Many foreign massage therapists come to Malaysia with years of experience.
They are skilled. Confident. Ready to work.
But when applying to spas or work permits, they face one unexpected problem:
They don’t have SKM 3 or DKM 4.
And this is where many job applications stop.
In Malaysia, spas and wellness centres follow standards guided by
Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK).
This means employers must ensure therapists are:
Properly trained
Following hygiene and treatment SOP
Professionally assessed
Recognized under Malaysian skills certification
For employers, hiring without SKM / DKM is a legal and insurance risk.
Not because they are not good.
But because:
Their experience is not recognized under Malaysian certification.
Spa owners cannot justify hiring based on overseas experience alone. They need JPK-recognized proof of competency.
For many foreign therapists:
Spas hesitate to hire
Work permit processes become difficult
Employers are unsure about compliance
All because of one missing element:
SKM 3 or DKM 4.
Foreign therapists do not lack skill.
They lack Malaysian-recognized certification.
This is why many choose to obtain SKM / DKM locally before seeking spa employment.
Tim Bodycare Massage Academy provides SKM / DKM massage training aligned with JPK standards and real spa SOP.
Here, you are trained and assessed according to what Malaysian spas and authorities require.
You don’t just improve your skill.
You become legally employable in Malaysia.
Experienced? Yes.
Skilled? Yes.
But in Malaysia:
No SKM 3 / DKM 4 = Difficult to get hired.
Start your certification pathway first.
Contact Tim Bodycare Massage Academy:
Petaling Jaya: 013-398 6868
Penang: 011-3621 7266
Johor Bahru: 012-288 2641
https://www.massage.com.my/
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