<![CDATA[The study was designed to create and test a competency-based acupressure sport massage certification program for physical education students through Participatory Action Research (PAR). The study consisted of a diagnostic pre-cycle, a basic training and assessment (Cycle I), and supervised competency refinement (Cycle II). Thematic and descriptive data from focus groups, interviews, tests, observations, assessments, examiner feedback, student evaluations, and documentation were used to inform iterative reflection. The pre-cycle resulted in five considerations: academic relevance, market needs, career orientation, implementation challenges, and certification design. The mean baseline scores for 19 students in Cycle I were 83 for technique, 84 for positioning, 83 for communication, and 84 for hygiene. Hence, there were areas for improvement in the identification of acupressure points; all 17 students assessed achieved competency criteria, pressure control, rhythm, technical consistency, and confidence. Feedback from students was largely positive in Cycle II, with 16 out of 17 (94.1%) finding the evidence of assessment to be satisfactory. Results were used to guide a nine-session, 24–27 hours model that incorporated safety, ethics, communication, technical practice, supervised simulation, reflection, and assessment. The study proposes professional certification as an embedded competency development pathway in PE curricula.]]>
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