QALIFICATIONS

The table below shows major massage qualifications obtainable in the UK. The UK’s most well-known massage qualification accreditors are BTEC, ITEC* and VTCT (*ITEC was acquired by VTCT in November 2016). Many schools or colleges run various massage courses accredited by them. You can obtain a massage certificate of QFC equivalent level 2 to 6 in the UK. Course length varies from 3-4 months up to 3 years. Most professional associations require minimum level 3 diploma for a new member registration, and so do insurance companies. Level 3 qualification covers basic Anatomy and Physiology needed for massage treatment.

Some massage schools provide their own unique courses without QFC equivalent, but they usually have a special arrangement with a professional association and an insurance company so that their graduates can become a member of the professional body and get insured.

Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Thai Massage, Indian Head Massage and basic Massage (Swedish Massage) can be learnt in a level 3 course throughout the UK, which usually takes 3-4 months to complete.

More advanced levels are available for Sports Massage – up to level 6. The higher the level, the more advanced the techniques gained. Level 5 qualification holders complete a one-year course, while the level 6 course, which is currently taught in only one school in the UK, takes two to three years to complete part-time. Clinical Massage is usually taught as part of or combined with an advanced Sports Massage course (level 4 or above), and therefore many clinics such as Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Chiropractic hire only advanced Sports Massage therapists with minimum level 4 qualifications.

You can obtain certificates in Deep Tissue Massage, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Cancer Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Lomi Lomi Massage and Chair Massage via  short courses usually taking only one to three days each. Advanced massage techniques such as Trigger Points, Soft Tissue Release and Myofascial Release can be learnt in short CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses which usually take one to three days alike. These short courses are only available for massage therapists who already have a minimum level 3 massage qualification.

Some advanced massage therapists are also skilled in Kinesio Taping, Medical Acupuncture (Dry Needling) and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM).

Shiatsu and Tui Na are taught in schools specializing in Shiatsu and Chinese Medicine respectively, and the courses usually last 2-3 years.