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Joining The SMA

There are four categories of membership to choose from. Click on the boxes below to find the one that suits you best!

FULL MEMBER
(MSMA)

For those who hold an eligible Level 4 or 5 qualification gained in the UK. Full members are listed on the National Register.

(Costs £125 annually; £31.25 quarterly or £10.50 monthly - documents reflect the period paid for.)

LEVEL 3
THERAPIST

For those who hold a Level 3 qualification gained in the UK who intend to take the next step to full qualification within the next 2 years.

(Costs £50 for a two-year term)

STUDENT
MEMBER

For those who are currently registered on a course that will lead to them gaining an eligible qualification for membership of the SMA.

(Costs £25 annually)

FRIEND OF
THE SMA

For those who are supportive of the work of the SMA but for whom Full membership is not suitable.

(Costs £25 annually)"

Yet to qualify?

If you are looking to enrol on a course, these are some of the things you may wish to consider:

Is the qualification, and the awarding organisation behind it, regulated by Ofqual?
This can help give reassurance that the qualification has been developed within a recognised regulatory framework.
How much face-to-face teaching is included?
Massage is a practical skill and cannot be learned effectively through online study alone. As a guide, we would expect at least 50% of the course hours to be delivered face to face.
Is the course delivered over a reasonable period of time?
A suitable course should allow enough time for you to build experience, practise your skills and consolidate your learning. As a guide, we would suggest a minimum of 12 weeks, not including any extended gap before the practical assessment.
Can you obtain insurance on the basis of the qualification?
It is worth checking whether the course will allow you to gain appropriate professional insurance on completion.

Find out more about…

Did you qualify outside of the UK?

Got a non-standard UK qualification?

Membership Requirements:

To join the SMA, you must hold current public liability insurance. If you do not already have cover in place you may purchase discounted Balens insurance within one month of joining. You must also agree to abide by the SMA Code of Conduct.

As a condition of membership, all full members are also required to maintain ongoing professional development. The minimum CPD requirement is 30 hours per year, or 60 hours over a two-year period, and members must be able to provide evidence of CPD when requested. Each April 5% of full members are selected for CPD audit.

**PLEASE NOTE: The only Focus Awards qualification we currently accept for membership is the Level 3 qualification with the QAN/QRN 610/2324/3 and the Level 4 qualification with the QAN/QRN 610/6703/9. Holders of these qualifications are eligible for Level 3 Therapist membership or Full membership, as relevant, subject to meeting our other criteria for entry.

All other Focus qualifications remain ineligible.