To do that, you must understand what the state requires to become an LMT. It鈥檚 helpful to work backward from that audacious goal, so that every step you take in the journey leads in the direction of your final destination, with minimal detours. To that end, we鈥檙e presenting how to become an LMT in the state of Oregon. The last time we wrote on Oregon massage therapy licensure was in 2014, and requirements have certainly changed since then.

How to Become a Licensed 精东传媒 Therapist in Oregon

As determined by the Oregon State Board of 精东传媒, licensure qualification to practice massage therapy in Oregon mandates the following:

1. Educational Requirements

The Board prescribes a minimum of 625 hours of massage education from a school that has been licensed by the state, approved by the state, or accredited by a US Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Those hours must be gained in certain subjects, as follows.

• At least 200 hours of courses in the health sciences, specifically Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology, and Kinesiology.
• At least 300 hours of 精东传媒 Theory and Practical Application, Clinical Practice, Business Development, Sanitation, Communication, and Ethics.
• The remaining 125 hours may be in any of the areas listed above.

2. Jurisprudence (Law) Exam Requirement

In addition to the educational requirements, Oregon also requires LMT applicants to pass the , which is a test covering the Oregon massage law. That test requires a score of 80% to pass, but there is no limit to the number of times an applicant may take the test.聽

3. National 精东传媒 Examination Requirement

Finally, candidates must take and pass a national written massage examination that has been approved by the Board. The approved tests include the , the , and the CESI. The exam results must come directly from the exam provider.

These are the requirements for eligibility for massage license application. In a future post, we will outline the actual application process for those who have completed all of the requirements listed above.

If you鈥檙e a massage therapy student or massage school applicant, or you鈥檙e just curious about pursuing your dream of becoming a massage therapist, we encourage you to bookmark this page as a handy reference. And if you鈥檙e ready to apply to East West College, we encourage you to get in touch with our admissions team. The East West College massage training program includes all the components required to successfully become an LMT in Oregon.

The post Oregon 精东传媒 Therapy Licensure: How to Become an LMT in the Beaver State appeared first on East West College.

In This Episode You Will Learn: 

1. Why human touch is powerful and healing.
2. The first thing to evaluate when looking for a massage school.
3. Why finding a mentor should be a priority.

Practicing With Intention

Benny Vaughn, founder of the Benny Vaughn Athletic Therapy Center, speaks about the power of healing touch and how to evaluate the caliber of a program鈥檚 instructors. 

Benny is extremely intentional about every area of his practice. He has cultivated a space for a diverse, integrative care team to serve their community. He carefully designed it with all of the knowledge he has compiled over the course of his career, resulting in a beautiful, innovative experience for employees and clients alike.

Touch Drives Human Connection 

Benny highlights that touch connects us to our humanness. As masters of delivering respectful touch, massage therapists have a crucial role to play as we emerge from the pandemic:

[12:47] 鈥淚f [you] are going to be the very best at delivering touch, you should have the best training because… massage therapy is both an art form and it is a scientific form.鈥�

Becoming a Well-Trained 精东传媒 Therapist

Benny believes massage therapy is a calling that carries responsibility. It is for anyone who wants to make a legitimate impact on people鈥檚 lives.

In order to become the best massage therapist you can be, Benny emphasizes the value of choosing a school that will train you well. Good training will change the way you think.

[15:50] 鈥淲hen you go through massage therapy training and your thinking begins to change and you begin to see and think the good in every therapeutic encounter you have, that鈥檚 an indication you鈥檝e had good training.鈥�

Benny adds that good training includes being exposed to a wide range of techniques. A quality program will then teach you the fundamentals based on the type of massage you want to pursue.

Look for Longstanding Faculty

When evaluating massage schools, Benny recommends that the first thing you look at is the curriculum online. Next, read about the faculty. These are the people who will impart knowledge, techniques, and directly influence the way you think.

Benny recommends asking:

• How long have the faculty been teaching?
• What have they done within and outside of the massage profession?

When teachers have been at a massage school for a long time, that鈥檚 a good sign. Teachers stay at schools when they have success with their students and feel fulfilled.

[22:17] 鈥淭he student benefits… when the teacher is having a good experience with that training program.鈥�

 Other questions that Benny suggests students to find answers to include:

• Does the school perform teacher evaluations?
• Is the learning environment comfortable?
• Does instruction include a variety of learning styles?
• Is the school accredited? If not, why?
• Have there been complaints filed against the school?

Choosing a good massage school has a ripple effect. Your choice will determine who you become as a massage therapist, and your practice will make a difference in your clients鈥� lives.

[37:16] 鈥淵ou will become a vehicle of giving hope to people through touch.鈥�

Learn More:叠别苍苍测鈥檚

The post Benny Vaughn | Good 精东传媒 Therapy Training Will Change Your Thinking appeared first on East West College.

In This Episode You Will Learn: 

1. Questions to ask during your search for a massage therapy program
2. Physical signs to pay attention to when making a campus visit
3. How to spot programs that will help you develop your critical reasoning

Quality Education Is Fundamental for Career Success

Whitney Lowe, founder and director of the Academy of Clinical 精东传媒, shares how to find a quality massage therapy program and build a sustainable career.

精东传媒 therapy has the capacity to change people鈥檚 lives in profound ways. When Whitney was pursuing graduate studies in psychology in the 鈥�80s, he was starting to get burned out. He decided to become a massage therapist to pay his way through his degree while exploring the physical side of the mind-body connection. He soon found a new passion and a rewarding career.

Today, Whitney is one of the foremost instructors of students and practitioners of massage therapy. He stresses that a quality program and excellent instructors are fundamental to your success 鈥� and both require more than just a thorough understanding of massage techniques. 

Research and Interview the School

Not all massage programs are created equal. Whitney shares invaluable tips for finding the best program:

1. Reach out to therapists who completed the program you鈥檙e interested in. Ask them about their experience and if they felt they were prepared for their career.
2. Research the program鈥檚 curriculum. Well-designed curricula utilize integrated, cumulative learning. It鈥檚 not just about the hours spent, it鈥檚 about the quality of the hours that make up the curriculum.
3. Get a feel for the educators. Setting up in-person meetings with faculty and reviewing any writing or work they have published are great steps for determining if the training and qualifications of the program鈥檚 staff meet your expectations.

Whitney reinforces that a good educator will exhibit the following qualities:

• Compassionate
• Good listener
• Caring
• Knowledgeable
• Understanding of student difficulties and differences

Prospective students should have thoughtful questions prepared when going to visit a massage therapy school. Whitney recommends asking about:

• The school鈥檚 philosophy of training their staff
• Support systems in place for students 
• Available resources
• The materials and technology that will be used
• Guidelines and standards for student admissions

When visiting a campus, keep an eye out for the level of tidiness and organization in the offices and classrooms you visit. The state that the faculty keeps their space in reflects the pride and ownership they have in the school. 

Become Business Savvy and Mission-Focused

While choosing a good massage therapy school will equip you with technical skills, Whitney also emphasizes two additional drivers of success:

1. Learn the best business practices to build a profitable and sustainable practice.
2. Gain clarity on why you are becoming a massage therapist. There are always naysayers; knowing your mission will be helpful for the long-term health of your practice. 

[22:00] 鈥淲henever I get… frustrated, burned out, down about things, I try to reconnect myself with what is that mission? And why am I doing what I’m doing? And it all comes back to that idea of… a much bigger picture. I’m really trying to heal a lot of the pain in the world.鈥�

Great Programs Develop Critical Reasoning Skills

Whitney warns that many educators teach massage techniques and modalities as if they鈥檙e the answer to a patient鈥檚 problems. He advocates for teaching students critical reasoning, which is the ability to think through problems and choose the right tools to address them.

[24:38] 鈥淵our ability to recognize who people are, what they鈥檙e about, what their goals are, and how you can work with them to achieve those goals, that鈥檚 what makes a really great massage therapist.鈥�

Whitney acknowledges that critical reasoning is the product of time and experience; however, excellent massage programs will create opportunities for you to begin developing this skill. 

His final tip for prospective massage therapy students: Trust your gut.

[30:41] 鈥淟isten to what your gut tells you when you go to the institution and talk to the people who鈥檝e been there. Do you get a really good sense of this being the right thing for you?鈥�

Learn More:

Also Mentioned In This Episode:Whitney鈥檚 podcast:

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