Sports massage courses and qualifications

This is the all-important question that current or aspiring fitness professionals should ask and the first step would be to enrol on to a sports massage course. For those at the entry-level, you’ll need the Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage in order to be fully qualified and practise as a massage therapist. If you’re already Level 3 qualified then the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage is a great way to expand your knowledge, increase your client base and tackle more advanced injuries and conditions.

With HFE you’re free to take a step-by-step approach and do these sports massage courses individually. We also offer the option of our sports massage career packages and this is how you truly set yourself up for success in the industry. Not only will you get the qualifications you need but you’ll also benefit from a range of extras and exclusives including job opportunities via CV Connect, 12 months’ worth of career support and discounts on Songbird massage to help you get started.

To give you a greater sense of the exciting world of sports massage therapy, we’ve created an in-depth article exploring qualifications, employment opportunities, and salary and pay. Learn more with our become a sports massage therapist guide.

Sports massage is highly effective at treating soft tissue injuries and dysfunction at a low-level. It’s also really great for prehabilitation, keeping tissues soft, pliable and nourished when undertaking lots of exercise. It’s also really great for promoting recovery and healing following a workout.

The broad application of sports massage keeps therapists well employed and allows them to help a wide variety of people in a range of situations.

A few commonly occurring injuries that sports massage therapists might assist with include shin splints, tennis elbow, rotator cuff impingement, plantar fasciitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Aside from low-level soft tissue conditions like these, clients should generally be fit and well. If they aren’t, then you’ll need to get medical clearance from a doctor before delivering any massage services to them.

Our Level 3 sports massage course is designed to educate you about these various conditions and most importantly, will empower you to diagnose the condition and deliver an effective plan of action for treatment.

With the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage, you’ll take your training literally to the next level and learn a broader range of techniques including how to assess posture, improve joint alignment and recognise muscle imbalances.

One of the many appealing aspects of a career in massage therapy is that there are no formal entry requirements for our Level 3 sports massage course. Essentially, everything you need to set you up for a successful career will be taught to you on course and provided in our learning materials.

It would be desirable if you did possess a Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification (either Gym or Exercise to Music), but it’s by no means a deal-breaker.

To enrol on to the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage, you’ll need to have already completed sports massage at Level 3.

Our team of expert support tutors are here to help you, regardless of your prior experience or knowledge.

We certainly do and this means nothing will stand of the way of you achieving your sports massage qualification. In order to offer the most flexibility and choice possible, our sports massage courses utilise the blended learning model.

This involves a period of home study which incorporates access to our online student platform LES (the Learner Engagement System), revising from your bespoke manuals and access via phone and email to your personal support tutor.

During this time, you’ll also experience practical training at a leading health and fitness facility in the UK. Our current flagship venues are in Manchester, Birmingham, London, Nottingham and Cardiff.

A full list of venues, information about facilities and accessibility, as well as travel directions, can be found on our sports massage venues and locations page.

As soon as you complete one of our sports massage courses, you’ll unlock CV Connect within LES. This game-changing platform directly connects you with the country’s biggest active leisure employers including Pure Gym, David Lloyd, JD Gyms, Life Fitness, Nuffield Health and hundreds more.

All you need to do is polish and upload your CV, select the employers you’d like to work with and that’s it. We’ll pass your CV along and if employers like what they see, they’ll contact you directly.

The freelance, self-employed route is also incredibly viable. As a qualified therapist, you could set up your own practice or clinic or work for an existing establishment. There’s also a great demand for therapists to assist with competitive athletic events, such as marathons, triathlons and even Ironman.

If you’d like a comprehensive round-up of the opportunities available to you once you’ve completed your sports massage course, we’ve created this guide to sports massage jobs that’s well worth a read.

We pride ourselves on delivering learner support without limits for all of our courses. Firstly, our Learner Engagement System has been built from the ground up with you in mind. You’ll find a wealth of practice quizzes and innovative video lectures to guide you. This system is available 24 hours a day, 7-days a week and it can be accessed from any browser or device.

When you enrol onto one of sports massage courses, you’ll be assigned a dedicated support tutor. From Monday to Friday, they’ll be available via email or phone to answer questions, guide your learning and hone your sports massage knowledge. This support is flexible, so it can be on an ad hoc basis or you’ll be able to book in regular calls.

The important thing to remember is that you’re never on your own when you’re studying with HFE.