How to Earn Online Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Massage

Massage therapists and other professionals with careers relating to massage therapy may be required to renew their professional certification every few years. Others may choose to take continuing education courses for the prestige and to refresh their skills.

How Can One Earn Online Continuing Education Units in Massage?

Students interested in earning continuing education units in massage may do so online. It's important that the school providing the program is approved by state and national accrediting and approving entities. These may include the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, which is a national organization, or individual state boards. This information is usually available on an online continuing education program's website. State and national recertification may be required every so often, as well.

How Online Continuing Education Units in Massage Programs Work

Continuing education units earned online are often done so purely through test-taking. To prepare for a test, students are provided study materials, such as a textbook, online software and a DVD. Students may then log onto the program's website and study the materials until they're ready to take the test. There may be several courses to choose from, as many students may be seeking continuing education credits in various subjects.
Some subjects in which students may earn continuing education units in massage include the following:

• Anatomy
• Pathology
• Cancer and massage
• Chair massage
• Clinical massage
• Mandatory practices according to individual states
• Massage ethics
• Nerve mobilization

What is Provided When Units Are Complete?

After successfully completed the units and passing the online test, the student will likely receive a certificate of achievement for the course and subject matter. The certificate the massage therapist receives will likely feature the subject matter which was passed, the program's name and the certifications of the program, as well as the number of hours earned within the program.