BRIDGING PROGRAM
Upgrade to a Level 5 Professional Qualification in Sports Massage and Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy
This Bridging Program is specifically designed so you can build upon your strengths and experience and address your individual needs, thus enabling you to upgrade your skills and gain a Level 5 professional qualification.
NEXT COURSE: Bridging 24C, commencing Sunday 5th January 2025.
Full details and how to book here.
WHO IS THIS MASSAGE COURSE FOR?
To be eligible, students must have successfully completed at least one of the following:
- Level 4 qualification in sports massage
- A degree in osteopathy
- A degree in physiotherapy
- A degree in sports therapy
- Sports science unfortunately is not accepted
Are you a beginner? This is not the course for you!
Please head to our Level 5 course page to start your journey.
Are you a Level 3 therapist? You may be considered if you have a minimum of 2 years experience. Please get in touch with us at info@nlssm.com.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
In addition to a Level 4 qualification or degree as outlined above, students must also have the following:
- Hold a current first aid certificate.
- Be able to demonstrate prior learning of anatomy and physiology
- Have appropriate insurance
- Be a member of a professional association
Evidence of the above, as well as certificates of your qualification need to be submitted within 24 hours of your application.
Are you unsure if you are eligible?
Get in touch with us at info@nlssm.com
Course structure
On our Bridging Program, you will be joining Modules 2 and 3 of our regular Level 5 course.
The course is part time and takes approximately 7 months to complete in total during which time you will attend practical workshops in class and undertake significant home study and hands-on practice.
Class attendance and assessments consist of 14 days, split across one day every two weeks. The reason that we host your class once every two weeks is to ensure that we have regular contact with our students, which we find enables the learning journey to be more supportive.
Module 2 includes:
- 6 face-to face workshops – practical skills and techniques include: Muscle Energy Techniques (PIR & RI), Transverse Soft Tissue Release as well as the classical form, introduction to Neuromuscular technique, Trigger Point Therapy, Strain Counter Strain, Positional Release
- 1 day of recorded lectures – NMT prep work, Fascia and Biotensegrity ( new concept that considers bodies behaviour holistically).
- 1 practical assessment day
This module takes approximately 3-4 months to complete.
Module 3 includes:
- 5 face-to face workshops – practical assessment and rehabilitation skills include: postural assessment that cover both stand up and on the couch evaluation skills, biomechanics vs biotensegrity movement, re-education methods, soft tissue rehabilitation, advanced pathology presentations, relevant case studies, putting it all together.
- Final Practical Exam
This module takes approximately 4 months to complete.
You can find out which days are in-class and which days are online in the Dates & Location section below, by clicking on the individual course calendars.
Most of our students are able to continue their work and other commitments around the course due to it being part-time!
During the course
Over the course of the 2 modules you will need to complete 70 logbook hours of practical massage experience. This can be on friends and family as well as members of the general public.
We understand that finding your potential future clients can be overwhelming hence, we offer a variety of work opportunities, event and clinical work experiences to help support your learning, we also have a private forum wherein you can find graduates who will be practice bodies for you. Find out more here.
You have a total of 2 written coursework assignments to complete throughout the course in your own time at home, as well as 3 end of module practical assessments.
As part of the supportive system on offer to NLSSM students, there are monthly ‘Student Office Hours’ hosted via zoom, where you can discuss and trouble shoot your assignment paper questions with an NLSSM tutor. Helping to take the fear out of coursework!
We understand that students have varying ways of learning and absorbing information, with this in mind our tutors skilfully deliver the course information using a variety of teaching methods to make the class both interesting and enjoyable. Your tutors will also take the time in class to discuss your assignment papers and help solve any questions or queries you might have.
We supply a ‘schedule of work’ that accompanies every class day. This document informs you ahead of time which assignment question(s) will be covered in your class material.
Bringing it all together is your final and comprehensive case study, this will demonstrates your assessment, planning and rehabilitation hands on skills, this is the hallmark of NLSSM’s reputation, it rests on our graduated students who demonstrate a high level of understanding and application.
Course syllabus
- Soft Tissue Release – Active Passive, Resisted & Transverse
- Muscle Energy Technique – Reciprocal Inhibition & Post Isometric Relaxation
- Advanced deep tissue techniques
- Neuromuscular Techniques
- Triggers Points
- Positional Release
- Strain & Counter Strain
- Range of Motion
- Business Mastery with Susan Findlay, she will discuss a practical and proven method on how to develop your client list
- Legalities
- Fascia and Biotensegrity – a new and dynamic approach to our understanding of the body and how it works
- Rehabilitation processes
- Pathology understanding conditions such as Parkinson’s, Diabetes, Arthritis, Frozen Shoulder
- Clinical and case studies
- Stretching and corrective exercises
- Injury scenarios
- Prevention Soft Tissue Therapy
- Re-education methods
- Homecare
- Remedial Massage Techniques
- History taking & notation
- Static & movement based assessment
- Contraindications
- Palpation skills
- Pain assessment skills
- Assessment of Acute, Sub Acute & Chronic
- Muscle ROM testing
- Biomechanics vs biotensegrity
- Neurological testing
- Exercise physiology research with Steve Hunter
This course is supported or accredited by the following associations:
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS COURSE?
- Course lectures & comprehensive notes
- Detailed schedule of work
- Online review quizzes for all class days
- Online - extra bonus videos reviewing practical work
- Online - extra bonus videos reviewing practical work
- Access to schools' textbook library and teaching space
- A supportive tutor mentoring system
- Student Office hours - monthly online tutorial
- A high ratio of teacher to student instruction
- Final exam fees
- Private NLSSM Facebook group with job listings and support (ongoing after graduation)
- Student massage clinic (optional)
- Work placements and event opportunities
STUDENT MASSAGE CLINIC
During the course, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in our student massage clinic. This is a regular clinic arranged by us, so you can gain experience of treating clients in as close to a real clinical setting as possible.
WORK PLACEMENTS
We also offer regular work experience opportunities for our Level 5 Diploma students. Throughout the course, various types of placements are available to apply to, such as working with sports teams, professional dance groups and events like the London Marathon. See examples here.
STUDENT DISCOUNTS
NLSSM students have access to the following discounts (click each for more info).
Suppliers of sports injury, sports massage, first aid for sport, foam roller rehabilitation products to therapists, sports teams, patients, and the public. 10% off for NLSSM students. Find out more about Physique here.
Songbird massage waxes and balms combine a unique blend of beeswax (or beeswax free for our vegan wax alternatives) and 100% natural ingredients. NLSSM students get 25% off. Find out more about Songbird here.
Massage Warehouse is the UK’s largest supplier of therapy equipment for Professional Therapists and our extensive ranges will suit every budget. 10% off for NLSSM students.
React First runs a lively program of public first aid courses in Central London and in-house first aid training across London and the South East. 10% discount for NLSSM students
Naqi Massage Lotion is our main supplier at NLSSM. This is available at a discount for students via Physique.
TOTUM, previously known as NUS extra, is the #1 student discount card, brings you over 200 UK student discounts.
KenHub is an online anatomy learning tool that includes detailed drawings, videos and more. 10% discount for NLSSM students
Handspring Publishing specialises in books that focuses on bodywork and movement. NLSSM students will receive a 15% discount on purchases
MEMBERSHIPS
NLSSM graduates are able to become members of the following associations (click each for more info).
DATES & LOCATION
Our bridging program takes place alongside our Professional Level 5 Qualification in Sports Massage and Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy, at The Hub in North London.
The Hub is conveniently located just a few minutes walk from Tottenham Hale Rail, Underground and Bus Station. Please find full location details here.
Upcoming Course Dates
We have the following details available for enrolment (click each course for more info):
This is a Sunday course, running from 10am – 5pm. Please find exact course dates here.
Please note: on this calendar, you’ll see the dates for our full Level 5 course, of which you will attend Modules 2 and 3. This means that only dates beginning with Module 2 or 3 are applicable. Bridging Program students are not permitted to attend Module 1 dates.
This is a Tuesday course, running from 10am – 5pm. Please find exact course dates here.
Please note: on this calendar, you’ll see the dates for our full Level 5 course, of which you will attend Modules 2 and 3. This means that only dates beginning with Module 2 or 3 are applicable. Bridging Program students are not permitted to attend Module 1 dates.
COURSE FEES
The full cost of this Level 5 Bridging Program in Sports Massage and Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy is £2300.
You will be required to pay a deposit of £500 (non-refundable) when you submit your application. You have the following options of how to pay the remainder of your course fees after you apply. Details of how to pay using either of these 3 options will be in the welcome letter of the course, which you will have access to after you apply.
Payment Options
- Payment in full via bank transfer
You can choose to pay your course fees in full, after you submit your application and pay the deposit. This must be received a minimum of two weeks prior to the course start date.
- Payment in full via credit card
You can choose to pay the remainder of your course fees in full with your credit card. This must be received a minimum of two weeks prior to the course start date. Please note: there is an admin fee of £50 for this option.
- Payment via standing order
We offer a monthly payment scheme where the course costs (minus the deposit) are split over 7 months via a standing order, totalling approximately £271.43 per month. Your repayments begin on the 28th day of the month that your diploma course commences. You can also make a larger initial deposit payment to reduce the monthly amounts. You will need to advise us of this after you submit your application, and send evidence that this standing order has been set up. Please note: there is an admin fee of £100 for this option.
Please see our full Terms and Conditions here.
Ready to enrol?
If you’re ready to apply, please remember you’ll need to submit the following within 24 hours of your application:
- Evidence of your qualification in one of the accepted fields
- Evidence of prior learning in Anatomy and Physiology
- A copy of your valid first aid certificate
- A copy of your insurance
- Details of your professional association
Details of how to submit this evidence will be given in your welcome letter upon your application and course deposit.
To enrol on a course, please click the button below:
FAQ's
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.
We have developed a set of robust procedures to minimise the risk of COVID-19. Please find out more in our policy here.
Yes! You can choose to split the course fees over a 7 month standing order. The payments start on the same month in which your course commences.
Additionally, you can pay your course fees in full via bank transfer or credit card.
Find out more about your different payment options here.
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 understand that this is a long commitment, and there may be a course date that you cannot make due to an emergency or pre-planned event. This is why we allow you to swap up to two days of the course and attend with an alternative diploma date instead.
Whilst we make this allowance, it is not something we encourage, as completing your course dates in the correct order and with your own class is recommended.
We use a number of different massage creams, lotions, oils and waxes, including the following:
COVID 19
We have carried out a full risk assessment to ensure that the highest standards of safety are in place for everyone coming in to the school, the decisions were based on the location, the layout and how we could modify the interior set up so that it meets the new health and safety requirements.
