Massage Therapy
Admission
Students may enroll in the program without any academic prerequisites. However, students will need to be proficient in the English language. Also, it is highly recommended that students have had some college experience since all courses will be conducted with college-level academic expectations.
Students will be enrolled as soon as payment is received on a first-come-first-served basis. The initial payment to enroll is $2,890 (Module One course list) and $15 (Student Liability Insurance). There is limited seating for this program.
Licensure & Certification
Graduates of the KCC Massage Therapy Program are eligible to take the Hawai‘i State Board of Massage License Examination and be eligible for national certification through the MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork License Examination). Students will also receive a UH Certificates of Competence.
Spring 2023
Program begins April 24th, 2023
Program Overview
Massage Therapy is a personal health service utilizing soft-tissue manipulations to treat pain, improve range of motion, reduce stress, and promote relaxation. Massage therapists obtain the basic medical history for a client, assess any problems or conditions, and perform appropriate massage techniques based on the current health of the client. Licensed massage therapists may find work at spas, fitness centers, athletic teams, chiropractor and physician clinics, hospitals, physical therapy clinics, or be self-employed. Wages vary widely and can range from about $30-$100 per treatment hour.
The Kapi‘olani Community College’s Massage Therapy Program is a non-credit evening and weekend program comprised of coursework with theory, hands-on practice, competency testing and clinical experience. The length of the program is approximately 11 months long and meet from Monday through Thursday evenings from 6pm-9pm and occasional Saturdays from 9am-12noon.
Students who successfully complete the entire program at Kapi‘olani Community College will receive a University of Hawai`i certificate of competence and be eligible to take the Hawai‘i State Board of Massage License Examination as well as qualify for the Massage and Bodywork License Examination (MBLEx) that is required for most U.S. mainland states.
Contact Information
- Massage Therapy Program Coordinator: Martin Chong (808) 734-9540
- Continuing Education
Registration Procedure
STEP 1: Attend a mandatory information session to learn whether this program will fit your needs or not and to learn about what to expect while in the program. These sessions are free and no appointment is necessary.
All information sessions are conducted through Zoom at: https://tinyurl.com/KAP21RHEP
- March 23, 2023 Thursday 4:00pm to 5:00pm
- April 6, 2023 Thursday 4:00pm to 5:00pm
STEP 2: Register online for Module One ($2,890) and Student Liability Insurance ($15). The total initial payment is $2,905 to secure your seat in the program. Textbooks will be issued on the first evening of class. If you experience any difficulty with registration, please contact the registration office directly at (808) 734-9211 for assistance.
*** Please note that additional payments for subsequent courses will be incurred. You may also apply for tuition assistance (see below). Please see the listing of program courses and costs in the Program Curriculum and Tuition section.
*** At this time, UH policy for healthcare in-person learning courses requires that all students be fully vaccinated with proof of vaccination status for COVID-19 and wear a suitable mask in close-knit lab settings.
REFUNDS: A 100% tuition refund is given for cancellations made on or before 10 business days prior to the start of class. A 50% tuition refund is given for cancellations made within 5 to 9 business days prior to the start of class. No refunds will be given
Program Curriculum & Tuition
The following are courses that students will need to complete to fulfill Kapi`olani Community College’s requirements in earning the completion certificate and be eligible for state license and national certification exams.
Initial tuition is $2,890 (Module One) and $15 (Student Liability Insurance Fee) to be paid in full to begin the program.
*** We reserve the right to cancel the course due to insufficient enrollment or for other reasons. All dates, times, and other information may be subject to change with or without prior notice.
Module 1
Module 2 - Tuition Assistance Available
Module 3 - Tuition Assistance Available
Total Program Hours : 585. Total Cost $7,035
Program Information
Financial Aid
The UH System is offering the HANA Career Pathways Tuition Stipend for those who qualify through a federal grant. More information will be provided at the scheduled information sessions.
Federal loans will not be eligible for this non-credit program.
Other options for financial assistance can be found through various community-based employment and training programs as well as military spouse benefits. Please contact the respective agencies for details.
Learning Outcomes
Upon satisfactory completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Recognize the role and scope of the massage therapist as a member of the health care team.
- Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of basic principles of human anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology for massage.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic principles of documentation, ethics, legal liability, and business practices involved in a massage therapy practice.
- Understand the theory and rationale for the various massage techniques learned.
- Demonstrate safe and effective application of general and specialty massage techniques to meet the needs of various situations and people.