Around 4 minutes to read · Updated 6 October 2026
Published by Serious Sports Training Academy
Before you compare
- Regulated and accredited are not interchangeable labels.
- A regulated sports massage qualification has a qualification number you can look up on the Ofqual Register.
- Sports massage therapist is not an HCPC-protected title, so insurers, employers and venues set the practical requirements.
- SSTA teaches the regulated Active IQ Level 3 Sports Massage Diploma, 610/3925/1.
What “regulated” and “accredited” mean
A regulated qualification is one an awarding organisation offers under Ofqual’s rules. It has a qualification number, a level and a published size, and anyone can look it up on the Ofqual Register. The Active IQ Level 3 Technical Specialist in Sports Massage Therapy (Diploma), 610/3925/1, is an example.
Accredited usually means a course has been reviewed or recognised by a private body, such as a membership association or a provider’s own accrediting partner. That can be useful, but the word on its own tells you nothing about the level, the assessment or who checked it. Neither word should be accepted without the exact organisation, award and verification route.
Which sports massage qualification do you need?
There is no single legal licence for sports massage. Sports massage therapist is not among the professions and protected titles regulated by the HCPC, unlike physiotherapist. In practice, the requirement comes from the people you will work with: your insurer, an employer, a clinic or gym that rents you a room, or a professional association you want to join.
Many of those organisations look for a recognised Level 3 sports massage qualification as the starting point, with Level 4 as a progression route. Ask each of them which awards they accept before you choose a course, and keep their answer in writing.
Check any qualification in five minutes
Record the exact title, level, qualification number, awarding organisation, provider wording and source link. Then check those details at the awarding organisation and on the government qualification register.
- Ask the provider for the full qualification title and number.
- Search the number on the Ofqual Register and check the status says it is available to learners.
- Check the awarding organisation lists the same title, units and assessment methods.
- Ask the provider to confirm it is approved to deliver that award.
- Ask your intended insurer or employer whether they accept it.
The qualification SSTA teaches
SSTA teaches the Active IQ Level 3 Technical Specialist in Sports Massage Therapy (Diploma), qualification number 610/3925/1. The Ofqual Register lists it as a Level 3 qualification with 295 guided learning hours and 390 hours of total qualification time. Active IQ assesses it through a knowledge assessment, a case study, and observation and questioning.
At SSTA the course is taught in person in Chichester, in groups of up to 10, and costs £1,997.99. Dates and the teaching timetable are confirmed by admissions before you enrol.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does accredited always mean regulated?
No. Ask who regulates or accredits the exact award and verify the claim at the primary source.
What qualification do you need to be a sports massage therapist?
No single qualification is required by law, because sports massage therapist is not an HCPC-protected title. Insurers, employers, venues and professional associations set their own requirements, and many look for a recognised Level 3 sports massage qualification. Check with them before you choose a course.
Is the SSTA course regulated?
SSTA teaches the Active IQ Level 3 Technical Specialist in Sports Massage Therapy (Diploma), 610/3925/1, which is listed on the Ofqual Register.
Is a qualification enough to meet every employer or insurer requirement?
No. Requirements can vary, so check directly for the work and setting you intend to enter.
Sources and further reading
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