Center for Health and Healing

<html><head> <title>The Center for Health & Healing</title> <link rel=stylesheet href="../chhstyle.css" type="text/css"> <meta name="keywords" content="commission on massage therapy accreditation,American Massage Therapy Association,National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork"> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0"> <base target="_top"> <a name="head"></a> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="98%"> <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="149" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="95%" bgcolor="#95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="500" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="5%" bgcolor="#95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="60" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" valign="top"><a name="top"></a><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="149" height="24" border="0" alt=""></td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding:0px 0px 0px 5px"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#95a920" align="left" valign="top"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="274" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td align="right"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="123" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr>  <tr> <td bgcolor="#95a920" width="274" align="left" valign="top" class="title">Complementary / Alternative Therapies</td> <td align="right">  <form name="form1" method="post" action=""> <select name="menu1" onChange="MM_jumpMenu('top',this,0)"> <option value="#" selected="selected">Select One</option> <option value='gen_pract.asp'>General</option> <option value='accu_pract.asp'>Acupuncture</option> <option value='acupress_pract.asp'>Acupressure/Shiatsu</option> <option value='alexander_pract.asp'>Alexander Technique</option> <option value='aroma_pract.asp'>Aromatherapy</option> <option value='art_pract.asp'>Art Therapy</option> <option value='bio_pract.asp'>Biofeedback</option> <option value='chiro_pract.asp'>Chiropractic</option> <option value='cog_pract.asp'>Cognitive Behavioral Therapy</option> <option value='cranio_pract.asp'>Cranial Therapy</option> <option value='dance_pract.asp'>Dance Therapy</option> <option value='exercise_pract.asp'>Exercise</option> <option value='feldenkrais_pract.asp'>Feldenkrais Method</option> <option value='herbal_pract.asp'>Herbal Medicine</option> <option value='homeo_pract.asp'>Homeopathy</option> <option value='hypnosis_pract.asp'>Hypnosis</option> <option value='imagery_pract.asp'>Imagery</option> <option value='massage_pract.asp'>Massage Therapy</option> <option value='meditation_pract.asp'>Meditation/Relaxation</option> <option value='music_pract.asp'>Music Therapy</option> <option value='nutrition_pract.asp'>Nutrition/Supplementation</option> <option value='osteo_pract.asp'>Osteopathy</option> <option value='prayer_pract.asp'>Prayer</option> <option value='xigong_pract.asp'>Qigong</option> <option value='reiki_pract.asp'>Reiki</option> <option value='rolfing_pract.asp'>Rolfing</option> <option value='taichi_pract.asp'>Tai Chi</option> <option value='tens_pract.asp'>TENS</option> <option value='therap_pract.asp'>Therapeutic Touch</option> <option value='trager_pract.asp'>Trager Approach</option> <option value='yoga_pract.asp'>Yoga</option> </select> </form> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr>  <tr> <td valign="top" width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <table width="120" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"> <tr> <td> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="massage_pract.asp">Practitioner Statement</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="massage_history.asp">History & Philosophy</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="massage_treatment.asp">Treatment Approaches</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="massage_how.asp">How it works & when to use it</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="massage_what.asp">What you need to know about treatment</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOn" href="massage_training.asp">Training & Licensing</a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">  <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="padding: 0px 0px 5px 0px;"> <p class="headline"><br> Massage Therapy  Training & Licensing</p> </td> <td width="100%"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="100%" bgcolor="ffffff" height="1"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="ffffff" colspan="2"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> </table>  <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td class='content'> <p><span class='head2'>Education</span><br /> There are many schools and institutes teaching a variety of massage approaches in the U.S. Educational requirements vary in the number of hours of instruction and the type of courses offered. Quality programs usually include courses in anatomy and physiology, classroom training in the technique, supervised practice, instruction in theory, ethics and safety issues, and continuing education requirements. A list of schools approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation can be found on their web site at <a href='http://www.comta.org/trainprog.htm' target='_top'>www.comta.org/trainprog.htm</a>.</p> <p><span class='head2'>Official Licensing Bodies</span><br /> Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia currently license massage therapists. There is no standardization of requirements but licensing usually requires a minimum of 500 hours of classroom instruction and a written examination. In addition, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has developed accreditation standards for educational institutions based on the 500-hour standard. The Commission on Massage Training Accreditation which is affiliated with the AMTA has accredited 52 U.S. and Canadian massage therapy schools. Many manual therapy techniques are not licensed at this time and practitioners are certified by the institutes that provide instruction in the particular approach. Requirements for certification vary according to the certifying educational body. A relatively new development is the formation of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. This body has established training requirements and a national certification examination leading to the title of Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.</p> <p><span class='head2'>References:</span><br /> Feltman, John, editor. <i>Hands-On Healing</i>. Rodale Press, 1989. </p> <p>Juhan, Deane. <i>Jobs Body:</i> <i>A Handbook for Bodywork</i>. Station Hill Press, 1987.</p> <p>Health World Online <a href='http://www.healthy.net' target='_top'>www.healthy.net</a>. Bodywork and Somatic Therapies. William Collinge. Massage Therapy and Bodywork: Healing Through Touch. From <i>The American Holistic Health Associations Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine.</i> Warner Books, 1996. </p> <a href='#head' target='_self' class='disclaimer'>Top</a> <p class="timestamp">Content last modified on Mar 24, 2003</p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/bg_curve.gif" width="60" height="300" align="right" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="200" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="ffffff"> </td> <td colspan="2" bgcolor="ffffff"> <p> </p> <p class="copyright">©2002 Center for Health and Healing</p> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>