To become a sports massage therapist, it’s necessary to complete a credible sports massage qualification delivered by a reputable training provider.

The entry-level qualification is the Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy. This qualification will ensure that you develop a sound anatomical and physiological understanding of the human body, and how different types of massage techniques affect these structures. This qualification will teach you a range of foundational massage techniques that can be used to support clients’ training and recovery. The Level 3 qualification is not generally used to treat injuries, although these techniques can be used alongside other rehabilitation and complementary therapies to support recovery and rehab.

If you want to work with clients that have more complex needs (e.g., treating injury, correcting posture, alignment, function), you will need to complete the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage . To enrol on the Level 4 qualification, you must have completed the Level 3 programme. We also recommend that you get some real hands-on experience with a range of clients before progressing to the more advanced sports massage qualification.

When selecting your qualification, you will want to ensure that you are completing an Ofqual regulated qualification that is certificated by a leading awarding organisation. There are a number of unscrupulous training providers offering non-regulated sports massage courses that are not qualifications. This will have a significant impact on your insurance and liability in the future, should you need to make a claim.

Once you have completed this qualification, you’ll also need to obtain professional insurance (usually public liability and professional indemnity), to protect yourself against future claims of negligence or financial loss.

If you want to learn more about the steps involved, read our how to become a sports massage therapist guide.

Sports massage is an effective complementary therapy for improving the performance and recovery of the soft tissues, such as muscles, fascia, and tendons. Sports massage is not a medical treatment, so when working with clients that have injuries or dysfunction, it’s often used alongside other medical approaches, like physiotherapy for example.

Sports massage is useful for soft tissue maintenance, especially in those who routinely perform intense exercise (e.g., gym goers, athletes), but also with those who are very sedentary. Inactivity can also cause knots, myofascial trigger points and restrictions in soft tissues, so these clients also benefit from regular massage therapy.

Sports massage therapists will often work with clients that have low-level soft tissue  injuries, like shin splints, tennis elbow, rotator cuff impingement, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and others. When therapists are working with clients that have injuries and dysfunction, they should hold a credible Level 4 Sports Massage qualification.

Aside from low-level soft tissue injuries 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 performing any massage service with them.

One of the many appealing aspects of a career in sports massage therapy is the fact that there are no formal entry requirements for the entry-level sports massage qualification. Some experience of using the services of a competent sports massage therapist could be useful, but it’s certainly not essential.

If you want to complete a more advanced sports massage course, like our Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy for example, then you will need to have completed the Level 3 Diploma qualification first.

The highest sports massage qualification available is the BTEC Level 5 Diploma in Soft Tissue Therapy. While we do not offer this qualification, to enrol on it, you would need to have completed a foundational sports massage course. Our Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications meet this requirement.

Sports massage is a popular ‘add-on’ service that many exercise professionals like to offer their clients to enhance the quality of their service, while also having an extra income stream. If you are a qualified fitness instructor or personal trainer, it’s likely that you will have a head start with much of the anatomy and physiology learning.

We certainly do, which means nothing should stand in your way for completing one of our sports massage courses.

Our courses are delivered using a blended or hybrid learning approach, combining a period of supported home-study with multiple days of attended practical training. The home learning teaches you all the technical knowledge and understanding you need to practise, whereas the practical days show you how to apply that knowledge in a clinical setting to deliver safe and effective sports massage treatments.

All our sports massage courses are delivered from our regional training hubs located throughout the UK. Currently we have training venues in Manchester, Birmingham, London, Nottingham and Cardiff, but we’re always adding more venues to our schedule.

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.

We pride ourselves on delivering learner support without limits for all of our courses. Firstly, our Learner Engagement System (LES) has been built from the ground up with your success in mind. You’ll find a wealth of user-friendly resources in this system, including online lectures, practical training videos showing you how to perform massage techniques correctly, practice quizzes, digital training manuals, and a host of other downloadable resources. This system is available 24 hours a day, 7-days a week and it can be accessed from any browser or device.

You’ll also receive printed versions of your course textbooks, which links to our online training videos, so you can access these while you’re on the go. As you’re reading your books, you can scan the QR codes and access the relevant lectures and practical videos from wherever you are.

When you enrol on to one of sports massage courses, you’ll be assigned a dedicated learning 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 both flexible and unlimited, so you can access it as much as you like. Whether you want to book in regular support calls, or reach out when you need a little help, our support team will work with you in any way you need.

The important thing to remember when you study with us is that you’re never on your own. We’re always here when you need us.

Sports massage is not formally regulated by any central body and as such, there are varying degrees of quality, both in terms of practitioners and qualification standards. Unlike the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) which regulates physiotherapists, no such body exists for sports massage.

There are a number of membership organisations that function to some degree as professional bodies, and each have their own criteria for membership and accreditation of training. The standards between these organisations for entry and accreditation are also highly variable.

Registration with any membership or professional body is not a requirement to practice as a sports massage therapist. These organisations can provide discounted insurance, access to ongoing CPD, and other ancillary benefits associated with membership.

Some of the more widely known professional membership bodies include the Sports Therapy Association (STA), The Sports Massage Association (SMA), and the Sports Therapy Organisation (STO). We do not make recommendations as to which of these organisations is most suitable for your needs.

In the UK, sports massage therapists typically charge between £40-£80 per hour, depending on the specific types of treatment services they offer.

When working with more affluent clients, those with more complex needs, or in elite sports, the earning potential is often much greater.

In reality, the scope of the role and rewards are only limited by your ability to reach clients in each of these environments and deliver a fantastic massage service.

Take a look at our dedicated article to learn more about how much a sports massage therapist earns?