Therapeutic Massage

You’ll Learn the Art of Healing

As a massage therapist, you’ll do more than just ease muscle tension —you’ll provide comfort, relief, and a sense of well-being to every client who walks through your door.

Whether they’re dealing with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or simply seeking a moment of relaxation, your skills will help them feel lighter and more at peace. You won’t just be working with muscles; you’ll be lifting spirits, easing minds, and creating a space where stress melts away.

If you’re looking for a career that is not only fulfilling but also offers flexibility, independence, and the chance to build meaningful client relationships, massage therapy is the perfect fit for you.

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The Program Options

10 Months

In South Piedmont’s 660-hour Therapeutic Massage program, you’ll learn the hands-on skills needed to work as a massage therapist in a variety of settings. You’ll practice techniques that help reduce pain and discomfort by working with the body’s soft tissues, while also exploring massage and bodywork methods that relieve stress and support overall health and wellness. You’ll take part in discussions about current research and trends in the field, as well as learn how massage therapy has evolved over time. Along the way, you’ll get the guidance and support you need to prepare for the MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork Licensure Exam) so you can earn your license and start your career. The program is designed to encourage lifelong learning and help you explore the many different styles and techniques available to licensed massage and bodywork therapists.

Mode

In-person

Link to Curriculum Map

Prerequisites

Requirements can be found below.

Check the requirements

Contact the Program Director for Registration

660

The Massage Therapy program consists of 660 hours, and each one is designed to prepare you for your career.

Quality

From SmartBoards to electric massage tables, the equipment we use in our program is state of the art quality.

30+

Our Massage Therapy instructor has more than 30 years of experience and is regarded as an expert in his field.

Hands-On Career Training

As a student in South Piedmont’s Massage Therapy program, you’ll develop the skills needed to practice massage therapy in a variety of client care settings.

You’ll learn how to manipulate and massage the soft tissue structures of the body to alleviate your client’s stress, pain, and discomfort, all while promoting health and wellness.

In addition to your hands-on training, you will engage in open discussions of evidence and research-based trends in the field of massage therapy, as well as discussions of past trends and their philosophies. By the end of the program, you will be prepared to pass the MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork Licensure Exam) and obtain a license to practice massage therapy.

Exterior view of the Braswell Building at South Piedmont’s Old Charlotte Highway (OCH) campus.

Photo of South Piedmont's Massage Therapy Director Elan Schacter.

Prepare for a Rewarding Career

It is my personal hope that you enter the program absolutely thrilled with the knowledge and skills you will gain. It is my personal mission to offer classes in such a way that you hold onto that fascination and curiosity through the entire course, and even through your career.
Elan Schacter, Massage Therapy Program Director

Everything you need to know!

CASAS test score at 10th grade (Score of 244) English reading comprehension or higher. The CASAS exam must have been taken within a year of the course’s start date.

Click here to schedule a free CASAS test for entry into the Therapeutic Massage Program. For more details and options besides the CASAS test score, contact Elan Schacter at eschacter@spcc.edu.

All applicants must schedule an appointment to meet with the program director, Elan Schacter (eschacter@spcc.edu) as part of the enrollment process.

Student Medical Form
Unofficial transcripts for a high school diploma, GED, or college degree

Students must turn in their official or unofficial high school transcript, a completed medical form, and a completed registration form for registration. This can be done personally during the pre-enrollment interview. Please contact Mr. Schacter at 704.290.5867 or email eschacter@spcc.edu to schedule your interview.

Once all documents have been received, and candidates have had a successful meeting with the program director, students will be sent a link to register and pay for the course.

Tuition: Course Part I (months 1-5) is $304.40; Course Part II (months 6-10) is $180

Textbooks: $350

Uniforms: $100

Massage table: $400

School supplies: $30

**All costs in this list are approximate. **

The next Massage Therapy course will begin in summer 2025.

Details about the program are in the process of being finalized.

Any information below is subject to change.

The link to schedule the CASAS test can be found on this page under “Pre-Requisites.”

Enrollment for the upcoming class will likely begin toward the end of May 2025.
It will be a daytime class.
The start date will most likely be in August.
It will most likely run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every other Friday.
The course will most likely last 10 months.
Tuition will still most likely stay under $500 for the entire program.
Supplies for the program will probably cost about $1,300. This includes uniforms, books, treatment tables, and other education-related items.
Individuals hoping to get a head start on preparing for enrollment may take the CASAS reading test.

Students must purchase their own books. These books can be found at online booksellers or on their publisher’s websites. Please make sure to get the correct edition. For help locating these books, please email eschacter@spcc.edu. South Piedmont does not sell these books. Books needed include:

Salvo, S. (2022), Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice, (7^th Edition), Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323878159
Kapit, W. (2013), The Anatomy Coloring Book, (4^th Edition), PearsonISBN: 978-0321832016

Benjamin, B. (2020) Ethics of Touch, (3^rd Edition), Books of DiscoveryISBN: 978-1-8829084-5-5
Sohnen-Moe, C. (2016), Business Mastery, (5^th Edition), Books of Discovery.ISBN: 978-1-8829080-5-9
Biel, A. (2019), Trail Guide to The Body, (6^th Edition), Books of DiscoveryISBN: 978-0998785066
Biel, A. (2019), Trail Guide to The Body Student Workbook, (6^th Edition), Books of Discovery ISBN: 978-0-9914666-7-2

The Massage Therapy program takes place in the Braswell Building at the Old Charlotte Highway campus in Monroe.

You will learn about anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, clinical therapeutic massage, ethics and laws, business practices, and somatic psychology.

Massage therapists find job opportunities in settings including medical and chiropractic facilities, spas, resorts, luxury travel environments, gyms, health clubs, and private practices. Massage therapists also work for athletes and sports teams. Massage therapists are often able to set their own work schedule, making this a great field for parents or those who work a second job.

According to a May 2022 report from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a massage therapist in North Carolina is $63,940, with an hourly pay rate of $30.74. North Carolina massage therapists with incomes in the top 10 percent average $108,330 per year, while those with incomes in the lowest 10 percent earn an average of $32,470.

Elan Schacter, South Piedmont’s Massage Therapy program director, has more than 30 years of experience and 5,000 hours of education as a massage therapist. He has been a subject matter expert for the MBLEx (the massage therapy licensure examination) in 42 states since the exam’s inception. He is actively involved in his field and numerous efforts to ensure students receive high-quality massage therapy education. He has been teaching since 2005 and brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom, along with an understanding of student needs during a challenging course.