Program Overview
San Joaquin Valley College has developed an exciting new A.S. Degree program offering hands-on training and education for a rewarding career in Therapeutic Massage. Graduates are prepared to practice massage therapy in a variety of professional environments such as medical offices, private practices, spas and salons, or sports clinics. The program covers massage and bodywork therapy techniques, as well as massage therapy business practices and customer/client relations.
Learn
- Swedish Massage Therapy and Advanced Techniques
- Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy
- Sports Massage
- Shiatsu
- Spa Therapies, Techniques and Modalities
- Spa Management
- Business and Practice Essentials
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Palpation and Myology
- Palpation and Kinesiology
- Clinical Pathology
- CPR & First Aid
You will gain real-world experience at an onsite clinic, working and learning under the supervision of a massage therapy professional.
Career Opportunities
Because more people are finding out about the health benefits of therapeutic massage, the opportunities to work in the bodywork therapy industry are expanding. Massage therapists work in private practices or in the medical field with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, chiropractors and acupuncturists.
Graduates are prepared to practice message therapy in a variety of professional environments:
- Spas, Medical Spas and Salons
- Athletic and Sports Clubs
- Cruise Ships
- Vacation Resorts and Hotels
- Family Health Clinics and Centers
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
Things you might do on the job
- Assess patient/client conditions
- Create and adjust massage therapy treatment plans
- Perform appropriate therapeutic treatments
- Provide client education
This is a good career choice if you…
- Are empathetic to others
- Enjoy working in close contact with others
- Enjoy variety in your work
- Are neat and well groomed with a pleasant personality
- Are responsible and dependable
- Can be accepting and non-judgmental of those you treat
Certification Earned
Graduates earn a Certificate or Associate of Science Degree in Therapeutic Massage as well as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Certification. SJVC graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for Massage and Bodywork Therapy (NCBTMB), an exam used in 33 states across the country for licensure.
