Questions about our School and Programs
Click on any of the following questions:
What is the difference between the Diploma Program and the Introductory Program?
How long is your Diploma Program? Why 625 hours?
Are you approved by the state? Accredited?
How does your diploma program differ from other massage therapy programs?
How much is tuition? What is included?
What is the difference between the Diploma Program and the Introductory Program?
How long is your Diploma Program? Why 625 hours?
Are you approved by the state? Accredited?
How does your diploma program differ from other massage therapy programs?
How much is tuition? What is included?
Question: What is the difference between the Diploma Program and the Introductory Program?
Answer:
Our Diploma program is intended for those who want to pursue state licensing and a career in massage and bodywork. It is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and accredited by COMTA. The program has a vocational objective, as it allows one to take the licensing exam and, upon completion and licensure, to work as licensed massage therapist.
Our Introduction to Massage Therapy program is the same as the first 72 hours of the Diploma program. It allows someone to take the basic hands-on classes and, either continue on to the Diploma program or to exit with enough knowledge to practice on friends and family. Although the Introductory program does not have a vocational objective, several yoga instructors and personal trainers have taken this program and gone on to work as rehabilitation aides under chiropractors and PTs.
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Answer:
Our Diploma program is intended for those who want to pursue state licensing and a career in massage and bodywork. It is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and accredited by COMTA. The program has a vocational objective, as it allows one to take the licensing exam and, upon completion and licensure, to work as licensed massage therapist.
Our Introduction to Massage Therapy program is the same as the first 72 hours of the Diploma program. It allows someone to take the basic hands-on classes and, either continue on to the Diploma program or to exit with enough knowledge to practice on friends and family. Although the Introductory program does not have a vocational objective, several yoga instructors and personal trainers have taken this program and gone on to work as rehabilitation aides under chiropractors and PTs.
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Question: How long is your Diploma program? Why 625 hours?
Answer:
Our state-approved Massage and Bodywork Diploma program is 625 hours long. Depending on which scheduling option you select, you may finish it in 8.5 to 9 months or 11.5 to 12 months. See the current schedule here.
We chose to set the program duration to 625 clock hours because this number meets the requirements by the ELAP, a project that was undertaken by the seven major massage therapy organizations, and which defined the educational standards for entering the massage profession. While most states that regulate massage therapy require between 500 and 600 hours of training, the new trend seems to be 625 hours. Michigan and Indiana are the two most recent states to set their requirement to 625 hours.
Our 625-hour program develops superb massage therapists who can work in a hospitals, spas, private practice or any other setting. At the same time, we continue to monitor industry trends and, naturally, if it becomes important to increase the number of hours for licensing purposes we intend to do so.
Schools that offer Federal Financial Aid typically have programs in excess of 720 clock hours. The 720-hour requirement is necessary for clock hour schools receive the full grants; it is not a reflection of massage industry trends, even if some schools would like you to think so.
While the longer programs work well for the financial aid schools, they delay your career entry into the field as you cannot apply for licensure until you have completed the entire program.
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Answer:
Our state-approved Massage and Bodywork Diploma program is 625 hours long. Depending on which scheduling option you select, you may finish it in 8.5 to 9 months or 11.5 to 12 months. See the current schedule here.
We chose to set the program duration to 625 clock hours because this number meets the requirements by the ELAP, a project that was undertaken by the seven major massage therapy organizations, and which defined the educational standards for entering the massage profession. While most states that regulate massage therapy require between 500 and 600 hours of training, the new trend seems to be 625 hours. Michigan and Indiana are the two most recent states to set their requirement to 625 hours.
Our 625-hour program develops superb massage therapists who can work in a hospitals, spas, private practice or any other setting. At the same time, we continue to monitor industry trends and, naturally, if it becomes important to increase the number of hours for licensing purposes we intend to do so.
Schools that offer Federal Financial Aid typically have programs in excess of 720 clock hours. The 720-hour requirement is necessary for clock hour schools receive the full grants; it is not a reflection of massage industry trends, even if some schools would like you to think so.
While the longer programs work well for the financial aid schools, they delay your career entry into the field as you cannot apply for licensure until you have completed the entire program.
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Question: Are you approved by the State? Accredited?
Answer:
We are approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education as a private vocational school, which is the requirement for taking the National Certification Exam or the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam and becoming licensed. We are also members of ABMP and AMTA.
We are accredited by COMTA (Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation), the only nationally recognized accrediting organization specializing on massage therapy programs.
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Question: How much is tuition? What is included?
Answer:
Please click here for up-to-date tuition information.
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Question: How does your diploma program differ from other massage therapy programs?
Answer:
Let us start by saying that whether you come to our school, or attend any of the other larger, corporate massage therapy schools in the downtown Chicago area, if you do the required work and receive good grades you will pass the licensing exam and you will become licensed.
The curricula of all area programs are similar to a great degree because they have to meet the standards defined by the National Certification Board, AMTA, ABMP, and the Massage Licensing Law. The difference among schools has to do primarily with the school's business model, practices, philosophy, and how the core Diploma program is implemented.
We have positioned ourselves as a boutique school with sole emphasis on massage and bodywork. It is our belief that although you can graduate from any school and become licensed, the schooling that you receive has a direct impact in the kind of therapist that you evolve into. Our small classes, attention to student learning needs, comprehensive curriculum, and focus on creating value ensure that our graduates are fully academically prepared and possess what it takes to be successful in the marketplace. Our National Certification and MBLEx performance indices, placement statistics, and our graduates' success stories are all testimonials to the success of our program.
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Answer:
Let us start by saying that whether you come to our school, or attend any of the other larger, corporate massage therapy schools in the downtown Chicago area, if you do the required work and receive good grades you will pass the licensing exam and you will become licensed.
The curricula of all area programs are similar to a great degree because they have to meet the standards defined by the National Certification Board, AMTA, ABMP, and the Massage Licensing Law. The difference among schools has to do primarily with the school's business model, practices, philosophy, and how the core Diploma program is implemented.
We have positioned ourselves as a boutique school with sole emphasis on massage and bodywork. It is our belief that although you can graduate from any school and become licensed, the schooling that you receive has a direct impact in the kind of therapist that you evolve into. Our small classes, attention to student learning needs, comprehensive curriculum, and focus on creating value ensure that our graduates are fully academically prepared and possess what it takes to be successful in the marketplace. Our National Certification and MBLEx performance indices, placement statistics, and our graduates' success stories are all testimonials to the success of our program.
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