Montgomery County Community College’s Massage Therapy Program celebrates its fifth anniversary this year— something Manager Bill Mullen wasn’t always certain he’d get to see.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “It seems like just yesterday that we started the program. That I was right here in this office writing it and creating it. July 5, 2017, was our first class. We had nine students.”

For a while, the program (which has since graduated more than 100 students and counting) and the career field as a whole, looked like it might not make it, once the pandemic hit, Mullen said.

“We are very hands-on. We are definitely less than six feet. We are definitely less than three feet from these people. The fact that we got through that. That scared me,” he said. “I thought the massage therapy field itself; we were done for. Who’s going to want to give a massage?”

In January 2021, 25 percent of massage therapists in Pennsylvania did not renew their licenses, leaving a workforce shortage. Thankfully, the program at MCCC managed to survive. Mullen credits the hard work and dedication of Massage Therapy Trainers Jason DiCola and Ayesha Qahash for helping him keep the ship afloat. Now the already highly in-demand field is expected to grow 20 percent by 2031, said Mullen.

“So, we’re already coming into demand and now we have an even bigger demand,” he said. “Most of our students graduate from the program already hired, obviously depending on their license. But we have a very high success rate on our licensing exam and very high placement rate. They walk out of here with jobs.”

The newest cohort of students began the program this past September. The program averages about 10 students per cohort, with three cohorts studying each academic year. Full-time students study five days a week for six months to complete the 600 clock hours the program requires. Part-time students attend three days a week for a year. In addition to practicing the proper massage protocols, students learn business fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, history of massage, body mechanics, massage techniques and rehabilitative aspects of massage.

“When they finish the program, they’re not done. They have to take a licensing exam,” said Mullen. “They know while they’re preparing for that, which can be very stressful, they have access to us. They can always call, text and email us. We’re there to make ourselves available to them. We make it very personal. You’re not just a number through a program. We become almost like a family with every class. It’s very personal what we do.”

‘A really positive experience’

Current students and alumni agree that MCCC is among the best in the business of training the next generation of massage therapists.

Flo Gable has been in the program for about a month but already has glowing reviews of Mullen and his team.

“My experience here is blowing my mind,” said Gable, who’s in her mid-50s and commutes to Blue Bell Campus from Wilmington, Del. She likes that the program is accredited and has highly trained staff and equipment on a college campus.

Dan McGorrey, who graduated in 2019, completed the program in six months. A friend told him Mullen was the “best instructor in the area”

“The program was very in-depth, and I came out with an amazing education,” said McGorrey who lives in Southampton. “I’ve worked with a lot of therapists. I feel Bill Mullen and Montco prepared me really well. Especially with anatomy and kinesiology.”

Melissa Brill, of Doylestown, finished the Massage Therapy Program in March 2022 and just recently landed a massage therapist position at a Massage Envy. The single mom of two said Mullen supported her through the program and made sure she got through it without issue.

“It was a really positive experience,” she said. “I felt like the program was structured well to help me pass the MBLEx exam and be licensed. I feel like I learned everything I needed to begin massage.”

Joe Pakyz, of Lansdale, started the program in March 2022 and finished in September. He said he liked the flexibility of the program. Going back to school as an older student, Pakyz wasn’t sure how the experience would go, but any worries were quickly assuaged.

“It was everything I hoped for,” he said. “Not having been in school for quite a long time wasn’t sure how it would be for me. The instructors were great. They are very well trained, well prepared. I liked the fact that we happened to be a fairly small class. It gave me the opportunity to work closely with classmates, and we definitely compared notes and helped each other and supported each other. It was a good experience.”

Trained for the future

A key part of the Massage Therapy Program is the Student Massage Clinic, said Mullen. Halfway through their program, students are prepared to provide massages for the community in the Health Sciences Center massage labs. One-hour sessions are $35 and $55 for 90-minutes.

“Students get real, hands-on experience working in a massage clinic because they do everything,” said Mullen. “The trainers are with them, but the clinic is student run. They do everything from making the tables, to cleaning the tables, to washing the linens, meeting the clients, doing their intakes and the required paperwork. It gives them full simulation of what it’s going to be like when they go out in the field and work in a real, live massage therapy clinic, doctor’s office, chiropractor’s office etc.”

The tables will open again for the community starting in November, and the clinic will run through March. Appointments are available through the landing page.

Kevin Robins, owner of Elements Massage, in Horsham, said he’s hired nine MCCC students right out of the classroom, because of their knowledge and professionalism.

“MCCC’s done amazing job bringing a program like this to Montgomery County,” said Robins. “There are not many in the area. I think we have eight or nine therapists that came through the program. They are all great people, who came with tremendous skills.”

Mullen appreciates employers like Robins, who make time to meet students and invite them to their businesses.

“They want to meet our students while they’re still here. And invite them. They’ve been very open in saying, ‘OK, you’re still in the field, you’re in school, learning, come visit us. See what we do. Try us out and see if you like us,’” said Mullen. “Most of the time, like 95 percent of the time, students graduate already hired.”

To learn more about the Massage Therapy program, contact the program.