Becoming a Massage Therapy Teacher in Maine

The state of Maine requires massage therapists to be licensed to practice massage therapy.

Obtaining a license requires 500 hours of coursework, first aid and CPR certification and passing a background check.

There are no formal state requirements to teach massage therapy at an approved Maine massage school.

But instructors practicing massage therapy, teaching massage theory courses or supervising clinical hours would need to license as practitioners.

Educational Requirements for Massage Instructors

Massage instructors teaching massage technique or theory courses required to have a massage license.

Which requires 500 hours of massage education, a background check, CPR/First Aid certification and passing the MBLEX exam.

The 500 hours of education at an approved New Jersey massage school must satisfy the core curriculum

which includes:

  • 120 hours of anatomy, physiology and pathology
  • 100 hours hands-on clinical practice
  • The remainder of hours covering massage theory, technique and contraindications

Recommended Experience – Maine

There are no explicit requirements beyond a license for massage therapy teachers.

Most states require at least 2 years of experience in the field before teaching massage therapy.

And applicants for massage therapy teaching positions should expect that hiring institutions would prefer at least 2 years experience to consider a candidate.

Continuing Education Requirements for Teachers

Continuing education requirements are not specifically spelt out for instructors, and license renewal for massage therapists does not require continuing education hours.

Most states require between 12 and 24 hours every 2 years, and that should be a guideline for individuals hoping to apply for a massage therapy instructor position.

Insurance Requirements

The state of Maine does not explicitly require its practitioners or teachers to carry professional liability insurance.

Given that insurance costs are relatively low, and risk can potentially high, it is a good idea to carry insurance even though it not required.

Liability insurance is available through a massage professional organization.

Such as AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) or ABMP (Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals).

AMTA’s professional membership explicitly includes insurance for massage professionals working as classroom teachers.

Fees

There are no specific fees associated with becoming massage therapy school instructor, other than the license fee to practice massage in Maine if a teacher is teaching massage theory.

An initial 2 year license costs $40 plus a $25 application fee and a $21 fee for a background check.

After that, licenses must renew every 2 years at a cost of $40.

Relevant Links

Maine State Office of Massage Therapy Licensure

Maine Massage Therapy License Education Core Curriculum

 

Neal Lyons is a founding member and volunteer contributor at the MTSI Institute, an information based portal dedicated to guiding and assisting aspiring massage therapists establish a successful career in massage. Neal is a published author and has collaborated on several mobile applications that serve the massage profession. You can view his published work on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Sony and Kobo. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter and on Google+

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