UK therapist wants to work in the US

Hi

I'm a UK massage and holistic therapist, was wondering how easy it would be to get a job/work visa to work in the US?

Anyone had similar experiences???

thanks for your time and comments

hi there,

I have been a holistic massage therapist for one year now, specialising in deep tissue massage, reflexology and aromatherapy massage, studied with Brandon Raynor school of natural therapies. would love to work abroad. appreciate your comments

holisto in Donegal, Ireland said: hi there,

I have been a holistic massage therapist for one year now, specialising in deep tissue massage, reflexology and aromatherapy massage, studied with Brandon Raynor school of natural therapies. would love to work abroad. appreciate your comments

very difficult you have to be certified by the National Board for Bodywork and Massage therapies in most states

hi
im from mauritius im looking for massage therapist job in uk with working permit and visa to get in england.i know massage and reflexology.with 2 years of practice experience.i have done my diplomat in massage therapy from london university of holistic medecine,

Hope in Bristol, United Kingdom said: Hi

I'm a UK massage and holistic therapist, was wondering how easy it would be to get a job/work visa to work in the US?

Anyone had similar experiences???

thanks for your time and comments

Hi
I have same problem. Difference is i have diploma from USA but i am on H4 visa so how could i get work permission?

holisto in Donegal, Ireland said: hi there,

I have been a holistic massage therapist for one year now, specialising in deep tissue massage, reflexology and aromatherapy massage, studied with Brandon Raynor school of natural therapies. would love to work abroad. appreciate your comments

Hi Holisto Have you had any look in coming to the US. I am from the UK, have been living in the US for 15yrs & looking to move to Ireland. What kind of qualifications do you need & how many hours are required. Do you need a liscense or board certification? Thanks & good luck.

Hope - Gee! We should switch jobs. I'm eager to move to the UK. Scotland actually. Perhaps we could exchange information and we could E-mail each other back and forth. I have dozens of questions. I am not terribly familiar with message boards so I don't know if exchanging information is allowed. Do you know? I seem to step on toes a lot in these things.
As for your working in the states - I work in a large destination spa and they are always looking for help - even now in this economy. They would hire you. Foreigners give spas cosmopolitin feel. You would have to be legal here - have a green card or a visa or something (the US Embassy would be able to tell you what it would take for you to be legal here)
Does that help?

Hi Beachcomber- I must of mislead you. I am currently living in the US & looking to move back to the UK. However if there is any thing you need or if I can assist you in the UK let me know.

Hope in Bristol, United Kingdom said: Hi

I'm a UK massage and holistic therapist, was wondering how easy it would be to get a job/work visa to work in the US?

Anyone had similar experiences???

thanks for your time and comments

Hi I currently work & live in the Stamford area for the past 15yrs. You need a6oo hr massage & bodywork certification & a national board certification that you do after completion of the course. Then you need a liscense depending in what state you live in.
Then you need awork visa or green card.

Helen Pattinson said: Hi Beachcomber- I must of mislead you. I am currently living in the US & looking to move back to the UK. However if there is any thing you need or if I can assist you in the UK let me know.

Hey, Helen! Thank you for responding! I am very new to forums and message boards and "threads". I thought I was responding to Hope in Bristol. Of course, Once I posted, I realized that she had posted 7 months ago. She probably won't respond. :) But I would love to talk to you about getting to the UK. I am specifically interested in Scotland. (My Grandfather was born and raised there) I'm worried about the emmigration requirements. Do you know anyone from the US who has made the move to the UK to work? And about displacing UK massage therapists. I wouldn't want to take jobs away from therapists there if jobs are short. How is the job market for therapists in the UK? I'm assuming that you are from there originally?
Beachcomber

Funny you should mention Scotland. I live on the NW coast of England & Scotland.
You will be able to go on line to the Embasy & download all the necessary forms for a work ing visa, they such a fuss about nothing. It took me 10yrs to get a green card & low & behold I could of done it on line, you don't know these things until you done it!!!!
So don't be put off.
As far as jobs are concerned you never know they may prefer an American!
All the best . I am leaving for the UK next month.
Good luck. Helen.

Hi, was wondering if anyone could give me some info? I wanted to take a massage therapist course over in England or somewhere in the UK and was wondering where would be the best place to take it?? Also was wondering how hard it is to get a job after the course is down, or if starting my own business is easier?

Hello

I am in ireland at the moment i studied ITEC Aromatherapy,ITEC Holistic/Swedish, ITEC Reflexology, ITEC On-Site Massage and CIBTA Hot Stone in the last 2 years. Because here are not many jobs i would like to go to england is there anyone how could give tips of were in the south of england it would be the best area to go and find a job?? How much is the average pay so i can picture that with rent and expenses??
Thank you for your help
Sandra

I have been in the US for the past 15yrs .
I am moving back there myself in August.
So I am not much help to you, however I am sure there will be plenty spas & health farms & country manor hotels which are looking for massage therapists.
Good luck, Helen

Helen Pattinson in East Hartford, Connecticut said: Funny you should mention Scotland. I live on the NW coast of England & Scotland.
You will be able to go on line to the Embasy & download all the necessary forms for a work ing visa, they such a fuss about nothing. It took me 10yrs to get a green card & low & behold I could of done it on line, you don't know these things until you done it!!!!
So don't be put off.
As far as jobs are concerned you never know they may prefer an American!
All the best . I am leaving for the UK next month.
Good luck. Helen.

Helen,
Good luck to you and thank you so much for responding and taking the time to answer my questions! I would love to keep in touch with you and pick your brain once you get there. Is there a way to exchange E-mails in a less public fashion?
Beachcomber

Beachcomber in Buffalo, New York said: Helen,
Good luck to you and thank you so much for responding and taking the time to answer my questions! I would love to keep in touch with you and pick your brain once you get there. Is there a way to exchange E-mails in a less public fashion?
Beachcomber

yeah my e-mail is h.pattinson@yahoo.com
Love to hear your progress.
Helen

The tricky thing about the states is that each state has different requirements for study (number of hours and certification). A few states don't require licenses, but most do. NY, for instance, has the highest requirement of 1000 hours of study, then an exam (written, not practical). Here's a great site that tells you each state's current requirements: www.massagetherapy.com/careers/stateboards.php.

I'm under the impression that the UK requirements are very high (am I wrong) - I can't imagine you'd have a hard time qualifying, it would just take some doing. I would suggest figuring out where you want to be and contacting that spa/resort and then checking out their certification requirements.

I've been interested for a while in working in the UK...what are the requirements? Is there a website for the certifying office?

Good luck!

Anna in New York, New York said: The tricky thing about the states is that each state has different requirements for study (number of hours and certification). A few states don't require licenses, but most do. NY, for instance, has the highest requirement of 1000 hours of study, then an exam (written, not practical). Here's a great site that tells you each state's current requirements: www.massagetherapy.com/careers/stateboards.php .

I'm under the impression that the UK requirements are very high (am I wrong) - I can't imagine you'd have a hard time qualifying, it would just take some doing. I would suggest figuring out where you want to be and contacting that spa/resort and then checking out their certification requirements.

I've been interested for a while in working in the UK...what are the requirements? Is there a website for the certifying office?

Good luck!

Anna,
This is what I'm finding so far: There is no county-wide or country-wide regulations or licencure for massage in the UK at this point, although, I am under the impression that that may be in the works. I called the AMTA and they referred me to a similar organisation in the UK. It is called the LCSP Register. www.lcsp.uk.com/ There are several professional massage organisations in the UK but this seems to be the oldest, the largest and the most respected. Obtaining membership to one of these associations is more complex than obtaining membership to the AMTA. It is almost like applying for licencure in some of the states. You must furnish them with a transcript to the school that you attended, a couple of references, copies of current first aid and CPR certification, certifications for any specialties that you have (Trager, cranio-sacral, etc.) and a number of other things. I have spoken to the LCSP via E-mail and this is my impression: that membership in one of these assiciations is almost necessary to getting a GOOD position in the UK.

(I think I exceded my space limitation on my last post??) At any rate, Anna, we should definitely keep each other posted with progress! Where were you thinking of going in the UK? I'm looking at Scotland. :) Can't wait! Oh! And the LCSP Register people said that we shouldn't have any trouble getting membership. I think their requirements are a tiny bit lower than in most places in the US. The tricky part will be justifying hiring a non-UK resident - especially in this economy.
Talk to you soon! Beachcomber

Thanks so much! I'm not looking to move any time soon but I'm a Scotland girl, too! Have spent a lot of time there. I think it would be hard to find something not at a hotel or a destination location...have you thought of looking at those types of things? There are many golf resorts that have extensive spas...

I agree,it's not the ideal time to go but let's stay in touch!

Anna in New York, New York said: Thanks so much! I'm not looking to move any time soon but I'm a Scotland girl, too! Have spent a lot of time there. I think it would be hard to find something not at a hotel or a destination location...have you thought of looking at those types of things? There are many golf resorts that have extensive spas...

I agree,it's not the ideal time to go but let's stay in touch!

Oh, Anna!
Where in Scotland? My heritage is Scottish - that's why I want to go. My grandfather was born and raised on the East coast (he had a beautiful Scottish brogue)(sp?) and my Grandmother's family was from Paisley. It's so beautiful! And believe it or not, I adore the weather.
Yes, I would look for a job at a resort or spa first. That is where I have the majority of my experience. I am planning to go in the spring. Hopefully, things will be better enough by then. We definitely have to keep in touch.
Beachcomber

Beachcomber in Buffalo, New York said: (I think I exceded my space limitation on my last post??) At any rate, Anna, we should definitely keep each other posted with progress! Where were you thinking of going in the UK? I'm looking at Scotland. :) Can't wait! Oh! And the LCSP Register people said that we shouldn't have any trouble getting membership. I think their requirements are a tiny bit lower than in most places in the US. The tricky part will be justifying hiring a non-UK resident - especially in this economy.
Talk to you soon! Beachcomber

Hi! I am in a similar situation. I want to move to England. Does the UK have requirements like the US? Or is it just a membership with the right organization/s? I heard it is very difficult to obtain a visa at this time. The big issue as you mentioned, is hiring a non-UK citizen for a position with so many people out of work. It is really hard right now. My boyfriend lives there and as a business owner he is getting his hand slapped for looking beyond the boarders. I did hear it might be easier if you enter as a student.

Ravengirl,
If you can take a peek at my (lengthy) earlier post to Anna, what I have found is there is NO country-wide licensure. Read above....From my conversations with the LCSP is seems that membership in that or a similar association is almost necessary to get a GOOD position in massage therapy. I do have a lot of other questions, though. And I have done some helpful research. Gosh, I wish that all of us could form a group and talk at more length about all of this. What about a Facebook group? You and I and Anna and anyone else in a similar situation....We could make our dreams come true together. But questions for you: Is your boyfriend a US citizen? Is his company a US based company or a UK based one? I'm hoping that it might be easier to get in if you have a somewhat rare specialty form of bodywork or that a US based company would be allowed to hire US citizens more easily. And I'm not yet sure of the order of things. Is it passport, sponsor/job offering(?),visa(?), work permit(?). We all have to talk more! Beachcomber