Massage Therapy as a Career Opportunity

The demand for professional massage therapists has risen dramatically in the last few years. And it will continue to rise in years to come. Massage therapy is becoming an important profession in health and wellness as well as beauty industry. The field offers a large number of career opportunities, allowing you to help people in a meaningful way regardless of the setting you work in. The best part is that this is one of the very few professions that allow you to work for flexible hours. Additionally, you can choose to be an independent massage therapist and start your own wellness business.

As a massage therapy professional, you may find employment with skin and beauty salons, health and wellness centres, spas and resorts, health clubs, hospitals, physicians' offices, cruise ships, sports teams, clinics, rehabilitation centres, and organizations that have an employee wellness department. You may be associated with your employer on contractual or full-time basis. Your job as a massage therapy practitioner gives you an opportunity to help people in either improving or maintaining their health and well-being. It is a both personally and professional rewarding career.

The Path to a Career in Massage Therapy

There are certain competencies (knowledge, skills and attitude) that you need to develop, if you're interested in building a rewarding career in this field. Although there is no such thing as a standard or the best massage therapy practice but it is really important to have a deep understanding of human anatomy and physiology, nutrition and lifestyle practices, legislation, standards and professionalism, and fitness and remedial exercises.

1. So, completing a massage therapy training program is the first step towards building a career in this field. The three-year post-secondary program aims to help you develop the ability to conduct a massage therapy practice within an ethical framework, develop therapeutic relationships with clients, develop, implement and evaluate a treatment plan and provide quality care.

You may choose from a number of massage therapy courses available throughout Toronto. However, you need to be extremely careful in selecting your college. This is because your choice of college will have a direct impact on your career upon graduation. Not all programs exhibit high standards of learning. In addition, you may not get much required hands-on training and industry exposure.

Centennial College's massage therapy program has been awarded President's Gold Award - Student Satisfaction – Quality of Learning Experience. Moreover, you will get opportunities to complement your education with clinical placements and enhance your skills as you work with clients.

2. Passing Ontario registration exam set by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario is the second step in the process. Upon graduation, you need to write this exam to become a regulated health professional. Once you pass this exam, you will be greatly valued in the workforce. Centennial's program prepares you thoroughly for this exam.

Upon program completion, you may either choose to pursue your career or apply your academic rewards towards further studies at associated universities, colleges or professional institutions. Higher studies will help you in preparing for more advanced career opportunities.