Massage courses UK

Courses in Sports and Remedial Massage for professionals

Originally called the Institute of Sport and Remedial Massage in 2010 ISRM became the Institute for Soft Tissue Therapists, this change was needed because because of the developments we had made within our training programme and the focus on Soft Tissue therapy.

What is an ISRM Education?

ISRM is a registered BTEC* centre which has established the BTEC Level 5 Professional Diploma in Soft Tissue Therapy. It licenses a number of small independent schools who run the qualification. We work very closely with the schools, providing support and tutor training to ensure quality and consistence across all training venues. ISRM operates the internal validation process which is externally validated by BTEC.

ISRM Membership

ISRM is also a professional association representing the interests of Soft Tissue Therapist. It
maintains a register of qualified therapist/members and provides:

• Online directory of therapists available to members of the public
• Work and job opportunities
• Work at major sporting events such as Marathons and Triathlons
• Newsletters and information
• Help and advice to the general public as well as members
• ISRM is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Balens Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. ISRM has a Block policy with them which covers the scope of practice for Soft Tissue Therapy. info@balen.co.uk

*BTEC is the largest Government-approved awarding body for vocational education and training in the UK, covering over 1 million students a year at schools, colleges and Universities. The BTEC Level 5 Professional Diploma in Soft Tissue Therapy is the only one of its kind in the UK. It exists on their Customised Qualification Framework (CQF) which means it can operate in the private (not State funded) education sector and is not openly available to colleges or universities. 

Our History
ISRM was formed in 2005 by Mel Cash but its origin goes back to 1989 when the London School of Sports Massage LSSM began. This started the first externally validated Sports Massage qualification in the UK which many others later copied.

The LSSM banded together a small group of pioneering massage therapists who developed the qualification over the years. Introducing more advanced clinical skills and methods that were better meeting the needs of their clients, and also helping their careers. This led to the first qualification in Sport and Remedial Massage in 1988, which a few others tried to copy.

The clinical skills we were now teaching had much wider application and could offer real benefits to all people suffering with minor and chronic injuries. Over subsequent years the qualification continued to develop in this direction and in 2016 we established the first Soft Tissue Therapy qualification.

Along the way the ISRM was formed initially to enable other schools to run the same qualification through our internal validation process and regulated by BTEC. As the number of qualified therapists grew it then became necessary for it to also become a Professional Association which could represent the needs of the new level of clinical therapist we were creating.

INTRODUCTORY MASSAGE course
Single weekend
(ideal for beginners)

BTEC Diploma Massage course (Level 5)
Soft Tissue Therapy
(including Sports Massage)

UPGRADE BTEC (Level 5)
Massage course Soft Tissue Therapy
(improve your qualification)

Advanced CPD courses

(Continual Professional Development)

 Continuing Professional Development

CPD  is defined as ‘a range of learning activities through which professionals grow and develop throughout their careers to ensure that they retain their capacity to practise safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice’.

When working as a professional practitioner, it is important that you keep your theoretical and practical / knowledge and skills up to date in two main areas:

• Learning more about your discipline or therapy.

• Learning more about how to work as a professional practitioner, including any new legislative or other requirements.

A minimum of 15 hours per year overall must be spent on CPD to meet the requirements. Your CPD must include activities which involve learning specifically about your own discipline(s) as well as more general learning to support your development as a practitioner. This general learning could be focused on issues such as health & safety, first aid or business development.

We recognise a wide range of activities which you can count towards your CPD. These could include, for example:

• attending seminars
• reading or writing articles
• taking part in research
• receiving supervision or mentoring which enhances learning and development
• work shadowing – almost any practise-related activity
• first aid
• marketing

Unable to meet the requirements? 
If you cannot/do not complete the number of hours required, this does not mean you will automatically lose your membership. Mitigating circumstances will be taken into account. Advice will be offered to enable you to complete your CPD, where possible, over an agreed period of time. Should it still not be possible to meet the standards, registration will lapse until such time as they are met.