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 THAI is a non-partisan professional organization that acknowledges, approves and endorses serious students, practitioners and teachers of traditional Thai therapy and Thai healing arts throughout the world. Member benefits include an annual membership certificate, the professional title of RTT (Registered Thai Therapist), a semi-annual newsletter sent by mail to your home or practice, discounts on continuing education workshops, use of the THAI client referral service, and the ability to network with and advertise to members and the general public. In addition, all members have access to a special area of the website which contains:
Please take some time to acquaint yourself with THAI by browsing through the various sections of this web site. When you are ready to join, click on the “Become A Member" section to download and submit your application. Members are accepted into the Organization based on several distinct levels of formal study, practice, and accomplishment. Before you join, you should determine which level of membership you qualify for. Here is a list of levels of membership in THAI: THAI Membership Levels and Fees Membership is based on a two-year cycle - The below rates are for two years of professional membership in THAI, from January 2007 to December 2008. Prices are in US dollars. * Basic Member - ($85) Individuals are considered for Basic membership if they have studied a minimum of 30 hours of formal study of traditional nuad boran (Thai massage) with any instructor or institution. As with all other members, Basic Members are listed in the online directory, receive membership certificates and newsletters, and have access to the THAI archives and members' area. * Practitioner / Registered Thai Therapist [RTT] - ($175) Minimum requirements are 150 hours of formal hands-on study by approved instructors or institutions within a maximum period of time of three years. You must have been practicing for one year since your first study of nuad boran. At least one of your instructors must be an approved THAI instructor or school. You must submit a blank copy of your client intake form with your application. In addition, you must have logged 50 practice sessions, and you must submit copies of these logs with the application. Practitioner must agree in writing to maintain accurate logs of all subsequent sessions. You may use the THAI log (Form L) or any form of your own, provided that the log is a double sided sheet with space for recording a minimum of ten sessions. Each page must be signed or initialed by the practitioner, and must contain the first name of the client, the date of the session and the duration of the session. Written descriptions of each session must include the following: a) Symptoms and complaints b) Positions used (supine, prone, side, seated) and specific techniques employed, and c) General observations and findings. In addition, other comments and any self-care recommendations may be noted. To maintain status as an RTT, each member must complete 30 hours of continuing education training in Thai massage / Thai medicine, Thai herbal healing, or Thai cultural studies for every two year membership cycle. A member who achieves Practitioner status is acknowledged by the Thai Healing Alliance as a Registered Thai Therapist (RTT) * Advanced Practitioner - ($175) Minimum requirements are 270 hours of supervised training by approved instructors or institutions. No more than 30 of these 270 hours may be based on assistant teaching or apprenticeships. Signed certificates and transcripts for any such apprenticeships must be included with the application. Some study must be completed with THAI-Approved teachers or schools. An additional 10 hours of study must be related to cultural disciplines such as Thai Herbal Medicine, Southeast Asian or Buddhist studies, Thai language study, and other related cultural activities. A trip to Thailand will automatically qualify for this 10 hour requirement. In addition, the applicant must have completed 240 logged hours of hand-on private practice. Applicants must comply with log requirements for RTT level (notes from 50 logged sessions). To maintain status at Advanced Practitioner level, each member must complete 30 hours of continuing education training in Thai massage / Thai medicine, Thai herbal healing, or Thai cultural studies for every two year membership cycle * Instructor – ($250) Minimum requirements are 420 hours of formal study and training, including some study with THAI-approved instructors and schools. No more than 30 of these 420 hours may be based on assistant teaching or apprenticeships. Signed certificates and transcripts for any such apprenticeships must be included with the application. The applicant must have completed 500 hours of logged hands-on practice, and must submit coursework guidelines for review and approval by the Executive Council. The applicant must have completed 20 additional hours of Thai cultural studies (such as those outlined in “Advanced Practitioner" above.) Other conditions may apply. Instructor members are endorsed as approved educational providers for the general public and for THAI members as they advance in levels of membership. Instructors may use their name and the title of RTT in conjunction with their marketing and advertising. To maintain status at Instructor level, each member must complete 30 hours of continuing education training in Thai massage / Thai medicine, Thai herbal healing, or Thai cultural studies for every two year membership cycle. * Institution - ($300) The main instructor of the school must qualify for Instructor level membership according to the requirements listed above. Any assistant teachers must have completed the study and practice requirements of Advanced Practitioner level or higher. Additional conditions may apply. Institution members receive priority listings in the member directories, and may use their business name and personal name in conjunction with their marketing and advertising. Institution members are endorsed as approved educational providers for the general public and for all THAI members as they advance in levels of membership through required courses of study. To maintain status at Institution level, the main instructor must complete 30 hours of continuing education training in Thai massage / Thai medicine, Thai herbal healing, or Thai cultural studies for every two year membership cycle. * Associate Member – ($175) Individuals or organizations linked to Thai massage, yoga and bodywork who are supportive of THAI's goals and objectives. These may include herbalists, spas, suppliers, manufacturers, travel agents, retailers, etc. Associate Members are listed in the directory, have access to the THAI Archives, and may advertise on the THAI website and in the newsletter. Click here to continue reading the next section. |