Discover what it takes to become a massage therapist in the state of Georgia - use this list of requirements, tips, and hints to get started and begin working as a skilled licensed massage therapist. Use your newfound skills to promote relaxation, health, injury rehabilitation, stress relief, and chronic pain reduction or management through ethical touch.
When you become a massage therapist, the best perk is perhaps the flexibility in the job. You choose where you go, what you do, and how you do it. The discipline encompasses the best of working with people from all walks of life as well as helping them relieve tension and heal injuries, to feel better and work and move with greater ease. When you become a massage therapist, you help promote relaxation, health, injury rehabilitation, as well as encourage clients to deal with stress and chronic pain reduction or management more effectively.
Would you like to become a massage therapist? If so, the steps below will help you embark on the road to working as a licensed massage therapist in the state of Georgia.
State Requirements for a Licensed Massage Therapist
Getting started. The first, most important element is you. As a massage therapist, you should be personable, easy to work with, and comfortable touching someone in an ethical way. Delving into a new career and honing those skills involves a considerable time commitment on your part. Before enrolling anywhere, ask yourself if you:
Researching potential schools is also vital. While you will cover many of the same basics, remember that not all schools are created equal. Get to know the teachers. Their teaching style may or may not jibe with the way you learn. Tour the campus. Is this somewhere you can picture yourself learning and growing?
Education/Training. The massage school that you choose should boast educational curriculum that is approved by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy (www.sos.ga.gov/plb/massage/). At the school of your choice, you will be required to complete an approved program, which should be 500 hours or longer, and will cover all standard Western massage techniques. It is recommended that you do not purchase equipment until you begin your education. Purchasing a massage table prior to learning about table height can impair your ability to apply sufficient pressure during a massage session.
Throughout the duration of the massage therapy program, you will learn fundamental skills, such as Swedish, deep tissue, orthopedic, cross fiber, and neuromuscular massage therapy. You should also expect to become well versed in carrying out a physical assessment of your clients to identify key areas of the body to be addressed in the massage session.
In addition to learning a variety of techniques while at the school, you may also decide which approach interests you the most and choose to specialize in one area after you begin your career.
Licensing requirements. Upon completion of a massage therapy program, you will need to take and pass one of three exams approved by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy.
Affiliations. Once you are a licensed massage therapist, you must be willing to uphold strong ethical values. Affiliating with professional massage therapy organizations will aid in this endeavor and add to your credibility.
Affiliating is also a great way to network with other massage therapists in your area or state to discover the newest techniques and technologies and learn about new positions for a licensed massage therapist.
Getting a job. Have your newly acquired licensing number handy. You are required to write it out on all of your business information. You should also check in your municipality for business licensing requirements. If you affiliated with certain massage therapy organizations, you can receive pointers to assist you in looking for your first job as a licensed massage therapist.
Many employers are in need of well-qualified, licensed massage therapists to work in a variety of exciting positions. These positions include, but are certainly not limited to, spas and medi-spas, and medical offices, such as ob/gyn, chiropractic medicine, and orthopedics. Hospitals are also in need of the services of a skilled massage practitioner for cancer patients, rehabilitation, and pain management. The options are limitless when you become a massage therapist.
Wherever you go, with your newfound skills as a licensed massage therapist, you can help invigorate tired limbs and encourage better movement, improve circulation, alleviate stress, and bring smiles to countless clients throughout the day.
The Importance of Networking for Massage Therapists
Massage therapists should begin 'massage networking' almost immediately after graduating from massage school in order to get leads for jobs and new clients. Massage therapy networking is similar to 'standard' networking in that you should always try to connect with other professionals in your field for advancement, but specific to massage therapy in that networking opportunities not only help you find jobs, but help you bring in more clients.
Preparing for a Massage Interview - What Every Massage Therapist Should Know and Ask
Before you can start working as a massage therapist, you have to perform a massage interview to get the job, as interviewing for a massage position is quite different than most other interview processes. It's important to know what to do and ask in order to accept the right position, and understanding if you will work as an employee or an independent contractor is very helpful when deciding where to work.
Why It is Important for Massage Therapists to Choose a Specialty
While many massage therapists focus on perfecting their Swedish and deep-tissue skills after they graduate from school before moving on to advanced modalities, it is a good idea to always think about how you want to develop your massage career. This way, you can take the classes and training early on to optimally develop your massage specialty.
