How to Become a Massage Therapist
A career as a Massage Therapist can be a rewarding one. You will learn skills and techniques to help clients reduce tension and pain, as well as assist with dysfunction or injury. It is a great option for people who are passionate about helping people, and learning about the human body.
The path to becoming a qualified Massage Therapist starts with a great education. There are a number of training organisations out there offering courses or skills in massage therapy. It is important that you research the training provider(s) and their course content, to make sure it meets the standards that you require.
Our first recommendation is to ensure that the course is Nationally Accredited. This means that the course is recognised Australia-wide. You can check all the Nationally Accredited Remedial Massage courses here: https://www.myskills.gov.au/registeredtrainers/search?CourseCode=HLT52015
If you are eligible for the Government’s VET Student Loan, and would like to use it to fund your tuition fee, our second recommendation is to check whether the Training Provider is eligible to offer their students VSL funding.
Thirdly, we would suggest reviewing the elective subjects that an RTO has included in their courses. While two training organisations may both offer a Nationally Accredited course in Remedial Massage, the content included may differ, with one offering subjects and skills that better suit your career goals and interests.
Massage Courses
Q Academy offers 3 Nationally Accredited qualifications in health and physical therapies:
- The HLT42015 Certificate IV in Massage Therapy – A foundation course in massage.
- The HLT52015 Diploma of Remedial Massage – Considered the standard qualification for a career as a therapist.
- The 22316VIC Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy – For qualified Remedial Therapists looking to expand their skill-set.
We understand that everyone has different goals and interests with their study, which is why we offer 3 specialisations in Remedial Massage.
- Health & Wellness Program: If you want the basics to work in spas, clinics or start your own business.
- Advanced Rehab Program: If you are looking for extensive skills to differentiate yourself in private practice.
- Sports Therapy Program: If you are wanting extra qualifications to work with athletes or sports teams.
We also offer a range of online and on-campus short courses. These would suit therapists in the industry who are looking to add extra skills or earn CPE/CPD points.
We also offer introductory short courses for people who have an interest in massage, but no prior experience. You can find our full list of short courses here: https://qacademy.com.au/course-directory/short-courses-cpe/
To view our entire range of course options check on our course directory.
What do you need to become a massage therapist
This is our area of expertise! At Q Academy, we are here to provide you with the necessary training, knowledge, and skills that are required to become an appointed practicing massage therapist.
We not only offer you the resources to learn massage from an introductory level, but we also offer the necessary resources to help you maintain and advance your career in massage.
Once you have decided that you are pursuing a career in the massage industry, there are a few things that you should consider before enrolling in courses.
Prior to enrolling in massage courses, we definitely recommend that you check that the courses are recognised Australia-wide (Nationally Accredited). Make sure that the course specifications match your personal interests. And make sure that you could be eligible for Private Healthcare Provider Numbers if you need to be.
Finally, after your courses, we recommend that you join an association. Associations are essentially the primary governors of the Massage Industry who establish the code of conduct and also offer professional recommendations for members. Associations consult Government and professional organisations to promote the recognition of massage therapy as an allied service.
Being a member of an Association is also a requirement to be able to provide health fund rebates for clients with health insurance.
Associations are also amazing resources for members to keep up to date with the industry evolutions, seek guidance in the field, meet valuable connections, and get technical business advice.
How to join an association
To get started in an association membership after your massage courses, you will need to continue to further your professional skills. This is commonly referred to as ‘continued professional education’ (CPE) or ‘continued professional development’ (CPD).
CPE/CPD involves accumulating points each year through ongoing education, training, or supporting other communities. This can be done by volunteering at community events, writing research papers, or attending short courses, etc. Q Academy offers plenty of short course options as well as free first aid refreshers for maintaining your first aid.
For more information on how to get started in the massage therapy career path, visit our website for requirements to become a massage therapist.