Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice - HLT40307
The minimum qualification to practise massage is the Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice. This course provides all the information you need to become a qualified massage therapist.
Designed for those people wishing to begin training in Massage Therapy, there are no pre-requisites for enrolment. (However, students need to have appropriate language, literacy and numeracy skills to satisfactory complete this qualification.) Once qualified, you may work in your own clinic or in a practice with other allied health professionals, in aged care facilities, in a health service, a spa facility, or in a palliative care facility or hospital.
The course consists of two areas of study: specialisation units for massage and common units of material essential to all professional therapists.
On completion of this qualification you will be able to join a professional association, become insured as a massage practitioner, and will be recognised by some private health funds for rebates on your treatments.
Post Graduate Pathways: All but one of the units within the Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice are pre-requisites for the Diploma of Remedial Massage. Progressing to the Diploma of Remedial Massage is a popular post-graduate option.
The Diploma of Reflexology is another popular option for further study to gain related qualifications. Some of the 'common' units of competency within the Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice are also units within the Diploma of Reflexology. This means that you will gain direct credit for those completed units from the Cert IV when you enrol for training in Reflexology.
Duration: 1 year full time (3 terms)
Fees: $5989.00 (Books are included in the fees)
An enrolment fee of $100 is payable upon enrolment. The enrolment fee is in addition to the course fees. (This is a once only payment.) Please see the 2012 Course Guide for more information about payment options.
Award: Successful students are awarded a Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice
What units of competency make up the course?
Common Units
- BSBWOR203A Work effectively with others
- HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients
- HLTCOM405C Administer a practice
- HLTCOM406C Make referrals to other health care professionals when appropriate
- HLTCOM408C Use specific health terminology to communicate effectively
- HLTFA301C Apply first aid
- HLTHIR301B Communicate and work effectively in health
- HLTOHS300B Contribute to OHS processes
- HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures in health work
- HLTAP401B Confirm physical health status
Specialisation Units
- HLTREM401C Work within a massage framework
- HLTREM406C Provide massage treatment
- HLTREM407C Plan massage treatment
- HLTREM408C Apply massage assessment framework
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HLTREM409C Perform massage health assessment
How units of competency are packaged as teaching modules in this qualification
HLTAP401B is the module called Anatomy & Physiology
An essential component of all major modalities, this module will teach you about the general function and organisation of the human body.
It covers the following body systems: Integumentary (skin, hair and nails), skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and lymphatic, digestive, respiratory, urinary and reproductive. Growth and development, heredity and ageing is also covered.
HLTREM409C, HLTREM408C and HLTREM407C are packaged as the module called Massage Theory
In this module students will learn the knowledge and skills to take a case history from a massage client, perform a massage assessment, analyse and interpret the information received, and prepare a treatment plan taking into account the therapeutic principles of massage.
HLTREM406C is packaged as the module called Massage Practical
In this module students will learn the knowledge and skills required to administer client basic massage treatment, according to the philosophy and practices of a massage therapy framework.
HLTOHS300B is packaged as the module Occupational Health & Safety
This unit covers Occupational Health and Safety Legislation, workplace design, workplace hazards, legal compliance issues, and safe work practice.
HLTIN301C is packaged as the module Infection Control
This module provides training in the knowledge and skills to comply with infection control policies and procedures in health work.
HLTCOM404C is packaged as the module Communication Skills
This module gives an understanding of the skills required for effective communication with clients, necessary when building practitioner/client relationships. It includes an understanding of basic counselling skills.
HLTHIR301B, HLTCOM405C and BSBWOR203A are packaged as the module Practice Administration
This module provides training in administration skills required to work in a healthcare practice, as well as knowledge and skills needed for working effectively with others in this setting eg. ethical matters.
HLTCOM406C and HLTCOM408C are packaged as the module Referrals
This module gives students training in the knowledge and skills required to use appropriate medical terminology to communicate with colleagues, and to deal with referrals to these colleagues when required.
HLTREM401C is packaged as the module Complementary Therapies
Working in the massage profession requires that we have knowledge and skills that allow us to represent our profession to others, and to have knowledge of other complementary therapies with which our clients may have contact. This module includes an introduction to the basic concepts and techniques of reflexology and aromatherapy as part of this training. It has been known to inspire students to move onward to the Diploma of Reflexology after their Certificate IV training!
First Aid (Level 2/Senior)
Off site
Massage Supervised Student Clinic - 60 hours
Part of the assessment of a number of units of competency involves students working at our student clinic. Qualified practitioners are available onsite at the college to supervise students while they develop their clinical skills providing massage therapy services to members of the public. Administration skills are also developed to assist in the knowledge of running a real practice.