What course!?

Hi everyone,

I want to become a Masseur but I don't know which course to take.
There are so many out there... Literally thousands.

I have seen ITEC intense 12day courses which say on completion I would be able to practise!? It seems too short a course to me? Is this the case?

Also what is the best course to take? I would like to be working as soon as possible.

I am based in Northamptonshire and the only course I have found is a level 3 certificate in Swedish Massage... Is this enough to practise?

I don't understand which qualifications I need. Please help!!

Thank you very much,

Drew 🙂

I trained for 3 years before becoming a masseuse...it makes me feel sick that people can qualify in just 12 days. Would you be happy to pay £40 for a full body massage only to find out that the therapist had qualified in just 12 days Drew?

Read the thread below. You need to enroll at a proper college. Why should people with a conscience (like myself and other therapists on here) spend literally years training, only for others to do weekend wonder courses and 12 day courses and think it's acceptable?! It's unethical, and unfair to paying clients who are putting their trust in you.

Hi Drew

A recent thread on Hp may be of help: https://www.healthypages.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=76175

As for Level 3 Swedish massage, if it is well delivered sounds good to me! Most massage in the UK is really Swedish style. And yes you can practice and gain insurance. Common Law in the UK allows us to practice massage legally and no licence is necessary! Massage isn't regulated and anyone can set up as a massage therapist. Voluntary regulation does now exist, but that is voluntary, not law.

As for intensive, fast track learning. This seems the norm today. You can learn a lot in 12 days if its well presented and covers the additional A&P via homestudy or additional classroom attendance.

The thing many people don't realise that a level 3 massage qualification is a foundation course. It gets you started. You can go onto sports, remedial, on-site, lomi-lomi, oriental, cranio-sacral therapy, Bowen and so on and so forth, afterwards and develop your career.

A college diploma course is a start of an exciting journey, not the be all and end all of massage. You can spend the rest of your life exploring massage, bodywork and hands-on therapy in this country and around the world.

Best wishes & welcome to HP

RP

I trained for 3 years before becoming a masseuse...it makes me feel sick that people can qualify in just 12 days. Would you be happy to pay £40 for a full body massage only to find out that the therapist had qualified in just 12 days Drew?

Read the thread below. You need to enroll at a proper college. Why should people with a conscience (like myself and other therapists on here) spend literally years training, only for others to do weekend wonder courses and 12 day courses and think it's acceptable?! It's unethical, and unfair to paying clients who are putting their trust in you.

Did you read the title of my question or even ALL of my questions?

Or did you just get blinded by the 12day course part?

I have no idea as to what course to take or how to qualify. All I wanted was a bit of advice. Maybe you could be a little more understanding... And helpful.
PLEASE READ MY QUESTION PROPERLY THEN REPLY.

Massage isn't regulated and anyone can set up as a massage therapist. Voluntary regulation does now exist, but that is voluntary, not law.

RP

With the backing of my husband's law firm I will be doing everything I can over the next few months to stop this. It's appalling.

Thanks Reiki Pixie!

Really appreciate your advice.

I find all aspects of massage incredibly interesting but its also so hard to know where to start (and which courses are no good) etc!

I will check out your link tomorrow.

Thanks again,

Drew

Appalling may be, but it is reality 🙂

Did you read the title of my question or even ALL of my questions?

Or did you just get blinded by the 12day course part?

I have no idea as to what course to take or how to qualify. All I wanted was a bit of advice. Maybe you could be a little more understanding... And helpful.
PLEASE READ MY QUESTION PROPERLY THEN REPLY.

Wow, you're over sensitive if you found my reply offensive. You "questioned" 12 day courses, I was simple giving you my view on them. :speechless-smiley-0

Hi Drew

The answer is no, don't go for intensive 12 days course, I did VTCT Swedish Massage for a year (my tutor was excellent, I spent 3 years studying with her, IHM (11 week course), Reflexology and Aromatherapy) I am now studying VTCT level 3 Sports Massage, again I have an excellent tutor

Hi Drew

a 12 day intensive is plenty of time to learn swedish massage if as RP says,
it is delivered to a high standard

and yes it is a foundation course, don't waste a year doing it at further education college, thats just a waste of time IMHO, (been there done it!)

get qualified, get lots of practice and do some CPD courses like advanced massage, deep tissue and even No hands and in a year you will be much further along in your massage career than if you went to an FE college

good luck

TBW

Hi Drew

a 12 day intensive is plenty of time to learn swedish massage if as RP says,
it is delivered to a high standard

and yes it is a foundation course, don't waste a year doing it at further education college, thats just a waste of time IMHO, (been there done it!)

get qualified, get lots of practice and do some CPD courses like advanced massage, deep tissue and even No hands and in a year you will be much further along in your massage career than if you went to an FE college

good luck

TBW

So the year I did doing Swedish Massage at an FE college was a waste of time too ?

So the year I did doing Swedish Massage at an FE college was a waste of time too ?

I think many of us feel the same way as you do Jojo. I have no regrets studying Swedish massage for a year, and a second year studying remedial massage, and now for my sins another year studying Sports massage. Then not to mention all the hours of case studies and clinical practice.

Myarka.

quote Jojo

So the year I did doing Swedish Massage at an FE college was a waste of time too ?

only you can answer that Jo...

my choice would be intensive, then topup with CPD and in a year you would
have a greater skill base and be attracting and keeping more clients than you would with just swedish massage

TBW

I can and I will, and echo what Myarka says, my only regret, that I didn't do it sooner 🙂

To add, I have since done cpd deep tissue massage which I have found extremely helpful in my practise, but I would still learn in a year than 12 days.

my choice would be intensive, then topup with CPD and in a year you would
have a greater skill base and be attracting and keeping more clients than you would with just swedish massage

TBW

Different routes suite different needs, but I think don't you should knock those of us who have decided to the FE route. There are some excellent tutors in our local collages, and they have the advantage of costing a fraction of the price of private institutions.

I'd agree that just being qualified in Swedish massage is not going to sustain a massage career, and the more training you do, the better it is. But the answer isn't just in CPD courses, certainly not for Sports and remedial.

I did Hot/cold stone massage as a CPD course between terms, and I think that worked well.

Myarka