Is accreditation necessary for Thai massage?!
Question: Is accreditation necessary for Thai massage!?
Hello all!. I have a question!.
I'm studying traditional Thai massage and medicine here in Thailand, which is ayurvedic in nature, and has nothing to do with western medicine (i!.e!.: USA and its schools)!.
My question is: is accreditation mandatory!?
All of this talk of accreditation seems to be recent since I have known many people in the past who opened their own business (little more than a suitcase and a business card) as on call massage therapists and they made good money helping people!.
My goal is to have a little clinic that I can help people through maybe 3 times a week, with weekends as volunteer work to help the elderly and disabled!.
I do not see how studying for exams that relate to western ideals and principles, which I don't really care for, can apply to ayurveda-based therapies!. Is it possible to simply finish my school here and leagally open my little clinic without having to deal with all of this nonsense!?
If accreditation is necessary, can I work first for myself while accruing the hours needed to meet accreditation/certification!?
Thanks all!Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'm studying traditional Thai massage and medicine here in Thailand, which is ayurvedic in nature, and has nothing to do with western medicine (i!.e!.: USA and its schools)!.
My question is: is accreditation mandatory!?
All of this talk of accreditation seems to be recent since I have known many people in the past who opened their own business (little more than a suitcase and a business card) as on call massage therapists and they made good money helping people!.
My goal is to have a little clinic that I can help people through maybe 3 times a week, with weekends as volunteer work to help the elderly and disabled!.
I do not see how studying for exams that relate to western ideals and principles, which I don't really care for, can apply to ayurveda-based therapies!. Is it possible to simply finish my school here and leagally open my little clinic without having to deal with all of this nonsense!?
If accreditation is necessary, can I work first for myself while accruing the hours needed to meet accreditation/certification!?
Thanks all!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I think you are confusing accreditation with certification and National Certification!.
You don't have to be accredited for anything!. Massage schools may be accredited meaning they went through the accreditation process which takes a look at how they teach people and are they teaching efficiently!. There are only about 75 of 1500 massage schools that are accredited!.
National Certification is a misnomer!. It is just a test that some states elect to use as a licensing exam!. Yes is does sometimes seem unfair and unnecessary to have to take an exam on western techniques when you are doing something else!.
You can't work legally as a massage therapist without licensing!.
You can work to get your type of massage exempt from licensing!.
You can work in one of the few unlicensed states!.
You can just do what is needed (go to massage school and get a state license) so that you can do what you want to do!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
You don't have to be accredited for anything!. Massage schools may be accredited meaning they went through the accreditation process which takes a look at how they teach people and are they teaching efficiently!. There are only about 75 of 1500 massage schools that are accredited!.
National Certification is a misnomer!. It is just a test that some states elect to use as a licensing exam!. Yes is does sometimes seem unfair and unnecessary to have to take an exam on western techniques when you are doing something else!.
You can't work legally as a massage therapist without licensing!.
You can work to get your type of massage exempt from licensing!.
You can work in one of the few unlicensed states!.
You can just do what is needed (go to massage school and get a state license) so that you can do what you want to do!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Assuming you are coming back to the US!. Each state has it's own laws/rules about massage therapy!. You will need to check with the state you will be living in!. However, most states require 500 hours of US accredited massage school!. You then must pass a national test!. Some states allow apprenticeship, working while you are attending school!. Www@Answer-Health@Com