Status of Thai
Massage Certification in the USA
Thai massage
is a very new practice here in the United States. It has been
practiced for several centuries in Thailand. Once the western
world discovered the beauty of this ancient art, its growth has been
quite rapid. Clients are seeking out qualified individuals for
treatments and Practitioners/Therapists/Bodyworkers are seeking
qualified schools for training.
At the
present time, there is no organization in the USA that has the
authority to regulate, certify, register, or accredit Thai massage
Practitioners/Therapists/Bodyworkers or Schools. Unfortunately,
there are several organizations that have been created to appear as if
they may be regulating, certifying, registering, or accrediting Thai
massage Practitioners/Therapists/Bodyworkers or Schools. These
types of organizations are essentially
membership clubs that will allow you to join for a fee.
The lack of
a governing body in the USA specifically for Thai massage, mean that
as long as you follow your local regulations and laws related to
massage you are able to professionally practice Thai Massage.
Always
remember that it is important to do your due diligence when seeking
out a qualified school for training. A paid membership to a club
or organization does not equate with quality instruction.
Our school's
thought on this topic was to
achieve the highest level accreditation possible in Thailand to display to our students, the public, and the international Thai
massage community that the curriculum we offer is directly from the
source, approved by Thai people/organizations, and of the highest
quality.
Current
Certifications for the
Thai Institute of Healing Arts
| THAILAND |
USA |
| The
Union of Traditional Thai Medicine Society |
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
(NCBTMB - #450414-07)
|
The
Ministry of Public Health
Government of Thailand |
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
(SCHEV - #43182)
|
To further illustrate our commitment to
quality we decided to
become approved (NCBTMB) and certified (SCHEV) with organizations in
the USA that care about quality education, even
without the presence of a regulating body in the USA specifically for
Thai massage.
As the Thai massage community grows in this country, we fully expect
and embrace an organization to fulfill the same role in the USA as The
Union of Traditional Thai Medicine Society and The Ministry of Public
Health fulfills in Thailand. Further, we believe this future
organization needs to be operated and sponsored by the Thai people.
If such an organization is
established requiring approval by Thai massage schools in the USA, it
is our schools intention to become certified, registered, and/or
accredited by that future organization. Until such a time arises,
the Thai Institute of Healing Arts will maintain its current
certifications from the above organizations including those in the USA
and Thailand.
If you are seeking
to study Thai Massage, learn more about our school and its
courses. CLICK
HERE
If you are seeking a qualified Thai Massage Practitioner, CLICK
HERE.
If you should have
any questions concerning the "Status of Thai Massage
Certification in the USA", feel free to contact our school at david @
thai-institute.com or by calling 888-THAI-WAY.
|