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 Kapiʻolani Community College Massage Therapy Program are eligible to take the Hawai‘i State Board of Massage License Examination and qualify for national certification through the MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork License Examination). Students will also receive a UH Certificate 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

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
  • April 19, 2023 Wednesday 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

Total Hours
Costs
Introduction to Massage Therapy–Includes Textbook
15
$400
Your Body and Your Health 1–Human Anatomy with Musculoskeletal Kinesiology
51
$495
Your Body and Your Health 2–Human Physiology
24
$275
Your Body and Your Health 3–Pathophysiology
30
$365
Massage Practice 1–Basic Massage (Swedish)
45
$495
Massage Practice 2–Advanced Massage (Swedish)
45
$495
Professional Issues
30
$365
Module One Total Hours and Cost
240
$2890

Module 2 - Tuition Assistance Available

Total Hours
Costs
Your Body and Your Health 4–Advanced Anatomy/Physiology/Kinesiology
30
$365
Lomi Lomi
30
$365
Foot Reflexology
30
$365
Advanced Lomi Lomi
28
$230
Clinical Assessment and Myofascial Techniques
36
$460
Shiatsu
30
$365
Module Two Total Hours and Cost
174
$2150

Module 3 - Tuition Assistance Available

Total Hours
Costs
Sports Massage
30
$365
Pregnancy Massage
21
$260
Trigger Point Therapy
30
$365
Thai Massage
30
$365
Massage Clinical Internship 1
30
$320
Massage Clinical Internship 2
30
$320
Module Three Total Hours and Cost
171
$1995

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.