Career Opportunities
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy and hydrotherapy, traditional natural therapies, are two of the oldest and simplest forms of medicine. Recent research has validated a lengthy list of benefits produced by massage on the physical, mental and emotional levels. Ongoing research on the benefits and applications of massage therapy is rapidly expanding the field, offering new job opportunities, and even mainstreaming the use of massage in medicine. There are nearly unlimited career opportunities for therapeutic massage. Areas of employment include preventive health care, health maintenance, hospital care, hospice care, rehabilitation, athletics, personal development, and life-style education. Employment opportunities include creating your own private practice or employment with other health care providers such as doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, health clubs, pain clinics, spas, lifestyle centers, or overseas missionary centers.
Education Goals and Objectives
- Graduates of the Black Hills Health & Education Center's certification programs will be prepared to:
- Join the massage therapy profession, meeting all educational expectations for licensure in South Dakota, as well as national certification standards
- Implement their hands-on training and certification as a personal trainer
- Plan and provide effective massage therapy treatment sessions
- Develop and implement a self-care strategy, based on the 8 laws of health, including methods to maintain a safe, injury-free massage therapy practice
- Develop successful professional and ethical therapeutic relationships with clients, incorporating an awareness of maintaining professional boundaries and rules
- Design and begin to implement a strategy for creating and maintaining a successful massage therapy practice, personal training business or employment situation
- Plan and provide effective hydrotherapy treatment sessions
