Health Careers
Massage Therapist
Professional Activities
Massage Therapists are trained in the use of different techniques utilized in body massage. The national standard for minimal training of a massage therapist is 500 hours. This training includes Swedish massage techniques, physiology, anatomy, pathology, ethics, business, and table massage. The scope of practice for massage therapy is defined by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA): A massage therapist would be trained in the skillful manipulation of soft tissue, connective tissue, and/or body energy fields with the intention of maintaining or improving health by affecting change in relaxation, circulation, nerve responses, or patterns of energy flow.
After a massage therapist has completed basic training there are a wide variety of techniques that can be studied in advanced course work. This type of continuing education might include techniques such as Sports, Cranial Sacral, Deep Tissue, Thai, Asian, Reflexology, Acupressure, or Chair massage, broadening a massage therapists skills and abilities to work with a variety of clients in a variety of settings.
Massage Therapists find employment in private practice (setting up their own clinic and working with other massage therapists), in the medical field (including working in hospitals, at alternative medical clinics, and with Chiropractors), working at sports facilities and with athletes, and at salons and spas. There is also a demand for qualified, well-trained massage therapists at resorts and within the cruise industry.
Educational Requirements
- Graduation from high school.
- Completion of a post-secondary accredited Massage Therapy training program or 500 hours or more.
- A national certification examination is offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Body Certification (NCBTMB).
Academic Programs
The Alaska Learning Institute has a 500-1000 hour massage therapy certification program that is designed for individuals who are seeking to pursue a career in therapeutic massage and bodywork. The program is also suitable for those who are adding skills to their professions as health care workers in nursing, physical or other related fields. For more information, contact:
Alaska Learning Institute
Rod Meeks, Director
320 E. 4th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: http://www.alaskalearninginstitute.com/index.html
The Oriental Healing Arts School of Massage Therapy is a member of AMTA Council of Schools, authorized by Alaska State Postsecondary Education, and approved by the National Certifcation of Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider. For more information contact:
The Oriental Healing Arts School of Massage Therapy
2636 Spenard Rd
Anchorage, AK. 99503
Phone: (907) 279-0135
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: http://www.touchoftao.com/
Career Academy
1415 E Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99507-1033
Phone: (907) 563-7575
Toll free: (800) 770-7575
Fax: (907) 563-8330
Website: http://www.careeracademy.edu/
Contacts
State Contact:
American Massage Therapy Association, Alaska Chapter
Phone: (907) 230-5258
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.akamta.com/
National Contacts:
American Massage Therapy Association
500 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: (847) 864-0123
Toll free: 877-905-2700
Fax: (847) 864-5196
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.amtamassage.org
American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA)
1010 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd, Suite 408
Voorhees, NJ 08043
Phone: (856) 782-1616
Fax: (856) 782-1653
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: http://www.aobta.org/
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on September 28, 2009
