Certificate Program-Infant Massage Practitioner NY
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Package Description & Details
Infant Massage Practitioner
Specialist Certification Program
This course is frequently sought by massage therapists looking for infant massage certification training approved for license renewal in New York. Our Infant Massage Specialist Advanced Certification/Certificate is a continuing education program designed to give you the clinical knowledge, practical techniques, and professional confidence to safely and effectively provide instruction to parents in infant massage therapy from newborns to pre-walkers. This is the course we have offered since 2017, formerly called "Certified Infant Massage Practitioner," and hundreds of therapists have completed it. To receive the title of Infant Massage Practitioner, Advanced Certificate, please read the disclosure below.
A Note on Credentialing Language
In 2022, the NCBTMB the national board that sets professional standards for the massage therapy profession retired its own use of the word "certification" for massage programs, and has since raised concerns about continuing education providers using that term broadly. A growing industry standard now holds that the words "certification" and "certified" should be reserved for credentials issued by independent organizations that administer formal examinations, require ongoing recertification, and maintain independent third-party oversight of their programs. This is the capacity of traditional institutional massage schools which we are not. Nor are there many continuing education providers who are.
Because no national accrediting body currently exists that certifies infant massage specialists or pediatric massage practitioners, the Institute of Somatic Therapy is honoring this shift by moving toward updated credentialing language. We are now issuing Course Specific Specialist Certificates in place of the term "certification." Until the industry evolves further or establishes a recognized independent body for these specialties, we will be transitioning away from using that term.
Our credential represents your advanced training, clinical proficiency, and demonstrated expertise in working with infants and their families. It is a meaningful mark of your commitment and we stand fully behind its value. We recognize that many pediatric wellness centers, integrative health clinics, and employers ask that infant massage therapists hold a "certification" in this specialty area. We are sensitive to this and can help you navigate that requirement by providing a certificate that reflects the language your employer recognizes. As far as our marketing and course descriptions are concerned, we have had to shift away from using the terms "Certification in Infant Massage" or "Certified Infant Massage Practitioner" exclusively. This is something practitioners across the country are navigating. Be patient with us as the industry standards evolve.
Infant Massage: A Specialized Skill to Support Your Youngest Clients
Infant massage is a delicate and highly specialized practice that requires both refined technique and deep sensitivity. This continuing education course is designed exclusively for licensed massage therapists seeking to expand their scope of practice to safely and effectively provide massage therapy for infants. This course equips you with the clinical and practical knowledge needed to work directly with infants in a therapeutic setting.
Important: Who This Course Is For
This course is intended for licensed massage therapists who wish to expand their practice to include hands-on therapeutic work with infants in New York.
Please note: This course was designed specifically for jurisdictions that do not allow massage therapists to teach massage to anyone who is not a licensed massage therapist which includes teaching infant massage to new parents. This course does not include instruction for teaching parent-infant massage classes. Therapists wishing to teach infant massage to parents should enroll in our Infant Massage Instructor course instead.
Why Train in Infant Massage as a Practitioner?
Massage therapy for infants is gaining increased recognition in pediatric and integrative healthcare settings. Research and clinical experience show that skilled therapeutic touch from a trained professional can offer benefits beyond what caregivers alone can provide. From relieving common discomforts to promoting optimal physical development, your hands can make a meaningful difference in the earliest stages of life.
Whether you want to support infants with symptoms of colic or gas, or provide a calming, nurturing experience for newborns and their families, this course offers a strong clinical foundation in technique, safety, and ethical care.
About the IST Infant Massage Specialist Certificate
The Infant Massage Specialist Certificate is an advanced credential awarded solely by the Institute of Somatic Therapy, under the authority of Dr. Deanine Picciano, AP, LMT, upon demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter. Earning this credential requires successful completion of coursework, written assessment, and clinical documentation demonstrating competency in infant massage techniques.
This is not a generic course completion certificate. It represents a higher standard of engagement with the material and demonstrates your commitment to clinical excellence in pediatric massage care.
Neither the NCBTMB nor any state massage therapy board makes a determination on the awarding of this specialty credential. The Institute of Somatic Therapy is an NCBTMB Approved Provider (#280672-00); this designation reflects the quality approval of our continuing education courses, not the awarding of this specialty certificate. No independent credentialing body currently exists for infant massage as a specialty within the massage profession. This credential is issued by IST under our own established educational guidelines.
When pediatric wellness centers, integrative health clinics, or families ask whether you are trained in infant massage this is your answer. You completed an advanced, nationally approved educational program and earned a specialty credential from one of the most clinically experienced maternal and pediatric health educators in the country.
What You Will Learn
This course covers the fundamentals of safe and effective infant massage, with strong emphasis on clinical considerations, infant anatomy, and working within your professional scope. You will gain confidence in applying gentle, age-appropriate techniques that are fully responsive to the baby's cues and developmental needs.
- Indications and Contraindications: When and how to safely apply massage to infants, including special considerations for premature or medically fragile babies.
- Massage Techniques for Common Conditions: Hands-on routines specifically designed to address colic, constipation, teething irritability, gas, sleep challenges, and more.
- Infant Developmental Stages: How motor development and neurological milestones influence your approach, technique selection, and session structure.
- Reading Infant Cues: How to recognize subtle behavioral signals that guide when to begin, pause, modify, or end a session essential for ethical and safe infant work.
- Positioning and Comfort: Safe positioning strategies based on the infant's age, muscle tone, and developmental ability.
- Clinical Practice Guidelines: Best practices for documenting sessions, collaborating with pediatric healthcare providers, and maintaining professional and ethical standards when working with this population.
Course Details
| CE Hours Earned | 15 hours |
| Course Classification | Kinesthetic. Reported as "General" for Florida and CE Broker purposes. |
| Course Format | Online, self-paced home study. Available instantly at your convenience. Live seminars are not currently offered. |
| Tuition | $154. Includes full course access and CE certificate upon successful completion. Instant enrollment with immediate access to all materials and testing. |
| Approved By | Institute of Somatic Therapy is approved by the NCBTMB (Provider #280672-00) as a continuing education Approved Provider. Also approved in Florida (#MCE-326 / CE Broker provider #50-1116) and New York (#0019). Valid for most individual states, as well as AMTA and ABMP membership renewals. |
Florida Massage Therapists Please Note
This course is approved in Florida for General hours, course approval number 20-1299582, effective April 24, 2025.
Important for Florida therapists: Florida massage should choose the Infant Massage Instructor course rather than this Practitioner course. Please refer to our State Guidelines page for full details on Florida CE hour categories and requirements.
New York Massage Therapists Please Note
The Institute of Somatic Therapy is approved in New York (Provider #0019). This course is valid for New York massage therapy license renewal. New York massage therapists practicing infant massage should confirm that working with infant populations falls within their individual scope of practice and any applicable clinical setting requirements. Please refer to our State Guidelines page for New York-specific continuing education details.
CE Broker Reporting
The Institute of Somatic Therapy will automatically report your hours to CE Broker in applicable states only if you have provided your license number in your online account. Log in to verify your license information. If your license number is not shown, select "Edit" to add it. These hours are reported under the "General" category for CE Broker purposes.
Scope of Practice Disclosure
Some states limit how many hours can be completed online or by home study, and some states limit approved topics. It is the responsibility of each massage therapist to determine whether providing infant massage falls within your scope of practice in your jurisdiction. Please refer to our State Guidelines section for information specific to your state. Laws can and do change, and your state board will hold you responsible for knowing the laws that apply to you. Nothing on our website should be considered legal advice.
About the Instructor
Dr. Deanine Picciano, AP, LMT is the Director of Education at the Institute of Somatic Therapy, with over 30 years of experience in prenatal, perinatal, and infant massage therapy. A pioneer in nurturing therapeutic care for families, Dr. Picciano's extensive clinical work, doula experience, and contributions to massage education have equipped thousands of therapists to confidently care for clients during the most tender stages of life.
Her background spans acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, classical homeopathy, herbal medicine, yoga, functional medicine, and integrative women's and children's health. She maintains a private practice in Sarasota, Florida, and has taught nationally and internationally to massage therapists, acupuncturists, midwives, and physical therapists. Her passion for excellence and warmth in instruction shape every lesson she teaches.
Enrollment Information
Simply click the Buy Now button to enroll. You will be guided through account creation or login and will have instant access to all course materials and testing upon checkout. If you wish to enroll in two or more IST courses at the same time, visit our Customize Your Own Package page to receive a discount of 8–15% depending on total tuition value. Coupon codes must be entered at checkout and are not retroactive.