Massage Therapy (24 Hours Per Week)

The Certificate of Competency (CCT) in Massage Therapy program builds strong foundational skills for students, equipping them with the tools necessary to succeed in the massage therapy industry. Massage therapists use the professional art of therapeutic touch to facilitate healing in the body. The Massage Therapy Focus is placed on structural massage - the ability to couple and apply a deep understanding of anatomy with powerful tissue sculpting techniques in order to create radical change in the body. Students learn how to use hands, fingers, forearms, knuckles, fists and elbows when working with the soft tissues of the body. While the program centers heavily on anatomy, Swedish massage, and deep tissue massage, it rounds out students' education with exposure to Asian modalities, sports massage, pregnancy massage and business classes. This program provides the training necessary for success in the massage therapy industry regardless of the setting: private practice, spas, fitness centers, sports teams, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and chiropractic offices.

This program is designed to meet education requirements for licensure or certification in the State of Arizona. Granting licensure and certification is the sole responsibility of the state board or approval agency. This program is only offered and available to students located in the State of Arizona. The Maricopa County Community College District and colleges define student location within Administrative Regulation 2.2.3(7).

Details

Field of Interest
Business, Entrepreneurialism and Management
Degree Type
Certificate of Competency (CCT)
Academic Plan
Massage Therapy (24 Hours Per Week) (CER)
Academic Plan Code
1184
Total Clock Hours Required
700
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Admission criteria

High school diploma or GED.

Notes

Students must successfully pass each course with a minimum grade of 80% and 100% of the course hours required in order to continue on to the next course. Students may apply for graduation from the Massage Therapy program upon successful completion of the program hours and a score of 80% or higher. Completion of the program does not guarantee a massage therapy license (in any state). Students should visit The Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy website at https://massagetherapy.az.gov for more information regarding licensure eligibility and application requirements. GateWay Community College will not give refunds or be held liable for graduates who do not receive an Arizona Massage Therapy License.

What You'll Learn
  • Label, define, classify, and apply types of contraindications for massage therapy. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Recall, show, demonstrate, and model proper sanitation for the industry. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Recognize, name, recite, and explain the benefits of massage. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Define or employ regional, anatomical, positional, human kinetics, and medical terminology relevant to the professional practice of massage therapy. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Label, recognize, and locate all structural skeletal bones. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Label, recognize, and locate the location of all movement/postural oriented skeletal muscles. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Label, recognize, and locate all major organs of the body. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Recognize and define the various types of sports massage. (PMP120, PMP121)
  • Recognize, define syndromes and injuries commonly treated with massage therapy. (PMP120, PMP121)
  • Perform one-hour and two-hour Swedish massage. (PMP120, PMP121)
  • Perform one-hour and two-hour deep tissue massage. (PMP120, PMP121)
  • Perform Thai massage techniques. (PMP120, PMP121)
  • Perform reflexology massage. (PMP120, PMP121)
  • Perform multiple 15-minute chair massages. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Perform stretching session. (PMP120)
  • Recognize, identify, explain the differences and similarities of special populations, their contraindications, considerations, and strategies. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Recognize, explain, or demonstrate what constitutes an effective intake interview, postural analysis, treatment plan and documentation reflected in subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) notes. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Identify, explain typical massage therapy career avenues and various marketing strategies. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Perform stretching session utilizing proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. (PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)
  • Demonstrate the various types of sports massage techniques. (PMP220, PMP221)
  • Demonstrate treatment protocols for injuries commonly treated with massage therapy. (PMP220, PP221)
  • Perform one-hour and two-hour Swedish massage in a cohesive and fluid manner. (PMP220, PMP221)
  • Perform one-hour and two-hour deep tissue massage addressing front and back fascial lines. (PMP220, PMP221)
  • Perform Thai massage techniques demonstrating the ability to blend them in with Swedish and deep tissue massage. (PMP220, PMP221)
  • Perform reflexology massage while identifying major reflex points of the foot. (PMP220, PMP221)
  • Identify and demonstrate self-care strategies. (PMP120, PMP121, PMP220, PMP221)

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Massage Therapists

$46,110

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by block. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with a navigator to discuss their academic and career goals.
  • The course sequence is laid out by block and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • This is a cohort program in which students progress through their course of study together in the required course sequence.

Courses Sequence

Block 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Block 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Clock Hours
PMP120 Massage Therapy Basics Critical course Gateway course Prerequisite: High school diploma or equivalent 175
PMP121 Massage Therapy Advanced Critical course Prerequisite: PMP120 175

Block 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Block 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Clock Hours
PMP220 Massage Therapy Mastery I Prerequisite: PMP121 175
PMP221 Massage Therapy Mastery II Prerequisite: PMP220 175
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of ‘P’ or ‘C’ or better (depending on the course grading scale) for all courses required within the program.

Weekly hour requirements vary by program. Students should meet with a navigator to discuss these requirements further. Actual completion times may vary. A separate $15 Registration Fee will be charged per academic year.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm12?id=183265).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Certificate of Competency (CCT) in Massage Therapy (24 Hours Per Week)