5 minute read
sacrotherapy approach
START YOUR OWN SCHOOL
Magdalena Vonk discovered a passion for teaching others about massage. Here, she shares what to consider if you want to become a tutor or set up your own training school…
LIKE most of us when we’re embarking in a new business project, I turned to the internet for guidance. I wanted a down to earth article which would help me understand how to set up a massage training school. I didn’t find what I was looking for, so I thought I would use this column to help those of you considering a move into teaching holistic therapies or running your own school.
Becoming a tutor
When I was ready to explore opportunity of running my own massage training centre, I already had some experience of running CPD massage courses. I was hired by a local holistic college to write and then run courses for the public. Initially, I taught people how to provide basic massage therapy treatment for their family members. I loved it. I became passionate about educating people on the beauty of massage. I wanted to spread the word about the benefits of the treatments, and I wanted to teach people how to do it. This was a great start to teaching because there was very little cost. Most of my expenses and accreditation cost was covered by the college.
To teach adults you will require a teaching qualification. The level of the teaching qualification depends on the accrediting body and the minimum is Level 3 Certificate in Education and Training (AET). Previously this qualification was known as PTLLS. Level 3 courses can be completed online at your own pace or during a few days’ classroom-based training. ABT or The Guild of Holistic Therapists will accredit your courses if you have level 3. However, if you are looking at becoming a tutor recognised by the Massage Training Institute, their requirements are higher and you will have to hold the minimum a Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training, or a Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (CTLLS): City & Guilds 7304 or equivalent.
Requirements to become a tutor
If you want to become a tutor, you’ll need to hold a massage qualification – or one for your own modality - preferably recognised by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). Most of the organisations require of you
to have been in practice as a massage therapist for at least two years, some may require longer period of time. Accrediting organisation may require you to have teaching experience. This may be in your own practice and must relevant to massage therapy e.g., teaching massage to the public or non-massage related teaching. MTI will count experience as an assistant on massage trainings providing you did some supervised teaching.
Applying for accreditation
Most complementary therapies are not regulated by the government. This means that there are no laws in place to protect the public from unqualified or incompetent therapists. The UK government has suggested that therapists should selfregulate and join one of various professional associations. This means that, in theory, you do not have to be accredited to run a course. However, students of non-accredited courses will struggle to get insurance or join one of the professional bodies. In order to provide high level of training and help to build the reputation of massage therapy as a form of treatment it is important that the training and accreditations are completed in an appropriate way.
Questions to ask yourself before applying for accreditation
1. Why do you want to run a therapy school?
2. Do you think that you are a good teacher? (Not all good/great therapists are going to be good teachers.)
3. Do you like to share knowledge with others?
4. Remember, as a teacher you are teaching your potential competition. What are your feelings about that?
5. Do you have enough experience and knowledge to teach others? 6. Can you get some experience by teaching courses at local schools or colleges?
Professional Organisations and Accrediting Body
There are several professional bodies have set themselves up with a view to self-regulating the profession. It is important that you choose the one that you and your students will belong to carefully. Some of the organisations that support massage therapists are:
Association of Biodynamic Massage Therapists
International Association of Infant Massage
Institute of Sport and Remedial Massage
Massage Training Institute
National Association of Massage and Manipulative Therapists
Sports Massage Association
The Guild of Holistic Therapists (multidisciplinary body)
Remember to account for the cost of memberships and insurance when you are budgeting and pricing your course.
Costs of accreditation
Depending on the accrediting body, you will find that the cost of accreditation vary. ABT charge a one off fee for your first ten courses. The Guild of Holistic Therapists has an annual fee of £295 plus VAT. The FHT is more expensive at £450 plus VAT for first course, plus additional renewal fees and inspection fees. Whichever accrediting body you choose, you will have initial costs of set up as well as some annual renewal costs. Make sure that you account for them when you are budgeting.
When you are choosing the organisation make sure that you talk to them first and that they answer all your questions in a way that makes sense to you. If you choose a professional organisation and a different course accrediting body, make sure that they work with each other and that your accreditation will be approved by chosen by your professional body.
Choose the organisation that best suits your current and future needs. Decisions about accreditation should not be made quickly and I suggest that you do a thorough research before committing to one. The accreditation is not only about the stamp on your certificates and fee that you pay, it is also about the support that you will be able to receive from the organisation. Is your organisation active on social media, do they send regular updates during the lockdown, do you see them fighting for better rights for therapists? Choose the company that will have your back when things go wrong and that will support you to grow your business not only their own.
Insurance
It is essential that your students are insured while training with you. Make sure that they have a list of insurance providers or, as it is in case of The Guild of Holistic Therapists, that they complete their insurance set up online prior your practical session. n
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MAGDALENA VONK is a
therapist and tutor in Cheltenham.
Her passion is helping other therapists to get as much as possible out of their businesses. If you have any questions
related to running a massage therapy
business email her at magdalena@
