Prenatal Massage Certification

Why did we make this change?
~ Students requested it.

~ This further maximizes the benefits of our hands-on time together.

~ Sufficient repetition and practice before testing will result in more refined performance.

~ You will be more successful with less pressure or anxiety by choosing if and when to meet the testing and     performance requirements of a certification.

~ This aligns better with the integrative healthcare world by more closely resembling broader healthcare professions’ methods of credentialing skills and knowledge.

~ A more meaningful credential is an added bonus you can leverage for your success.

~ We are always improving the quality of our already finely honed hands-on trainings.

The broader picture of this certification structure

As with most MT specializations, there is no licensing, certification or other verification legally required for any massage therapist to specifically practice prenatal, labor or postpartum massage therapy. Many with as little as three hours of basic training or online webinars claim to be a prenatal massage therapy specialist. That’s an ethically questionable practice, with many potentially negative outcomes. It’s disappointing to say that happens regularly, but that’s not what I am about!

Massage therapy is poised for fuller integration into healthcare, taking its rightful place in maintaining wellness, relieving pain, and reducing stress, anxiety and depression. As such, it is important for our education and assessment processes to better align with the broader healthcare professions’ methods of validating skills and knowledge. While there currently is no nationally recognized credential with government oversight for certifying any specializations in massage therapy, changes are in progress. This new process for certifying attendees of my workshops is now more conducive to our future in the integrative healthcare world.

With the knowledge gained in taking the four- day workshop, most therapists will be well prepared to work safely and effectively throughout the childbearing year and with normal to high-risk pregnancies. When you or your employer wants the added value of having your knowledge and skills assessed through our certification program, we are ready to work with you.

Complete the following steps within a year of your workshop attendance to earn certification
status and a display quality certificate verifying your competency.

1. Earn 32 continuing education hours at a Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy hands-on workshop taught by Carole Osborne or one of her authorized teaching associates listed on the Body Therapy Education site. (If you missed less than 6 hours, then, with instructor approval, you can complete assigned makeup for any missed hours and/or content.)
2. Purchase a certification assessment module from our online store. This includes step-by- step instructions through the certification process, hints and tips for success, a practice mini-test, and other materials to help prepare you for the evaluations.
3. Complete the secure online multiple choice exam that tests your theoretical understanding for safe, effective practice. Score a minimum of 80% correct answers, or, if less than 80%, pass one additional testing opportunity with another test version.
4. Enjoy a recommend 5-8 hours of practice time after attending the workshop, and then video record 30 minutes of a prenatal massage therapy session you perform. Your video must include and clearly show the use of a representative sample of 10-14 workshop techniques. Ideally your subject will be pregnant.
5. When it is ready for our evaluation, upload your video file to the online site listed in your assessment module materials.
Qualities that we will assess include:

• your intention, accuracy, speed, rhythm, pressure, and sensitivity in the 10-14 workshop techniques that you demonstrate ( maximum 50 pts)
• your sequencing of the chosen techniques (maximum 10 pts)
• client positioning (maximum 10 pts)
• client draping (maximum 10 pts)
• interaction with client (maximum 10 pts)
• your own body use (maximum 10 pts)

6. Carole or one of her experienced teaching assistants will view and evaluate your work to provide you with detailed feedback on each of the 10-14 techniques as well as the other criteria categories. You will receive a written assessment noting your proficiencies and the aspects recommended for improvement and refinement. Discussion and questions may be addressed with your evaluator via email or phone call.

7. You must score at least 80 of the maximum 100 points on your video assessment. Those scoring below this minimum will be offered one additional video assessment opportunity.

8. After passing both written and hands-on assessments, we will send you a display quality document certifying your knowledge and skills in Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy.

9. You may then list on our searchable database of certified maternity massage therapists.

A few important notes:

No refunds are available for incomplete or unsuccessful completions.

Extensions of the recommended one year timeframe are not encouraged, but we know stuff happens so any requests will be considered individually.

Any violations of identity, misrepresentations or other forms of dishonesty and/or unethical behavior in the testing process are grounds for disqualification.

Certification assessment modules are not transferable to another therapist.

We are dedicated to supporting you in a lifelong, inspiring, healthy and profitable massage therapy career. We are ready to foster your certification as a Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapist!