Home Study Massage Courses and Their Safety

Today I was talking with Ruthie Hardee, the founder of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy® and we were discussing the issue of homestudy massage classes and their safety.

In Texas, licensed massage therapists are required to have HANDS ON continuing education hours and the classes cannot be homestudy courses. I believe this is a good rule. However - the NCBTMB takes homestudy courses. In fact, a massage therapist certified with them could never set foot in another classroom - or lay hands on another body - and maintain their certification.

Some techniques, more than others, could be DANGEROUS is learned incorrectly. I would consider deep tissue, barefoot massage to be one of these techniques. I would count hot rock, pregnancy massage and a few others in this same category as well.

Do you feel it is appropriate for a massage therapist to only learn new massage techniques through homestudy courses? What role, if any, does home study availability play in education of a massage therapist?