How to Be a Massage Therapist in the Philippines
Over the last few years, more people are having their bodies massaged, especially when they’re stressed or suffering from a certain ailment. This means that the demand for a massage therapist is particularly high in many parts of the world, including the Philippines.
However, to practice massage therapy in the Philippines requires not only education but also a certification and a license. In fact, by 2017, all therapists should already hold a license before they can be hired for the job.
Interested? Here’s how to do it:
Requirements
To qualify for the exam, you need the following:
- Filipino citizenship
- At least 18 years old by the time of the examination
- High school graduate
- Good moral character certificate from the barangay captain where the applicant resides
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance
- Medical certificate from a government physician stating the examinees is mentally and physically fit to take the test
- A certificate of training from the Department of Health (DOH)
- 3 copies of passport-size photos taken not later than 6 months before application
DOH has partnered with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide massage therapy courses. In the Visayas, one of the leading training centers is Center for Healthcare Professions (CHP) Cebu.
CHP Cebu’s massage therapy course can be completed in 560 hours. With this program, you will learn:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Physiology
- Pathology and microbiology
- Introduction to massage therapy
- Massage therapy application
- Practice of massage therapy
Submission
The Department of Health through the regulatory body Committee of Examinees for Massage Therapy (CEMT) will announce the schedule of the examination, which is usually during the first week of June and December, as well as its corresponding fee. It’s very important that your requirements and application form, along with the fee, are submitted to the DOH office at least two weeks before the examination.
Examination
The exam is composed of two parts: theoretical and practical.
The theoretical exam is given first and covers basic questions related to your massage therapy training. Remember: you cannot proceed to the practical exam if you have not passed this level. To pass, you need to get at least 75% average grade.
The practical exam is more comprehensive and is made up of three different parts, which includes an oral test. It should be taken anytime but not more than a month after you’ve received the official announcement of passing the theoretical exam. The passing grade in this level is 75%.
To receive a certificate of registration, you should have at least the passing score for both exams.
Continuing Education
To enable to practice your profession, you should obtain a continuing education and renew your license, which occurs every three years.
Scope
The massage therapy certificate of registration offered in the Philippines is applicable only to Swedish massage. There are different requirements if you want to practice hilot and other types of massages, as well as work as a spa therapist.
Regardless, there’s no better time to become a full-fledged massage therapists than today. Contact Center for Healthcare Professions Cebu now for more information about the training.