Credentialing requirements vary more for massage than for any other complementary and alternative therapy. Half of U.S. states require a minimum of about 500 hours of in-class (a must for our masseuses, personally) and supervised training at an institution accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation. Only 42 of the approximately 1,000 massage schools in the United States have this accreditation, by the way. Therapists must also pass various exams. Some states require continuing education varying from 3 to 12 hours per year, too.
Other differences also exist. For example, Maryland distinguishes between a "registered" massage therapist, who has 500 hours of training, and a "certified" massage therapist, who has an additional 60 hours of college credits and is permitted to practice in a wider range of settings. Also, there are states wherein regulation is done at the level of the town or city.
The other half of U.S. states have no credential requirements at all, although there's a lot of infighting about this. Check out the rubbers in your state at the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Web site at http://www.ncbtmb.com.
Other differences also exist. For example, Maryland distinguishes between a "registered" massage therapist, who has 500 hours of training, and a "certified" massage therapist, who has an additional 60 hours of college credits and is permitted to practice in a wider range of settings. Also, there are states wherein regulation is done at the level of the town or city.
The other half of U.S. states have no credential requirements at all, although there's a lot of infighting about this. Check out the rubbers in your state at the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Web site at http://www.ncbtmb.com.
