Massage Therapy
Continuing Education

Continuing Education Applications
        Homestudy Program
        Workshop Program
        Written Paper

The Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure, Licensing & Regulatory Affairs, does not maintain each licensee’s hours of attendance at continuing education programs.

Beginning November 1, 2005, licensees must earn 24 hours/credits through a combination of the following types of activities. Activities must be approved by the Board. Click here for a list of approved CE Programs.

1. A licensee must complete at least 14 hours of approved hands-on continuing education workshops each renewal period (1 hour of attendance = 1 credit). A licensee may earn all 24 hours through hands-on workshops. These hours must meet the following:

1. The content of the workshop(s) must be HANDS-ON which is the physical, mechanical, or electrical manipulation of soft tissue for the therapeutic purposes of enhancing muscle relaxation, reducing stress, improving circulation, or instilling a greater sense of well-being and may include the use of oil, salt glows, heat lamps, and hydrotherapy; and
2. The agenda must reflect a set period of time for class participation (hands-on practice).

2. A licensee may earn the remaining 10 credits in one or a combination of the following continuing competency activities:

1. National Examination. 10 credits will be granted for licensees who successfully pass the examination;
2. Publication. The article must be published in a professional health related journal; a newsletter article or letter to the editor does not meet this requirement. 10 credits will be granted;
3. Jurisprudence Examination on State Laws (50 question take home test). 3 credits will be granted for licensees who receive a score of 75% or above;
4. Instructor at a Massage Therapy School. 1.5 credits will be granted for each hour of teaching up to a maximum of 10 hours;
5. Written Paper on massage practice. 7 credits will be granted;
6. Practical Examination (must be administered by a Nebraska Licensed Massage Therapy School). 3 credits will be granted;
7. Massage School Training / College or University Coursework. 1 hour of training = 1 credit, 1 semester college credit hour = 15 credits, 1 quarter credit = 10 credits up to a maximum of 10 credits;
8. Workshops and Lectures (Continuing Education Programs). 1 credit will be granted for each 60 minutes of participation up to a maximum of 10 credits; and
9. Homestudy Programs. Up to a maximum of 10 credits will be granted. Only the following topic areas are acceptable for homestudy credit:

1. Equipment and sanitation;
2. Infectious and contagious disease control;
3. Anatomy;
4. Physiology;
5. Business;
6. Pathology;
7. Hygiene; or
8. Stress Management.

Acceptable Topic Areas: The following are the acceptable topic areas for continuing competency (this does not apply to the mandatory 14 hours of continuing education earned through hands-on workshops or to homestudy):

1. Anatomy – which may include but is not limited to structure of the human body, study of cells, tissues, bones, muscles, organ systems, histology, embryology, kinesiology, etc.;
2. Business – which may include but is not limited to professional ethics, Nebraska Massage Therapy statutes and regulations, business practices, financial management, insurance reimbursement, health histories, etc.;
3. Hydrotherapy – which may include but is not limited to history, benefits of water treatment, cryotherapy, body wraps, salt glows, body shampoos, hot packs, steam cabinets, dry brushing, therapeutic modalities, methods of cold application, heat therapy, contrast baths, skin contra-irritants, spas, etc.;
4. Hygiene - which may include but is not limited to equipment and sanitation, infectious and contagious disease control, etc.;
5. Massage - which may include but is not limited to history of massage, benefits of massage, physiology of massage, equipment and procedures, psychology of massage, interpersonal client contact, relaxation and visualization, proper draping techniques, general guidelines for massage, principles of body massage, reflexology, deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, sports massage, pregnancy & infant massage, etc.;
6. Pathology - which may include but is not limited to definition of pathology and disease, pharmacology, pathology of body systems, disease entities including cause and effect, blood pressure, pulse monitoring;
7. Physiology - which may include but is not limited to endocrinology, biochemistry, interaction of hormones to the body’s balance and metabolism, function of human body, and organ systems, physiology & psychology of exercise, etc.; and
8. Other Topic Areas covered on the NCBTMB examination, such as but not limited to: western, non-western, energy work, Chinese medicine, holistic principles, stress management, CPR, first aid, and acupressure therapy.