Montgomery County Community College’s Massage Therapy Certification Program prepares students to work in a wide array of settings, offering graduates numerous career opportunities.

 “The field of massage therapy is a growing one,” says William Mullen, LMT, manager of the Massage Therapy Program. “Massage therapists work in many settings including in chiropractic and physicians’ offices, hospitals, spas, fitness centers and in private practice. Their clients want to relax, de-stress and find relief from pain.”

In addition, the demand for massage therapists is expected to increase by 22 percent through 2024 – higher than average for most occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The 600-hour certificate program, which is part of MCCC’s Workforce Development Division, is held in the new Health Sciences Center in Blue Bell. Designed to train students to complete the licensing exam required by the State Board of Massage Therapy, the program includes 30 hours of hands-on massage therapy in MCCC’s student clinic, which is open to the public. There, students have the chance to work with clients on specific goals and outcomes while handling all aspects of the clinic, including interviewing clients, designing customized massages and charting the session results.

MCCC’s instructors, who are Pennsylvania licensed massage therapists, teach human anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology and various massage techniques including Swedish massage and advanced therapeutic techniques such as trigger point therapy. Students learn how to work with people with special needs and clients who are pregnant. They also learn how to perform foot scrubs, hot stone massage, sports massage and apply aromatherapy wraps. Additionally, they learn business management skills to help launch their own businesses.

Students who attend full time complete the program in six months; those who take it on a part-time basis complete it in just under a year.

For more information about the program, attend the upcoming information session on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center Room 1380 (near the Cathcart Road entrance), Central Campus, Blue Bell. To register, contact Bill Mullen, LMT, at 215-641-6509 or wmullen@mc3.edu.

MCCC also offers continuing education courses available to massage therapists who need to meet their required hours for biannual license renewal. Schedule a massage in the student clinic by calling 215-619-7433.

Visit www.mc3.edu/massage for general information.