What is Massage Therapy?
Massage is defined as the systematic manual or mechanical manipulations of the soft tissues of the body to enhance health and healing. It is an age old technique which has been shown to increase circulation, reduce stress, ease pain, and improve performance. There are many types of massage therapy ranging from energy work to deep tissue therapy.
What Does a Massage Therapist Do?
Massage therapists are soft tissue specialists. They work primarily with the musculoskeletal system to restore its normal functioning.
Where Do Massage Therapists Work?
Upon receiving a license, a therapist has a variety of work settings to pursue. Massage therapists are not required to work under any other healthcare practitioner’s credentials but may be advised if they are treating a medical condition. This allows a therapist to establish his or her own practice. If opening your own facility is not your cup of tea, then working for someone else is another option. Some typical settings that employ or contract therapists are spas and salons, chiropractor’s offices, fitness centers, hospitals, physical therapy clinics, and massage therapy clinics.
Can I Earn A Living?
The profession of massage therapy is rapidly becoming a very popular method of preventative healthcare. As more and more people discover the healing benefits of massage, the demand for therapists will continue to rise. This is not a get rich quick profession. It is a client based industry and takes a tremendous amount of effort to become successful. Depending on where you work and whether you are full-time (15-25 appointments per week) or part-time your yearly income will vary. Establishing a clientele that can support a self employed massage therapist full-time may take 5 years to develop. A self-employed therapist can expect to charge $45 to $75 per hour depending on the part of the state or country they work in. If a therapist works in another establishment the hourly rate can be $15 to $35 per hour. Keep in mind that a self employed therapist will have to incur overhead expenses where a therapist working for someone else will not.
How Do I Get Started?
To enter TTC’s Massage Therapy program, call the college’s Admission and Records Office at (843) 574-6460 or visit the admissions page on our website for an application and information on the application process.
When Are Classes?
The massage therapy courses start each Fall semester. This program can be completed in two semesters. The Fall classes are scheduled Monday - Friday from 8:30am to 12:30pm. The Spring classes are scheduled from 8:00am to 3:00pm on M/W/F and 9:00am to 12:00pm on T/TH.
Is the Program Accredited?
The program is accredited through SACS as a part of the college.
What Do I Get When I Finish?
After completion of the program, the student is eligible to take the National Certification Exam. Once this exam is passed, the therapist can contact the state to apply for a license.
Anything Else?
Students will be working with and on their classmates as a regular part of class. Students must be comfortable working on people of all different types. Class participation is mandatory and essential in becoming an effective therapist.
