Date Published: July 29, 2026
ESP Physio X Fitness Training Scotland Partnership
We are pleased to announce that ESP Physio is hosting the Fitness Training Scotland Active IQ Level 3 & Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy package at our Stirling venue, with training led by our physiotherapist, Ryan Ferrie.
Learn in a working clinical setting from someone who assesses and treats bodies every week, and not just from a manual!
It’s the full route to becoming a qualified sports massage therapist, delivered in small groups by a Chartered Physiotherapist. The course is Recognised & supported by: CNHC · GCMT · Sports Massage Association · Active IQ
Two qualifications. One career-ready therapist.
The package combines the Active IQ Level 3 Diploma and Level 4 Certificate – that’s everything you need to work confidently and safely as a sports massage therapist, from foundational technique to advanced clinical assessment.
Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy is your foundation: the anatomy and physiology behind sports massage, subjective and objective client assessment, and core hands-on techniques including effleurage, petrissage, tapotement and frictions. You’ll learn to deliver pre-event, post-event and maintenance treatments. It’s delivered as blended learning – e-learning and home study alongside practical days.
Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy adds the advanced clinical layer: joint-by-joint assessment of the ankle, knee, hip, spine, shoulder, elbow and wrist, special tests, and injury and dysfunction workshops. You’ll learn to plan treatments that prevent and manage injury and support soft-tissue repair, all delivered face-to-face in a small group.
Please note: it is mandatory to complete Level 3 before starting Level 4. The Stirling dates are sequenced so you can flow straight from one into the other.
Led by Ryan Ferrie, Physiotherapist at ESP Physio
What sets this course apart is where, and who, you learn from. Ryan is a Chartered Physiotherapist (HCPC and CSP registered) with a background spanning elite sport and the NHS, and a qualified sports massage therapist himself. You’re learning these techniques from someone who applies them with real patients every week, inside a working physiotherapy clinic.
He holds an MSc in Physiotherapy and an MSc in Sport & Exercise Science and Medicine from the University of Glasgow, alongside a FIFA Diploma in Sports Medicine, and has worked as a first-team sports scientist in professional football. Expect clinical context, honest feedback, and technique you can trust from day one.
Ryans full profile can be found HERE
ESP Physio – Stirling Course Dates – 2026
Every session runs from 9am–5pm at our Stirling venue based in the town centre. Level 3 runs first, with Level 4 following straight on.
Level 3 Diploma (course code MT018):
- Days 1 & 2: 19 & 20 September 2026
- Days 3 & 4: 3 & 4 October 2026
- Days 5 & 6: 17 & 18 October 2026
- Practical assessment: Sunday 25 October 2026
Level 4 Certificate (course code MTL4005):
- Days 1 & 2: 31 October & 1 November 2026
- Days 3 & 4: 14 & 15 November 2026
- Days 5 & 6: 28 & 29 November 2026
- Practical assessment: Sunday 6 December 2026
Complete both stages and you’ll finish fully qualified before the year is out.
Flexible Ways To Pay
The full package covers both qualifications, all delivery days, course manuals and e-learning.
- Secure your place: £500 non-refundable deposit
- Pay in full: £3,000 (includes your £500 deposit)
- Payment plan: £500 deposit, then 5 monthly instalments of £560 (£3,300 total)
Who It’s For?
Aspiring sports massage therapists starting a new career; physiotherapists, personal trainers, fitness professionals adding a hands-on skill; sports and healthcare enthusiasts who want a recognised qualification; and anyone wanting to work in clubs, gyms, clinics or self-employed practice.
Entry requirements You must be 16 or older, with good basic communication skills (you’ll consult with clients throughout) and access to a laptop or computer for the Level 3 e-learning. No prior massage qualification is needed to begin at Level 3.
Don’t Miss Out
Places at our Stirling venue are limited – small-group teaching means only a handful of spots per course.
SECURE YOUR PLACE HERE.
Booking is handled through our partner, Fitness Training Scotland.
Small print: Course delivered in partnership with Fitness Training Scotland; qualifications awarded by Active IQ. The £500 deposit is non-refundable. Dates and course codes are for the Stirling venue and correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change – please confirm current availability when booking.
Not in the Stirling area? The program also runs in Aberdeen
If Stirling doesn’t suit, the same Active IQ Level 3 & Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy package is also available through our partner Fitness Training Scotland at their Aberdeen venue, on separate dates. Same qualifications, same accreditations, same route to becoming a qualified sports massage therapist.
Level 3 Diploma (course code MT017):
- Days 1 & 2: 5 & 6 September 2026
- Days 3 & 4: 3 & 4 October 2026
- Days 5 & 6: 31 October & 1 November 2026
- Practical assessment: Saturday 21 November 2026
Level 4 Certificate (course code MTL4006):
- Days 1 & 2: 9 & 10 January 2027
- Days 3 & 4: 6 & 7 February 2027
- Days 5 & 6: 6 & 7 March 2027
- Practical assessment: Saturday 20 March 2027
As with Stirling, you must complete Level 3 before starting Level 4, and booking is handled through Fitness Training Scotland.
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