Touchpoints: A Massage Therapy Blog

In this video, you'll hear why Cassandra Ennsmann feels National University's program offers the best career preparation in massage therapy. Internship experience in our on-campus integrative medical clinic is a big reason.

Watch more videos from students, faculty, and alumni of the massage therapy program.

A great career opportunity for massage therapists is working for a chiropractic or integrative medical practice. Chiropractic physicians (DCs) recognize the therapeutic value of massage and want to offer it to their clients. Yet oftentimes a DC can only accommodate a licensed massage therapist on a part-time basis. 

A great way to gain a full-time position, improve your employability and boost your income in this sector is to offer both a license in massage therapy and a chiropractic assistant certificate. 

Chiropractic assistants are trained in office procedures, medical records, and preparing patients for their examination and treatment. This frees up the DC to see more patients, and improves the quality of time that the DC can spend with each patient. Offering these skills, plus the ability to perform a therapeutic massage can make you an important asset to any chiropractic physician. 

National University offers a chiropractic assistant program that weaves seamlessly into its massage therapy programs.  By simply enrolling for a few extra weekend courses, students can graduate in one year with both a massage therapy certificate and a chiropractic assistant certificate. 

In fact, The American Chiropractor magazine recently launched a new publication specifically for chiropractic assistants. Here is an online link to The Chiropractic Assistant magazine's first digital issue, so that you can get a better perspective on what this career credential can offer you in addition to your massage training.

On February 8th, 2013, the American Massage Therapy Association announced a new $5000 scholarship available for a massage therapy student.  Applications are due May 31st, 2013, and the scholarship recipient will be announced on September 10, 2013. 

You are eligible for consideration if you are currently enrolled or admitted into a 500-hour entry-level massage therapy program at the time you apply. The application also includes a 500-word essay requirement. 

Since you can only apply for this scholarship with proof of admission, it's important you start your NUHS application process now. If you are considering applying to one of National University's massage therapy programs, we can usually let you know if you are admitted about one-month after you apply and submit all the necessary materials. Even if you plan to start your program later in the year, you can still apply now. 

Once you are admitted or enrolled, you can apply for the AMTA massage therapy scholarship online.

Massage therapy is all about connecting, whether it's connecting with yourself as a caregiver, your clients, or connecting with new ideas and discoveries in the healing arts and sciences. 

That's why the Internet is such a great boon to today's massage therapists.  You can learn new tips, expand your understanding, and even connect with other massage therapists around the world, simply by clicking a mouse. 

Here are some great places to start getting connected: 

MassageNet

MassageNet is an online research network for massage therapists offering news, resources, and research from practicing massage therapists.

Massage Therapy Foundation

This foundation provides education, research and community service opportunities for massage therapists.

American Massage Therapy Assocation

The American Massage Therapy Association offers news, a journal, continuing education credits, job postings and other resources for massage therapists.

Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals

The Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals provides a host of online resources such as videos, articles, event calendars and more.

Massage Therapy - A Public Education Site 

Here is a good public education site about massage therapy by ABMP where you can learn more about careers in massage, massage schools, massage state regulations. You can also find a massage therapist.

International Journal of Massage and Bodywork

The International Journal of Massage and Bodywork is the only peer-reviewed, PubMed-indexed journal of its kind.

Most of the above organizations also have LinkedIn and Facebook pages. Whether you're a person who loves receiving massage (like me), or a practitioner, student or even just someone who's exploring a career in massage therapy, why not get connected?

In the video below, Dr. Randy Swenson, dean of the NUHS College of Allied Health Sciences, explains the many advantages of National University's massage therapy educational programs. Few programs offer advantages like our cadaver-based anatomy lab, our on-campus integrative medical clinic, or our exceptional pass rate on national board exams.

Dr. Swenson holds a DC degree from NUHS as well as a Master of Health Professions Education degree from University of Illinois at Chicago, and is currently serving as Chair of the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation.