other schools that specialize in different areas." For more information on private vocational schools and public training programs in Massage Therapy, check out www.alis.gov.ab.ca.

Gloria suggests asking yourself, what will you do with your certificate in Massage Therapy? Will you join a health care or medical facility? Are you interested in setting up your own practice? With the growing demand for massage therapists, it’s critical to make these decisions before you enroll in a massage therapy school.

Gloria also informed me that once students have completed a program they are able to apply to any one of the massage therapy associations within the province for registration. Associations in Alberta include The Association of Massage Therapists and Holistic Practitioners, Alberta Registered Massage Therapists Society, Remedial Massage Therapists and the Massage Therapy Association of Alberta. As each association has different membership requirements, individuals considering a career in massage therapy should become familiar with the various associations before they choose a massage therapy program. Massage therapist is not a regulated health profession in Alberta, so therapists are not required to have a provincial license to practice. However, some municipalities require massage therapists to be licensed under their local by-laws. Also, if you want to practice massage therapy outside of Alberta, it is important to check into the various provincial requirements, as each province differs.

If choosing a school in Alberta, the program should be designed to meet the competency requirements of the Alberta Registered Massage Therapy Society (ARMTS). Presently, ARMTS is seeking recognition under the Health Professions Act to establish a College of Message Therapy.

Another tip to keep in mind is most associations want at least a minimum of 500 hours of training from a recognized school, a combination of both theory and practical experience, and others require up to 1500+ hours. Most schools also have a practicum component to the program, completed outside of class time. The program you choose should offer a variety of training from clinical practice to sports therapy massage, offering you a wide range of hands-on experience. Course work should include topics ranging from anatomy, physiology and pathology to assessment for massage and appropriate massage techniques.

Above all, be sure to research the training program carefully before making any decisions. Feel free to contact the school and ask them about accreditation or any other questions you may have. In addition, ask if you can speak with graduates of the program, or talk to reputable practitioners for advice. Many schools have open houses or offer short introductory courses that are useful ways to get to know more about the massage therapy program. Good luck!