
Once licensed, you will need to maintain it in most states, which means paying a renewal fee and satisfying renewal requirements.

If you do not pass the MBLEx in the first attempt, you can take it again after 30 days but must pay an additional exam fee. Some States have their own or additional exams, so check with your State prior to enrolling in a massage therapy program. The Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), is a test controlled and administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and is required by most States as part of the licensing process. Once you have graduated from an accredited massage therapy school, you will then need to become licensed in the State where you will be practicing. Some states require both a certain number of hours of continuing education as well as specific education in subjects such as HIPAA compliance or ethics. The amount and type of continuing education you will need to complete will depend on the State where you are licensed. Once you have received your Certificate or Degree, the education does not end there. Also, an Associate Degree in Massage Therapy may have general education requirements and are often transferable into a related Bachelor’s Degree Program. Another factor that may also influence the program length is whether classes are offered in Shandon CA during the day or in the evening. The lengths of the programs will also vary by State based on the number of hours required for licensing. Programs can range in length from several months for a Certificate or a Diploma to as long as two years for an Associate’s Degree. Most schools offering massage therapy require that the enrollee have a high school diploma or its equivalent to qualify. However, these terms generally carry a negative connotation among the general public and professionals alike and should be avoided.

From time to time one may hear them called a masseuse or a masseur, which refers to a female or a male massage practitioner. Professionals that work in massage therapy in Shandon CA should be referred to as massage therapists. However, there are many other types of massage that programs may or may not include within their course of instruction. Swedish, or Classic Massage, is the type of massage that most people think of when discussing massage therapy, and most massage therapy schools teach it as their primary form of massage. The massage therapist manipulates skin, muscles and tissue to reduce stress and relieve tension and pain in their patients. As mentioned in the introduction, massage therapy is a holistic form of healthcare in Shandon CA that helps people feel and function better.
