Qualifications matter
What does it mean to be a Licensed Massage Therapist or LMT In Illinois?
It means your service provider has completed:
- a minimum of 600 hours of education at an accredited school
- has clear criminal background and fingerprint checks
- has passed the State Licensing Exam
Submitted proof of these steps to the State of Illinois. That reviews and verifies all documents and then at their discretion issues a Licensed Massage Therapist certificate to said provider.
We learn the muscles, bones, and their attachment sites.
What does this mean to you as a client?
Legally this license is required to protect the public from unauthorized illegal providers. It is to protect you as a client on our table. Each state has their own requirements for becoming licensed. The public just needs to be aware that they want to select a legal provider that is licensed in their state. This is not the same license as a General business license that allows us to practice business in a given location. It requires a lot more than just paying a fee for the license as stated.
Many people are surprised at how long it takes to become a LMT.
At Harper College where I took my Massage Therapy Program classes, I was enrolled full time and it took 10 months to complete the program. Obtaining 768 Clock hours at a cost to me of just over $6,000.
We learn the muscles, bones, and their attachment sites. Pathology of when something is not working, and Kinesiology, which muscle does what movement. The information was provided in a way to explain how and why we do the techniques we do and where to do them. We also learned about ethics, health and safety for clients and ourselves, Medication and medical interactions that need to be considered when providing massage. So we have been trained to say when and why we can or cannot provide services. Indications of when a type of massage technique could be beneficial for a client and when it could be dangerous.
With all that I was taught you might think when I got my license that I could do any and all types of massages for anyone right?
Nope.
That year of school provided me with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge to offer general massage therapy. Often referred to as Swedish, trigger point, deep tissue, myofascial release, PNT, chair, and a few other massage styles and techniques I am sure I am forgetting.
