On the surface it would appear that distance education for massage is a good thing especially for country students. However, have you wondered why other health related professions are not taught this way? Physiotherapy is a four year degree course; Chiropractic and Osteopathy are five year Masters Degree courses and they are all taught face to face with considerable clinic time.

Massage Therapists are supposed to treat similar Musculoskeletal Disorders that these related Health Professions treat, yet we see some Massage courses advertised by distance education; and some Diploma courses offered in six months of compressed training (they call it accelerated learning).

NHAA has been teaching Massage Therapy for over 30 years and we have learned the following –

1. The quicker the training, the less extensive the course. Something has to give, or be left out, or shortened to accommodate the quicker training    (i.e. less techniques or depth of information content)
2. The quicker the training the chance there is of not retaining information when graduated due to the “force fed approach” versus the slow method or drip fed approach to learning.
3. Massage and other remedial techniques cannot be taught by DVD or extensive home study notes. This is because in any tactile 'hands-on' subjects there has to be considerable learning and correction of practical techniques, personal postural assessment and adjustment for performing of the techniques, and detailing of personal information and feedback from class teachers. All this adds to the knowledge and quality of touch that must be developed for successful professional practice.
4. Class interaction is vital for proper development of values, communication skills and gaining ideas on developing a practice. Interaction with others , discussing , workshopping , brain storming etc  cannot be done sitting at home in front of a computer or looking at a set of notes. (massage is a  service business involving a high degree of client /patient communication)
5. Distance Education is a slog for most and important subjects like for example, Manage a Practice quite often can be a turn off for students who have to do a lot of self resourcing to complete the subject by themselves. This is daunting for most. Much better if you can do a three day face to face class –then, do the assignments off campus. So you know what is required, and how to do it.
6. An analogy is slow cooked food. For those who have eaten food prepared and cooked slowly as compared to fast food, the quality, textures and flavours are, perceptively different. This is the same with touch. The quality of touch, having presence, and fluidity of movement, is what being a massage therapist is all about. This takes time to develop by class attendance, extensive clinic time and a “drip fed” method of aquiring knowledge.

This development of quality of touch is why the NHAA has many successful graduates in professional practice.

To allow for distance education students to learn, the NHAA provides a number of weekend or day intensive massage courses so that you may have quality learning time with considerable supervision and interaction with class teachers (90% of NHAA class time is 'hands-on' practical).

Theoretical assignments are undertaken off campus thus allowing for more time in practical sessions.

We trust you can see now perceive some idea of why Physiotherapy, Chiropractic etc are not taught by distance ed. Gaining a Qualification in the quickest time may be counterproductive for developing a sustained practice.

Please note: some health funds do not accept courses completed in distance education for their provider numbers.

Please ring the academy for details
(08) 8231 4933 or Freecall 1800 101 105.