ARE YOU A WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENT INTERESTED IN ANIMAL MASSAGE AND BODYWORK?

LIVE OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON STATE, BUT WANT TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN WASHINGTON?

Did you know? Washington State is the only state to legally recognize Animal Massage Therapists as independent Health Care Providers!

While many states regulate or even restrict the practice of animal massage, currently only Washington State Therapists can carry a professional license.     This not only provides additional recognition and protections to therapists, but ensures that your clients get a standard of care that meets the highest standards in the nation.

NWSAM was the first school ever approved by Washington State Department of Health to provide training.

What does that mean for you?  To qualify for licensure in Washington State, students must complete the following steps:

  1. Complete 300 hours of training in either small animal or large animal massage through an approved program.
  2. Complete the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage (NBCAAM) exam for your subject
  3. Submit the Washington State Animal Massage application along with your NBCAAM exam scores
  4. Request transcripts from NWSAM to be sent at the same time as your application.

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE ENROLLING

NWSAM offers several programs that meet the Washington State Requirements.  To ensure that our out-of-state students have an opportunity to study, our Foundation Level program is set at 200hr, the national recommendation for board certification. Washington State residents must take an additional 100 hours of training to qualify for state licensure.  The additional training hours can be met through our advanced courses (performance massage, rehabilitation massage or animal acupressure).

YOU MUST COMPLETE AT LEAST TWO NWSAM CERTIFICATION COURSES TO QUALIFY FOR LICENSURE IN WASHINGTON STATE

Here is a typical example of a curriculum of study that qualifies for state licensure.  A certification course at NWSAM includes a distance-learning course and an in-person practical.

Student A completes the following:

  1. Small Animal or Large Animal Foundation Level Distance Learning course
  2. Small Animal or Large Animal Foundation Level Practical + case studies
  3. Small Animal or Large Animal Rehabilitation Level Distance Learning course (or similar qualifying course)
  4. Small Animal or Large Animal Rehabilitation Level Practical + case studies (or similar qualifying course)

NWSAM will guide you through the steps to completing your training and obtaining your license.  NWSAM is separate from NBCAAM and WADOH. Students must apply for testing and licensing through the appropriate agencies.  But we will provide information and assistance to make the process easier for our graduates!

When you are ready, contact our office and a Student Services Representative can help you chart your course for success!