THE NORTH LONDON SCHOOL OF SPORTS MASSAGE AND REMEDIAL SOFT TISSUE THERAPY
TAKE THE FIRST STEP
Graduate with the highest qualification in sports massage and remedial soft tissue therapy in one single course.
You will be able to assess, treat and manage soft tissue injuries and work with common pathologies. Graduate with a highly respected BTEC Level 5 Professional Diploma in Sports Massage & Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy.
WHY CHOOSE US
Graduate at the
highest level
Become a top level therapist with a BTEC Level 5 Professional Diploma in Sports Massage and Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy
No prior training necessary
We will take you from start to finish, this is what NLSSM does best. You do not need a previous qualification in Level 3 or 4 to study with us at the highest level and become top in your field.
The Highest Standard
Qualifying at level 5 allows you to work in private practice or within the highest level of sport. Some of our graduates are now working with premier sports teams or have started their own independent clinics.
Professional therapist
This qualification will give you the skills needed to practice as a professional therapist, with the ability to design and implement appropriate soft tissue treatment and rehabilitation plans.
Supportive Learning
We support our students throughout their journey to become successful in a job they love. Including student clinics, regular online mentoring and assigned tutors.
Join an organisation
Graduates can become members of The Sports Massage Association (SMA), Register of Remedial Masseurs and Manipulative Therapists (LCSP) and the Complimentary Health Professionals (CHP)
HISTORY OF NLSSM
In 2004, the North London School of Sports Massage and Soft Tissue Therapy (NLSSM) opened its doors to its first group of students. Although there were a number of established schools at the time, there was a gap within the market to provide a massage course that could fulfil the more demanding requirements of the employer.
Massage is no longer considered just part of a luxurious pamper day in a relaxing environment because now it can play a significant role within a medical and rehabilitative setting.
Want to know more about our diploma course?
Check out a day in the life at NLSSM, and hear from the students and teachers themselves!
LEVEL 5 SPORTS MASSAGE COURSE
THE NLSSM DIFFERENCE
QUALITY
Ours is a responsive system of teaching, meaning that each sports massage class is taught according to its needs
We also use accelerated learning methods, allowing us to teach difficult subjects in a way that is interactive and effective, maximising the development of practical massage skills and academic understanding.
Most of our tutors are also full-time soft tissue and sports massage therapists, trained in a variety of complementary qualifications, so students benefit from their huge knowledge base and are learning from people who are working as soft tissue therapists every day in the real world.
A high teacher to student ratio, ensuring each student receives quality attention during training
We see a direct link between a massage therapist’s skills and the amount of quality attention they’re given in training. That’s why, in practical sessions, we have a ratio of 1 teacher for every 3-4 students. In addition, our teachers are known for their generosity, putting in unpaid hours where needed to support and mentor individuals.
All of us here get great satisfaction from developing our massage students to their full potential, even if that means the odd late night. It’s all down to being professional and fun, but we believe that if we go the extra mile, so too will you.
A pass rate of 98% and discounted additional tuition should it be required
98% is an impressive statistic and it’s only fair to point out that some students pass on their second attempt. The intensity of this qualification is not to be underestimated, but we offer discounts on any additional tuition that might be needed and offer an incredible level of personal support to make sure that those people who want to succeed, will do so.
And the benefits don’t end when you graduate, check out what support and opportunities we offer both during and after you qualify as a soft tissue massage therapist.
support
NLSSM offers on-going support in a number of ways, including:
- Monthly newsletters keeping you up-to-date on massage events, opportunities both at NLSSM and beyond.
- Resources include free online tuition, videos, Massage Mondays, Exercise Lab, & course materials
- A comprehensive work schedule that makes your study life focused and easier
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Student office hours, zoom sessions that focus on coursework
- Online after class quizzes that highlight the essential learning of each day
- Job opportunities including elite sports teams and health clinic advertised in our private Facebook Group
- Event and work placements to gain relevant experience and add to your CV
Access to an extensive library of books and DVDs
- Essential for learning at your own pace, checking things on the fly and, of course, revising for exams – we keep the library stocked with all the essentials and even some hard-to-find reference tools.
- Having access to such a well-stocked library also means that students aren’t obliged to spend large sums of money on books all at once.
- The library is also available to graduates of NLSSM
work experience
Student Massage Clinic
This is a great opportunity for students to take what they have learned in class and apply it in a real-life clinical situation. The clinic is also there to help students work towards fulfilling their clinical sports massage logbook hours. It’s an invaluable asset and really does produce a much better soft tissue therapist, providing mini tutorials in which students can seek advice from the senior tutor on hand, giving them more focused individual attention.
Work Experience & Event Opportunities
There’s nothing like the buzz of working at a sporting event. We are regularly approached to provide student volunteers, whether it’s for a one-off event or a longer working arrangement. We have opportunities available with both premiership football and rugby clubs and placements in successful multidisciplinary clinics. These opportunities are not only great for gaining experience and building confidence, they’re also brilliant networking opportunities and a chance to see what the demands of the job really are.
WHERE CAN A LEVEL 5 SPORTS MASSAGE QUALIFICATION LEAD?
When you are qualified at the highest level, your options are unlimited!
We have graduates that have gone on to be successful in a number of different careers. Some examples include the following, please note, this is not an exhaustive list!
- Join an established healthcare clinic
- Start your own independent clinic
- Work in professional sport, with teams and clubs at the highest level
- Complement your existing qualifications (such as osteopathy, physiology etc)
- Add to your current occupation in the health and wellness industry
- Expand upon your qualification and go on to specialise in oncology massage
- Become a specialist in other areas, such as shoulder, lower back pain or pregnancy massage
Where are our graduates now?
Find out more about what professions are graduates have gone onto after completeing their level 5 diploma with us.
READ OUR SPORTS MASSAGE BLOGS
We post regular blogs on various topics, ranging from how to begin your career as a sports massage therapist, what type of sports massage course to choose, and information about different pathologies and techniques. Take a look at our latest ones below.
Tapotement: It’s All In The Sound!
The name of the stroke is taken from the French word “Tapoter”, meaning to tap or to drum. A rhythmic
How to Access the Glutes in Side Lying
How do you access the glutes in side lying? It’s easier than you think! The Gluteals Being able to safely
Accessing the Upper Fibres of Pectoralis Major
We’ve written this blog as a starting point for new ideas and considerations! Keep reading to view our quick fire
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) For The Diaphragm
A great one for client home care or to even do on yourself! What is a Muscle Energy Technique (MET)?
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
Want to discuss any of our courses with us?
Send us a message and we’ll get back to you shortly!
Frequently asked questions
No! Our Level 5 diploma takes you from start to finish, no prior learning necessary! Find out more in our blog.
At NLSSM we are passionate about helping our students to be their very best.
Time and again, research has shown that people remember things best when they learn by doing. Not just once or twice, but repeatedly and regularly. Intensive courses, by their nature, do not create the best environment for learning. They may seem convenient but that convenience comes at a high price – your standard of education.
We take our lessons from athletes who consistently train using repetition over a longer period of time, this allows for the muscles to adapt in the same way that our practical massage skills need to develop. To run a marathon requires more than 3 weeks training to be top in the field.
We also choose to offer single days rather than 2 day weekend courses to our students. Our experience has shown us that students are able to retain a greater amount of information as well as it better develops their hands on skills through regular contact. This atmosphere of encouragement helps our students to keep on an even keel and remain highly motivated.
BTEC Level 5 is a professional massage qualification, so it’s only fitting that we teach them professionally, and that’s why we will never offer our soft tissue massage courses as an intensive option.
This Professional Level 5 Diploma is accredited by BTEC/Edexcel.
Both are awarding bodies, and aspire to ensure the massage course you are enrolling onto meets their educational standards. We chose BTEC because it has a good reputation in ensuring a high standard of education as well as we could customize the massage course to meet the demands of the jobs that employers are looking for. We also have greater freedom in how we deliver our sports and remedial massage course, increasing your ability to develop the massage skills that are top in the manual therapy profession.
The NLSSM massage course is the best foundation you can get, it will open up many different opportunities in manual therapy. Our graduates have chosen a variety of directions, demonstrating you are not limited.
Please refer to our Graduates Stories page, wherein you can see there is a wide range of job descriptions from working in elite sport, being part of a clinical health care team, to establishing their own massage clinic.
At NLSSM, we are happy to support our students with any specific learning requirements they may have, where possible. If you have any concerns then please give us a call on 0208 885 6062 to discuss your needs.
We use a number of different massage creams, lotions, oils and waxes, including the following:
We have developed a set of robust procedures to minimise the risk of COVID-19. Please find out more in our policy here.
