One-page cheat sheet: What every massage therapist needs to know about SMA CPD

If you're a Sports Massage Association (SMA) member, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an essential part of maintaining your membership and growing as a practitioner. This page is your quick-reference guide to understanding what counts as CPD, how much you need, and how to find flexible, recognised options.

What Counts as CPD?

CPD is any activity that helps you improve or update your professional knowledge, skills, or practice. It doesn’t have to be hands-on—it can be theoretical, reflective, or research-based. Examples include:

• Online knowledge-based courses

• Attending workshops or webinars

• Reading peer-reviewed journals or textbooks

• Supervised practice or case discussion

• Reflective practice or professional development planning

How Much CPD Do I Need?

The SMA recommends at least 30 hours of CPD per year. This ensures you’re staying current and delivering safe, effective care. Your CPD should be:

• Relevant to your scope of practice as a soft tissue therapist

• Recorded and documented (keep certificates or logs)

• Spread throughout the year—not done all at once

If you’re also registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), you’ll be expected to meet their CPD standards too. Fortunately, most CPD activities count towards both.

Online CPD That Fits Around Your Schedule

At The Therapy Web, we offer fully online CPD courses that are ideal for busy manual therapy practitioners. While our courses aren’t free, they’re designed to be affordable, flexible, and evidence-informed—perfect for therapists who need high-quality CPD they can complete at their own pace.

✔ 100% online, with instant access ✔ Discount packs for multiple course purchases ✔ CPD recognised by UK and Australian associations ✔ Designed for massage therapists, sports therapists, myotherapists, Bowen therapists and more

Whether you want to deepen your understanding of musculoskeletal conditions, stay current with best practice, or meet your annual CPD target with confidence, our CPD courses are a smart investment in your career.

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