What is the difference between the Certified Infant Massage Instructor and Paediatric Massage Consultant qualifications?
This article helps address common questions students have about baby massage qualifications to help you determine which option is the right fit for you.
Infant Massage Information Service 3-day face-to-face courses have a mixture of both Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) and Paediatric Massage Consultant (PMC) students.
All students cover the same content/units of study.
The differences are:
- Our CIMI students are usually going into the industry as something new i.e. with no prior related background. There are no pre-requisite requirements they need to meet.
- CIMI students complete the 3-day course successfully and are then able to work with parents, teaching infant massage. All assessment work is completed within the 3 days of the course.
- Our PMC students have prior, related training and/or experience in health, allied health, natural therapies or early childhood education and care.
- Their in-class assessment pass mark requirements are slightly higher than those required by the CIMI students and after the 3 days, there is one additional assignment completed. The additional PMC task takes approximately 2 days to complete and does not need to be done in the 2 days directly following the course. PMC students are able to complete their additional assessment when convenient and follow the instructions provided to upload their submission for marking when they're ready.
- Our PMC students receive both qualifications – the CIMI qualification and the PMC qualification. The CIMI level qualification is provided immediately after the 3-day face-to-face course and the PMC qualification is issued after the additional PMC assessment has been completed.
- PMC’s can work with parents, teaching infant massage in the same way that CIMI’s can. What PMC’s are also able to do is provide 1-2 hour theory based presentations to professional groups on infant massage.
The presentations are fairly straightforward and usually follow the same format e.g. – Self-introduction, benefits of infant massage, research reviews, dispelling common myths relating to infant massage, & information on services available to parents in this field. Various industry bodies request these types of presentations and PMC’s are paid a presentation fee for this work directly by the organisation or body who has requested them.
PMC presentations offer a unique opportunity to network with other professionals and potentially receive additional referrals for your infant massage work with parents.
What if I'm completing the course via correspondence study?
Each correspondence intake period has a mix of both Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) and Paediatric Massage Consultant (PMC) students.
All students cover the same content/units of study.
The differences are:
- Our CIMI students are usually going into the industry as something new i.e. with no prior related background. There are no pre-requisite requirements they need to meet.
- CIMI students successfully complete 3 competency tasks at their own pace and are then able to work with parents, teaching infant massage.
- Our PMC students have prior, related training and/or experience in health, allied health, natural therapies or early childhood education and care.
- Pass mark requirements are slightly higher than those required by the CIMI students for the initial 3 competency tasks and there is one additional PMC assignment completed.
- Our PMC students receive both qualifications – the CIMI qualification and the PMC qualification.
- PMC’s can work with parents, teaching infant massage in the same way that CIMI’s can. What PMC’s are also able to do is provide 1-2 hour theory based presentations to professional groups on infant massage.
The presentations are fairly straightforward and usually follow the same format e.g. – Self-introduction, benefits of infant massage, research reviews, dispelling common myths relating to infant massage, & information on services available to parents in this field. Various industry bodies request these types of presentations and PMC’s are paid a presentation fee for this work directly by the organisation or body who has requested them.
PMC presentations offer a unique opportunity to network with other professionals and potentially receive additional referrals for your infant massage work with parents.
How to apply
There are three ways to submit an application for the baby massage course:
1) Online via www.babymassage.net.au (click here)
2) Submit an application form (this can be downloaded after requesting a brochure from Infant Massage Information Service)
3) By phone, call 1300558608
Questions? We're happy to help :)
If you have any questions about joining a baby massage course, the Infant Massage Information Service will be happy to help.
- You can submit your questions online
- Email us via hello@babymassage.net.au
- or call 1300 558 608
Related information
How much does an infant massage therapist make?
What does an infant massage therapist do?
How do I become an infant massage therapist?
Correspondence intake periods
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