THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE PROGRAM

Program Facts
What is the Therapeutic Massage Program like at CCRI?
Prerequisite courses for the Therapeutic Massage Program can be taken on any CCRI campus. The
Therapeutic Massage program courses are offered in an evening/weekend format on the Newport
County Campus. Schedules for fieldwork experiences may vary and opportunities for days, evenings
and weekends may exist.
The Therapeutic Massage Program integrates classroom preparation and clinical practice. General
education courses such as English Composition, Oral Communication, Anatomy, Physiology,
Algebra, and Psychology enhance the therapeutic massage core courses. The core courses include
laboratory sessions to learn and practice hands on skills required to be a Massage Therapist. The
students have 3 fieldwork experiences in various settings to practice skills learned in the classroom.
As you consider choosing a school to prepare you for a lifelong career in therapeutic massage,
consider the following reasons why CCRI will provide you with a superior educational experience.
• CCRI has the only Associate Degree granting program in Rhode Island for Therapeutic
Massage, and credits earned at CCRI have the potential to be transferred to a 4 year
university, while courses taken in certificate programs will not transfer
• CCRI has the only Therapeutic Massage Program in the state of Rhode Island that is
accredited through the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
• CCRI has the only Therapeutic Massage Program in Rhode Island that offers a full range of
intensive bodywork training—deep tissue, shiatsu, and sports massage
• CCRI graduates are ranked top in the country on national licensure examinations. In 2006 &
2007, CCRI has a 100% pass rate for 1st time testers, while the National average is 68%, and
the State of RI average is 75% (the state average includes CCRI’s 100% pass rate!)
• As a state school, CCRI provides you with an affordable, high quality education for under
$10,000, while other local schools who offer only certificates, start from $12,000 - $14,000
• Graduates are well prepared for a career as a Massage Therapist, with a professional skill
level superior to that which is achieved though a certificate program
• The curriculum prepares students to work in traditional massage therapy settings, as well as
preparing students to practice in medical environments with clients who have disease or
physical impairments
• Students receive a high level of individual classroom attention, as well as having a strong
network of support services such as supplemental classroom instruction and peer tutoring from
the Student Success Center.
• The majority of Professors have Advanced Degrees and have their own massage practices
• Students have the opportunity to be part of the traveling Sports Massage Team
• CCRI has an active incoming and currently enrolled Therapeutic Massage Mentoring Program
• Continuing education workshops are sponsored through CCRI that can be attended by
students or program graduates
• The community college provides employment assistance, as well as the opportunity to build a
clientele by working at the CCRI Therapeutic Massage Graduate Clinic
What courses should I take in high school, if I am interested in becoming a Massage
Therapist?

Interested students should enroll in a math and science curriculum, including algebra,
biology, and physics or chemistry. Students should consider completing the online RHAB
1100: Foundational Kinesiology, and RHAB 1010: Medical Terminology courses at CCRI in
preparation for success in the Therapeutic Massage curriculum. High school students can
take these online courses during their senior year. All students will need good reading and
communication skills to prepare them to take English Composition I at the college level.

What is the process for application to the program?

All students wishing to apply to the Therapeutic Massage Program must complete all
prerequisite courses with a “C” or better and must have a GPA of at least 2.0. Refer to the
Therapeutic Massage Program Admission Guidelines document for further information.
Applications are accepted in February, May, and August following completion of the
preadmission requirements.

If I apply, what are the chances of getting accepted?

Applicants are rank ordered for acceptance through the performance based application
process. Since inception of the program, there has been sufficient space to accept all
qualified applicants into the Therapeutic Massage Program.

Where can I get more information about the program?

• CCRI Web Page: www.ccri.edu/rehabhealth/
• Call Deborah Watson at the Newport County Campus (401) 851-1637 or e-mail
dwatson@ccri.edu
• If more specific information is needed, contact Regina Cobb, Therapeutic Massage
Program Director at (401) 851-1681, or email rmcobb@ccri.edu.

April 2008
 THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE PRACTITIONER
Career Facts

What does a Massage Therapist do?

Therapeutic massage involves the use of manual soft tissue mobilization to promote health and
wellness. Recent scientific studies done by the Touch Research Institute in Miami, have documented
the many positive physical, mental, and emotional effects of massage.

Individuals who are licensed Massage Therapists may work in a variety of settings including their
home, hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, sports facilities, spas, or
home health agencies. Massage Therapists work in the day and evening hours. They may also work
weekends or weekdays.

What is the average salary range for a Massage Therapist?

Salaries for Massage Therapists vary depending on practice setting. Massage Therapists are usually
self-employed and charge $50.00 - $65.00 per hour. Experienced Massage Therapist can generate
an annual income of up to $40,000 or more, depending on scheduled work hours. Most Massage
Therapists will see approximately 4-6 clients per day. A Massage Therapist working for a private
employer, such as a spa, can expect to earn between $9.00 - $32.00 per hour, along with other
benefits. This is an easy way to get started, while working to build up a clientele. For other
companies, individuals work on a commission that is negotiated before employment.

What type of training is required to become a Massage Therapist?

Massage Therapists are required to complete at least 500 hours of classroom instruction to apply for
licensure. The individual who successfully completes these courses at CCRI receives an Associate
in Applied Science (A. A. S.) degree and is eligible to take the licensure examination for Massage
Therapists in Rhode Island. State licensure requirements may vary state to state.

April 2008
 THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE PROGRAM ASSOCIATE DEGREE
PROGRAM START DATE: FALL
EVENING/WEEKEND PROGRAM
NEWPORT COUNTY CAMPUS
APPLICATIONS FOR 2008-2010
ADMISSION GUIDELINES
Requirements for Acceptance into the Therapeutic Massage Program:
1. A completed college admissions application. General studies should be first choice, TMSG should be
second choice.
2. A n official copy of the applicant’s high school transcript or GED, including date of graduation or, if the
applicant holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university, the high school transcript
may be waived; college transcript must indicate completion and degree awarded.
3. Completion of a standardized test (Accuplacer) issued by CCRI through the Office of Advising &
Counseling is required. Competency of 75 or above is required for reading comprehension or
completion of ENGL 0890: Critical Reading with a grade of “B” or better.
4. Completion of the following courses with a grade of “C” or better:
BIOL 1010: Human Anatomy
BIOL 1020: Human Physiology
TMSG 1000: Introduction to Therapeutic Massage
RHAB 1010: Medical Terminology for Rehabilitative Health
MATH 1420: Introduction to College Math or above
ENGL 1010: Composition I (will not substitute for ENGL 1300)
PSYC 2010: General Psychology
PSYC 2030: Developmental Psychology
SPCH 1100: Oral Communication I.
5. Students must be 18 years of age or older to register for TMSG 1000: Introduction to Therapeutic
Massage.
6 A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better for all college courses taken.
7. Complete Preadmission Degree Evaluation.
8. Complete and submit Health Science Application Form. Deadlines are listed on form.

All the above requirements must be completed satisfactorily BEFORE submission of Performance-Based
Health Sciences application. At the time of admission, the student must meet the current admission
requirements of the program. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester offered
must resubmit a Performance-Based Health Sciences application for the program and meet the current
admission requirements. Once accepted into Therapeutic Massage, the student must attend a mandatory
orientation conducted by the Rehabilitative Health Department.

General Policies following acceptance

After being accepted and prior to beginning the program:
‰ Students will be required to have a criminal background check through the Bureau of Criminal
Investigation (BCI) by the College. In compliance with requirements for clinical agencies, anyone who
has been convicted of a felony may be unable to attend clinical/field experience in those agencies. No
incident or probation can have occurred in the past 5 years. Further, applicants convicted of a felony
will need to comply with state licensure requirements from the Rhode Island Department of Health.
For more information, contact specific Department Chairperson..
‰ Students must have a physical examination and required immunizations completed prior to beginning
TMSG 1030: Therapeutic Massage II.
‰ Current CPR card (American Heart Association, Health Care Provider Level) obtained through an
American Heart Association recognized Community Training Center (course is available at CCRI,
HEAL 0200).
‰ Students must be able to perform basic massage techniques and demonstrate the ability to give and
receive a therapeutic massage treatment.
PLEASE NOTE: REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.ccri.edu/dean-hrs/admiss-docs.shtml

Call Deborah Watson at Newport (401) 851-1637 or email dwatson@ccri.edu.
If more specific information is needed, contact Regina Cobb, Therapeutic Massage Program Director at (401)
851-1681 or email rmcobb@ccri.edu .

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE PROGRAM

ADMISSION GUIDELINES
Revised 2/13/06
 THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE PROGRAM
Class Schedule

Semester Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

RHAB 1110 RHAB 1110

First TMSG 1020 (5:00pm- TMSG 1020 (5:00pm-
Semester (5:00pm- 8:00pm) (5:00pm- 7:00pm)
(Fall) 8:00pm) *If not completed 8:00pm) *If not completed
in preceding in preceding
summer semester summer semester

Second TMSG 1030 TMSG 1040 TMSG 1030 TMSG 1040

Semester (5:00pm- (5:00pm- (5:00pm- (5:00pm-
(Spring) 8:00pm) 8:00pm) 8:00pm) 8:00pm)

TMSG 2010 TMSG 2021 TMSG 2010

(5:00pm- (5:00pm- (5:00pm-
Third 8:00pm) 8:00pm) 8:00pm)
Semester
*TMSG 2020 occurs this semester and consists of 50 hours of massage practice at the
(Summer)
in-house CCRI student massage clinic, followed by 50 hours of massage practice at a
fieldwork site. Schedules for the in-house clinic and the fieldwork are individualized &
flexible, and may include weekends.
TMSG 2031 TMSG 2040
(5:00pm- (5:00pm-
8:00pm) 8:00pm)
Fourth
Semester
(Fall) *TMSG 2030 occurs this semester and consists of 120 hours of massage practice at a
fieldwork site. Schedules for fieldwork are individualized &
flexible, and may include weekends.

**Please note that flexibility is available if desired,

to lengthen the program & decrease the credit load per semester**

April 2008
 THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE PROGRAM
Curriculum Outline

Total Lecture Lab Clinic

Credits Hours Hours Hours
Prerequisites to Admission
BIOL 1010 Human Anatomy 4 3 3 -
TMSG 1000 Intro to Therapeutic Massage 2 2 - -
RHAB 1010 Medical Terminology for Rehab 1 1 - -
MATH 1420 Introduction to College Math 3 4 - -
ENGL 1010 Composition I 3 3 - -
PSYC 2010 General Psychology 3 3 - -
SPCH 1100 Oral Communication I 3 3 - -
PSYC 2030 Developmental Psychology 3 3 - -
BIOL 1020 Human Physiology 4 3 3 -
Total 26

First Semester - Fall

RHAB 1110 Kinesiology 3 3 2 -
RHAB 1030 Pathophysiology for Rehabilitative 3 3 - -
Health Practitioners
TMSG 1020 Therapeutic Massage I 4 3 3 -
Semester Total 10 9 5 -

Second Semester - Spring:

TMSG 1030 Therapeutic Massage II 4 3 3 -
TMSG 1040 Therapeutic Massage III 4 3 3 -
Elective 3 3 - -
Semester Total 11 9 6 -

Third Semester - Summer

TMSG 2010 Therapeutic Massage IV 4 3 3 -
TMSG 2020 Therapeutic Massage Fieldwork I* 3 - - 100
TMSG 2021 Massage Practice Building 2 2 - -
Semester Total 9 5 3 100

Fourth Semester - Fall:

TMSG 2030 Therapeutic Massage Fieldwork II** 3 - - 120
TMSG 2031 Therapeutic Massage Career Dev. 2 2
TMSG 2040 Foundation of Evidence-Based
Outcomes for Massage Therapist 3 - -
Semester Total 8 6 - 120

Total Credits for the Degree Program 64

* 100 hours includes 50 hours of the student/faculty on site clinic and 50 hours of externship
** 120 hours of externship

September 2008
 THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE PROGRAM
Estimated Program Costs
The following is an estimated cost per semester for students in the Therapeutic Massage program.
The costs reflect prices as of September 2007 for in-state students. Please refer to the CCRI
website at www.ccri.edu for tuition fees for regional and out-of-state students. Please note that
there will likely be tuition increases during the two year course of the program.

GENERAL TUITION & FEES (as of September, 2007)

Full Time/Per semester (12-19 credits) Part Time/Per semester (11 credits or less)
General Tuition Fee $1,275.00 General Tuition Fee $117.00 CHE*
Registration Fee $ 17.00 Registration Fee $17.00
Student Activity Fee $ 36.00 Student Activity Fee $ 3.00 CHE*
Student Union Fee $ 10.00 Learning Resource $ 3.00 CHE*
Learning Resource Fee $ 40.00 Technology Fee $ 4.00 CHE*
Technology Fee $ 45.00 Lab Fee (as designated)
Lab Fee (as designated)
* Credit Hour Equivalent

PREREQUISITE COURSES
Prior to acceptance into the Massage Therapy Program, the following courses must be
completed with a grade of “C” or better. They may be taken at any campus, day or evening.
Students attending school full-time may complete these courses in two semesters.

BIOL 1010 (4 cr): Human Anatomy 4cr

TMSG 1000 (2 cr): Introduction to Massage Therapy 2cr
RHAB 1010 (1 cr): Medical Terminology 1cr
MATH 1420 (3 cr.): Introduction to College Mathematics 3cr
ENGL 1010 (3 cr): Composition I 3cr
PSYC 2010(3 cr): General Psychology 3cr
SPCH 1100 (3 cr): Oral Communication I 3cr
PSCH 2030 (3 cr): Developmental Psychology 3cr
BIOL 1020 (4 cr): Human Physiology 4cr
26 cr

General Tuition Fee (2 semesters) $2,550.00

Registration fee (2 semesters) $ 34.00
Student Activity Fee (2 semesters) $ 72.00
Student Union Fee (2 semesters) $ 20.00
Learning Resource fee (2 semesters) $ 80.00
Technology Fee (2 semesters) $ 90.00
Textbooks (estimated) $ 750.00
Lab fee (2 semesters) $ 40.00
Immunizations (one time fee) $ *250.00 *varies depending on health insurance
and previous immunization
**TOTAL PREREQUISITE COST $3,886.00
**Assumes that prerequisites are completed in 2 semesters
PROGRAM COURSES
The Therapeutic Massage Program begins every fall semester, and is 15 months in length. It
is offered as an evening/weekend program at the Newport Campus. Students are
encouraged to take Kinesiology during the summer session prior to entering the program in
the fall.

FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)

PHTA 1110: Kinesiology 3 credits
RHAB 1030: Pathophysiology 3 credits
TMSG 1020: Therapeutic Massage I 4 credits
10 credits X $117 = $1170

Lab Fees: 2 labs X $20 = $40

Other Fees: = $30
Books: = $291
Supplies: Massage table = $500
Linens = $100
Lotions = $30
Uniform = $30
Misc. (bolsters, holsters, etc.) = $100
TOTAL 1st SEMESTER $2291

SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)

TMSG 1030: Therapeutic Massage II 4 credits
TMSG 1040: Therapeutic Massage III 4 credits
8 credits X $117 = $936

Lab Fees: 2 labs X $20 = $40

Other Fees: = $30
Books: = $148
Supplies: Lotion = $30
TOTAL 2nd SEMESTER $1154

THIRD SEMESTER (SUMMER) (finishes last week of July)

TMSG 2010: Therapeutic Massage IV 4 credits
TMSG 2020: Therapeutic Massage Fieldwork I 4 credits
TMSG 2021: Massage Practice Building 2 credits
10 credits X $117 = $1170

Lab Fees: 1 labs X $20 = $20

Other Fees: = $30
Books: = $131
Supplies: Lotion = $30
TOTAL 3rd SEMESTER $1351
FOURTH SEMESTER (FALL)
TMSG 2030: Therapeutic Massage Fieldwork II 5 credits
TMSG 2040: Therapeutic Massage Fieldwork III 4 credits
9 credits X $117 = $1053

Lab Fees: 1 labs X $20 = $20

Other Fees: = $30
Books: = 0
Supplies: Lotion = $30
Other Fees: (graduation) = $62
TOTAL 4th SEMESTER $1195

TOTAL PROGRAM COSTS

PREREQUISITE TUITION & FEES $3886
FIRST SEMESTER $2291
SECOND SEMESTER $1154
THIRD SEMESTER $1351
FOURTH SEMESTER $1195

GRAND TOTAL PROGRAM COST $9,877

November 2007