Massage Therapy Program Teaches Business Skills
If you're looking for a Massage Therapy program that not only prepares you for the field but also allows for an easy transition to further education, you may want to consider applying to Centennial College’s three year offering. Upon completion of this Massage Therapy training, students are able to take the registration examinations, which are administered by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario to qualify for Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) designation. They are also prepared for the industry and have the know-how to: consult patients about their medical histories and any stress or pain-related problems to determine whether massage would be helpful; develop treatments that specify which types of massages are to be used, as there are many modules; assess clients’ soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength and range of motion; implement a variety of techniques including; maintain treatment records and consult with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists in order to develop further treatment plans for the client.
Graduates of the Massage Therapy program may be self-employed or work in multidisciplinary healthcare facilities or hospitals. Sports rehabilitation clinics and health spas represent a growing service sector in North America that will employ graduates. Another emerging market is on-site therapy, typically provided in the workplace by large companies as a health benefit to employees. Alternatively, should students want to further their education, they can do by attending a program at the Massage Therapy’s education partner, Athabasca University.
But how does the Massage Therapy training at Centennial College get students field-ready? First and foremost, the Massage Therapy program offers a combination of massage education with entrepreneurial business skills. On the massage education side, students learn the assessment and hands-on treatment of the muscles, fascia and joints of the body to improve or maintain optimal physical health, function and mobility.
As a result, they master a variety of techniques including: Swedish massage, facial and rhythmic techniques, trigger point therapy, remedial exercise, stretching techniques, wax baths, whirlpools and steam cabinets. To ensure that students have had practical practice, they partake in a clinical component during which they interact directly with clients while having the guidance and support of an experienced Registered Massage Therapist faculty member. On the business side, they participate in Massage Therapy courses such as: Legislation, Standards and Professionalism; Massage Theory and Practice; Issues & Research Literacy in Massage Therapy; Professional Practice; and Creating an Independent Practice.
To apply for the Massage Therapy training students are required to have completed at least an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. They must also have finished the compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent; Biology 11C, M or U, or 12C, M or U or equivalent and one of the following sciences: 11C, M or U, or 12 C, M or U Chemistry or Physics, or Exercise Science or equivalent. After receiving an offer of admission, students will receive a document to be completed by a doctor or a nurse who will confirm that the student meets the health requirements of legislated acts, ministry guidelines and agency policies.