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Posted on: August 16, 2013

Massage therapy requires hundreds of hours of training for certification. The training requirements for potential massage therapists vary by state, but generally require over 1,000 hours of instruction. Once certified, massage therapists who offer spa treatments and other services are required to complete continuing education units, or CEUs. A variety of courses can be taken to complete the requirements of individual states.

Many therapists belong to the American Massage Therapy Association. Therapists who are active in this organization are required to complete 48 hours of continued education every four years. CEUs must be taken through responsible sponsorship, which can come from a massage school or college offering continuing education classes, regional workshops or home study courses.

The majority of students choose to pursue continued education through home study courses due to their convenience. Most courses need to be approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, or NCBTMB as it's known. Courses can be taken online or students can have coursework mailed to them for completion, whichever is most convenient. The exams for most courses are open book tests with multiple choice questions, and require a passing score of 80 or better.

A variety of courses are available to meet continuing education requirements including Aromatherapy, Sports Massage, Reflexology, Massage for the Elderly and Ill and countless others. Most states do require Ethics courses be completed every four years, so this should be taken into consideration when choosing courses to take. Costs range from $15 for a one hour CEU class to $700 for a 100 hour CEU package.

Massage therapy provides a useful service to many who are ill, suffering from pain or simply want to relax. Continuing education is vital for therapists to stay ahead of the latest trends and techniques available to assist clients.

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