MM_optionsEnrolling in continuing education courses is not optional for many of today’s professional massage therapists and bodyworkers. A large number of states and regions require touch therapists to earn a set number of credits during certain time periods to renew their licenses or certifications for practice.

The number of hours one must earn, as well as the time period for earning these credits, tends to vary from state to state and region to region. Other details may vary, as well, such as the topic of required classes or the list of approved providers. However, even with all the requirements associated with continuing education, some level of flexibility and personal choice often remains, like deciding whether to take the course in person or from home.

Today’s massage therapists and bodyworkers have a wide variety of home-based continuing education classes to choose from. Home-based education can open the door to more options pertaining to class topics, scheduling, fees and more. This flexibility and convenience is one of the driving forces behind the increased demand for home-based continuing education.

Instead of being limited to the selection of continuing education programs that happen to be taking place in your location when you need to earn your credit hours, the world of home-based education opens you up to a variety of class topics that can be taken at nearly any time. Home-based classes also broaden the options for those massage therapists and bodyworkers who live in more remote or rural areas, far from the large cities where classes and seminars tend to take place.

As you decide whether to take your next continuing education class in person or from home, there are a few variables to consider. For starters, you will need reliable access to the Internet and possibly a DVD player in order to “attend” a home-based continuing education course. If you have access to this technology, your next consideration should be your own learning style. Make an honest assessment about whether you are able to learn efficiently through videos and text. Some practitioners find they need to take continuing education classes in person if it is their first course on a new hands-on modality.

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