This agency administers a voluntary certification system for massage facilities and practitioners. It sanctions and regulates schools, and ensures that students receive the proper education.
Providers of massage therapy instruction that earn the council’s recognition must maintain their status by continually proving they meet standards concerning curricula, faculty qualifications, student-to-instructor ratios, and other standards. Officials do site visits and conduct interviews as part of their investigations.
The council mandates that prospective therapists complete their studies, pass a written exam, and submit to a criminal background check before applying for certification.
Minimum Education Requirements for Massage Therapy Programs in California
To become a massage therapist in California, a student must receive 500 or more hours of instruction and training at a school that the state board recognizes.
The curriculum has to include at least 100 hours in each of the following subject areas: anatomy and physiology, health and hygiene, contraindications, and business and ethics. Students get credit for up to 75 hours working under supervision in a massage clinic.
Beyond their core curricula, many schools offer elective classes that enable students to pursue various areas of interest. Among the many examples are hot stone massage, craniosacral therapy, sports massage, sciatica, and massage for seniors and other special populations.
Some programs entail as many as 1,000 hours. Students may continue their education to earn certification in certain specialties, or enroll in holistic healthcare programs that teach additional aspects of massage facility services. No work experience or on-the-job training is required, other than that obtained in school.
Upon graduation, a future therapist’s next step is to pass an exam administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. The agency requires 750 total hours, but allows practitioners to begin working in the field when they reach the 500-hour benchmark. The remaining coursework can be done later.