DSLCC and The Homestead Offer 'Massage Therapy Academy'
|
|
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College and The Homestead are partnering to offer massage therapy training in a special format. In only four months, students can complete the core material and lab hours required to prepare to sit for the National Certification Examination in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. In this compressed format, offered for the first time at DSLCC, students will attend class only two days a week—Mondays and Wednesdays.
“This special academy is a win-win situation for both the College and The Homestead,” commented Earl Dodrill, Coordinator of Continuing Education and Workforce Services at DSLCC. “Services at The Homestead spa continue to grow and the staff is actively seeking means through which they can have access to a steady supply of trained employees to meet the needs of their guests. DSLCC is interested in offering training opportunities for our students that result in employment right here in our region and this is an excellent example of a program that does just that.”
The Homestead will offer selected benefits to eligible students who participate in this training academy. Some individuals may be able to have part-time employment in the Spa, receive some assistance with the cost of the tuition, and be considered for employment as a therapist later this summer when the training ends. Spa managers are anxious to hire more local residents who meet the requirements of positions to more quickly fill openings when they occur. In a recent article in Community College Week, it was reported that more and more career seekers and career changers are looking at massage therapy training for a number of reasons.
The acceptance of massage therapy is becoming more widespread due to the licensing requirements in many states; some employers are offering in-office chair massages as an employee benefit, adding to job openings for therapists; and the popularity of massage therapy in general is growing as an effective way to relieve stress. Therapists may work in many types of facilities or pursue the goal of owning and operating their own business.
DSLCC was named an assigned school by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. This designation was made by the Board after a review of documentation provided by the College to verify that all requirements have been met. As an assigned school, DSLCC is a site at which individuals may complete preparation to sit for National Certification Examination (NCE.) The DSLCC program meets all guidelines set by the agency that regulates the practice of massage therapy and bodywork, which, in Virginia, is the Virginia Board of Nursing under the Virginia Department of Health Professions.
Individuals who are interested in the DSLCC Massage Therapy program should contact Dodrill, coordinator of Continuing Education and Workforce Services, at 540/863-2902 or email edodrill@dslcc.edu. Spaces for the training academy are limited and individuals are encouraged to register immediately. For general information about the field of massage therapy and guidelines for those preparing for a career in the field, visit the web site of the National Certification Board at www.ncbtmb.org. |  | The Homestead
|
| | | | |
|
