| The perks of continuing education are multifold; not | | | | Program documentation: Should you be audited, you |
| only do they encourage licensed professionals to be | | | | will need to have proper documentation of completed |
| more mindful of changes and happenings within their | | | | massage therapy continuing education courses. |
| industry, they also ensure that these professionals | | | | - This documentation should include proof of |
| remain up-to-date on key knowledge and facts. | | | | attendance and participation at a hands-on workshop, |
| Moreover, most professional organizations require | | | | seminar, conference, or other educational program. |
| such ongoing learning to occur throughout the year. | | | | Upon completion of the program, you should be |
| The field of massage therapy is no different. | | | | given a certificate that includes a massage therapist |
| Continuing education is more than just encouraging | | | | license number and the approved provider's number |
| licensed massage therapists to sharpen their massage | | | | (signed or verified by a program official), and a |
| therapy knowledge; it also ensures that they adhere | | | | program or course description detailing the sponsor, |
| to high standards of professional performance. | | | | course title, date, course, content description, and |
| In the state of Georgia, every two years (every | | | | schedule. |
| even numbered year), licensed massage therapists | | | | - For massage therapy continuing education courses |
| must acquire twenty-four hours of massage therapy | | | | that do not involve hands-on techniques, such as |
| continuing education units in order to remain compliant | | | | lectures, multimedia courses, correspondence courses, |
| with the Georgia State Board of Massage Therapy | | | | or formal self-study, you will also need a certificate |
| regulations. This is to ensure that licensed massage | | | | of completion with the information outlined above. In |
| therapists are always current and continue to offer | | | | the case of self-study, you will need to have |
| their clients the best massage therapy possible. | | | | verification by a course sponsor as well as detailed |
| By October 31, 2010, all licensed massage therapists | | | | information about the nature of the course. |
| in the state of Georgia will be required to renew their | | | | New licensees: If you are a massage therapist who |
| license with the state massage board. One of the | | | | was licensed within the first year of the biennial |
| requirements is to submit proof of participation in | | | | renewal period, you will be responsible for acquiring |
| twenty-four hours of continuing education courses. | | | | only twelve massage therapy continuing education |
| To learn more about what is needed to stay | | | | hours, six of which must be hands-on supervised |
| up-to-date and remain fully compliant as a licensed | | | | instruction. Massage therapists who have been |
| massage therapist in Georgia, always make sure that | | | | licensed within the past twelve months are not held |
| you visit sos.state.ga.us/plb/massage. | | | | accountable for acquiring any continuing education |
| Remaining Compliant with the State | | | | credits until the next renewal period. |
| Course hours & requirements: Twelve of the | | | | Record keeping: Your renewal application is subject to |
| twenty-four hours of massage therapy continuing | | | | a state audit. All licensed massage therapists will need |
| education must be hands-on or technique based, | | | | to keep a record of attendance and any supporting |
| while the remaining twelve hours can be on-line or | | | | documentation for at least three years from the |
| lecture only. Many licensed massage therapists use | | | | date of attendance. During the license renewal |
| this time to choose courses that focus on massage | | | | application process, you will need to certify to the |
| techniques and/or modalities in which they wish to | | | | Georgia State Board of Massage Therapy that you |
| specialize or simply learn more about. Topics include | | | | have completed the hours required for license |
| sports massage, cranial sacral therapy, geriatric | | | | renewal. |
| massage, spa techniques or pregnancy massage. The | | | | The Perks of Continuing Education for Licensed |
| list of possible massage therapy continuing education | | | | Massage Therapists |
| courses is endless.An approved list of courses and/or | | | | Schools across Georgia offer stimulating, interactive |
| providers can be found on the National Certification | | | | new ways of learning different massage modalities. |
| Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork | | | | Massage therapy continuing education is a great way |
| (NCBTMB) website at | | | | to learn something new and perhaps even introduce |
| Credentials: Before beginning any massage therapy | | | | a modality you had not yet considered. Your |
| continuing education courses, ensure that the | | | | employers and massage therapy clients also benefit |
| program in which you are enrolling is fully recognized | | | | from your additional education. |
| by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy and that | | | | With so many choices, picking and settling on your |
| the instructors are credentialed. The program should | | | | twenty-four required CEs should be fun! Just don't |
| have a provider code number assigned by the | | | | forget to file away your documentation in case of an |
| NCBTMB in order to issue credits. | | | | audit! |