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| Look at that grey hair |
Most know that I have been a massage therapist and educator for over 30 years. Over that time my career has evolved just as I hope those reading this are experiencing. I actually started out my career as self-taught since there were no massage schools around me. I searched for additional training and took the courses I could find with each one adding to my skills. I have always been busy as a massage professional so the very best learning experience –working with lots of clients has been the most important aspect of my professional development. In the beginning (back in the day at the end of the 1970’s) it was a different culture for massage practice. I also know those days of professional development for massage therapist are over and a new generation is looking for their pathway for career advancement.
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What I hope to outline in this blog is what is
available right now and potentially in the near future for career
advancement. Until very recently there
was no real clear structure for professional development but things are
changing.
I actually wrote the first edition of Fundamentals
of Therapeutic Massage (1990 ish) before I had a bachelor’s degree. Then I
realized that I would not be able to teach from my own book at a community
college unless I had an academic degree. I could have gotten an associate’s
degree but instead completed a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from
Central Michigan University (1998). One
of the reasons I choose this school was that it awarded credit for prior
learning experience. I had to make a career portfolio ( big big job) and then
it was evaluated for college level learning.
I received 30 credits in electives toward the degree. After completing
my bachelor’s degree, I soon realized that it would take a master’s degree to
really secure my credentials as a leader in my field of massage therapy. I completed a Master’s degree in
organizational management and leadership (2001) using blended learning (online
and classroom). This educational journey has been expensive, time consuming,
frustrating and absolutely
WORTH
IT. One of my professional goals has been to make
this process more streamlined and cost effective for others. Here is a general
outline of a pathway available for massage therapists now.
Entry level education.
I suspect that the content and clock hour requirements
will fall into the certificate/diploma level educational structure found in
many health professions vocational training.
This is good.
I am supportive of diploma level education defined as taking a year or
less to complete the education and vocationally licensed.
An entire career in massage therapy can
develop from this beginning platform without any additional certification or academic
degrees involved.
HOWEVER----IT IS IMPORTANT TO DOCUMENT CAREER
ADVANCEMENT AND EXPERIENCE.
STEP 2
Board Certification
This can be an end point for a career pathway
for the massage therapist. But there can be more. Academic degrees.
STEP THREE
Academic degrees.
Associate’s Degrees
An associate’s degree is typically based on 2
years of college level study
(60 credits).
Some community colleges and technical schools offer a diploma level
massage training that can be advanced to an associate’s degree by adding
general education courses and other massage related courses. This is really
good and becomes a launch pad for the next step--- a bachelor’s degree.
Some community colleges will evaluate prior
learning and award credit for the previous massage education and then develop a
completion plan for an associate’s degree in general studies or more specifically
in a health professions category. I have found associate’s degrees in health
and fitness that I thought would be a great fit.
Another option is to find an associate’s
degree program that compliments massage diploma education. Examples include health sciences, general psychology,
health and wellness, business, etc.
Yet another option
is to complete general education courses at a local community college.
Courses taken to meet general education
requirements provide for the following essential outcomes to insure that
students are prepared for academic and professional success and for
participation as citizens of their communities and the world. Typically the
follow categories are used to determine general education.
Critical Thinking
Courses should require and students should
demonstrate a range of abilities from tangible problem-solving to higher order
processes of analysis, inference, reasoning, synthesis, and judgment. Students
should evaluate information, analyze claims and arguments in their own and
others’ work, consider multiple perspectives, apply knowledge in new contexts,
understand processes of reasoning in various disciplines, and should regularly
reflect on their own learning.
Global Awareness
Courses should require and students should
demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of culture, race, ethnicity,
nations, religions, and political and social systems. This includes an
understanding of these concepts themselves and an understanding of their roles
in forming identities and values—our own and those of others. Students should
be able to identify and explain the influence of historical and cultural
factors on past and current events.
Citizenship
Courses should require and students should
demonstrate personal and social responsibility through collaboration with
others in diverse group settings, and through civic knowledge and
participation. A commitment to academic integrity, ethical reasoning and
action, and preparation for lifelong learning should be central to all
coursework.
This information expands the awareness of
massage therapy practice.
In addition to the general education courses
I suggest you take as much anatomy and physiology as is available at the
college.
What if I already have
college level learning?
If you already have college level classes
that can transfer, such as an associate’s degree in massage or another discipline,
or a bunch of classes that never really added up to completing a degree and/or
military training and other prior learning experience you can likely use this
educational collection to meet some credit requirements toward a bachelor’s
degree.
THE NEXT STEP—A BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Once you achieve an
associate’s degree or an accumulation of classes and courses and work
experience that can be used for college credit transfer or credit for prior
learning experience-- now what?
The next step in documentation of achievement
is through earning a bachelor’s degree. Why would you want to do this? Again
there are lots of reasons including career advancement at many levels but the
one most dear to my heart would be if you are now or want to teach massage.
There is a career pathway to a BACHELOR’S OF APPLIED SCIENCE USING BOARD
CERTIFICATION. You really need to check this out. Board Certification from
the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is valued
at 33 college credits by Sienna Height University. This 33 credits plus 12
credits at the university establish the major (45 credits) in Massage Therapy.
Wow- A bachelor’s degree in Massage
Therapy. http://www.ncbtmb.org/board-certification/college-credit-awarded-board-certification
For more information on a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in
Massage Therapy from Siena Heights University, please visit www.sienaheights.edu/massagetherapy.
Since a bachelor’s degree is 120 credits, the
other 75 credits are completed as follows:
30 credits need to be completed at the
university. Sienna Height University offers some minors such as health care management
that are an excellent fit for completing the 30 credits.
This leaves 45 credits to complete in a
variety of ways including transfer credit from associates degrees described
above or equivalent college level learning. The most cost effect way to do this
is to take advantage of your local community college offerings. I suggest you contact a Sienna Height Advisor
for specific evaluation of your educational history. If you are lacking college
level transfer credits, the advisor will recommendation how you can either
complete an associate’s degree with Sienna Heights University or use the resources
at your local community college which will be more cost effective. They will
also explain how credit for prior learning outside of a college is evaluated.
So here are the steps reviewed:
1. Choose a quality entry level
education and become licensed.
2. Gain experience and
additional education in massage to become Board Certified
3. Consider if an academic
degree will be a value to you.
The only step that is legally mandated is
licensing. The rest of your career journey is up to you. What I have outlined
in this blog is more cost effective and efficient that how I did it. I am
thrilled that the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and
Bodywork’s Board Certification and Sienna Heights University’s long history of
awarding a Bachelor’s of Applied Science degree are available to smooth the
path for you on your career journey.
PS: You can complete your degree ONLINE—how cool
is that!
NEW: U.S. News and World Report recognized
Siena Heights University in its 2014 Best
Online Bachelor's Programs rankings, which was published Jan. 8. SHU's Distance Learning Program
was one of only 12 Michigan colleges and universities to make the national
list, and one of only four private Michigan institutions ranked. SHU has
offered online bachelor's degree programs since 2004.
Bachelor of Applied Science Degree
from Siena Heights University
The Bachelor
of Applied Science Degree (BAS) is a career-oriented degree designed for
professionals with allied health or technical training, Associate of Applied
Science Degrees or graduates of two-year occupational programs. The BAS Degree
is structured as an individually designed degree program around the major or
certification already completed. For more information on BAS degrees from Siena
Heights University, please visit http://www.sienaheights.edu/Academics/ProgramDetail/tabid/73/MajorID/INV/CampusID/1/Default.aspx.
For any
additional information on Siena Heights University, please visit www.sienaheights.edu
