Massage Course Information

MASSAGE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

MASSAGE: Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 31-9011
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) CODE: 51.3501

The curriculum involves 750 hours which exceeds South Dakota state requirements. The course of study includes extensive instruction and practical experience in massage, customer service, personal appearance & hygiene, personal motivation & development, retail (Take Home) skills, client record keeping, business ethics, as well as sanitation, state laws & regulations, salon-type administration, and job interviewing.

*Graduates are prepared to become an entry level massage therapist.
This course is taught in English.

MASSAGE COURSE OVERVIEW

Course Hours: 750 clock hours

The course is divided into pre-clinical classroom instruction and clinical service learning experiences.

1. Pre-clinical Classroom Instruction: The first 400 hours are devoted to classroom demonstration, theory and practical experience. You will learn massage, bamboo massage, anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, pathologies, technical information, and professional practices.
2. Clinic Classroom Learning Experience: The remaining 350 hours are spent divided between in the clinic classroom, gaining the practical experience working on paying guests and continued classroom learning spent on theory and practical demonstration and workshops in advanced modalities.

MASSAGE COURSE OUTLINE

Throughout the 750-hour (30 week) course, you will learn the theory of massage, bamboo massage, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathologies, and finish with hands on application.Although we base our teaching on Swedish Massage we also incorporate modalities such as Asian bodywork, cupping, reflexology, sports, medical massage, therapeutic, hot stone, self-care and career longevity.

Subjects are presented by means of lecture, demonstration, and student participation .Audio- visual aids, guest speakers, field trips, and other related learning methods are used in the course.

Three specific learning styles are incorporated in one or more combinations:

1. Core Curriculum: This 400-hour (16 weeks) time period is dedicated to exploring fundamental knowledge, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathologies. You will receive individual attention in practical palpation and you will complete monthly worksheets and weekly tests throughout the course. This is an intense, rewarding and exciting portion of your experience.
2. Protégé Learning Experience: Your experience as a Protégé’ produces a smooth transition from Core student to Adaptive student. Your time spent as a Protégé’ prepares you for the clinic classroom experience.
3. Clinic and Classroom Learning Experience: Your remaining 350 hours will be divided between clinic classroom honing in your practical skill sets along with learning advanced modalities in the form of theory, demonstration, and practical experiences. You will dress, act, and work like a massage therapist. You will use your own technical and therapeutic abilities, coupled with the assistance of our qualified learning leaders, to provide a therapeutic and relaxing service to our paying guests. You will make discoveries and learn professional relationship-building skills that will ensure your success in this rewarding diverse field.
4. Adaptive Curriculum: From 400 to 550 hours you will enter a new phase of classroom workshops coupled with challenging practical services designed to continue building you into a confident therapist.
5. Creative Curriculum: You will spend your last 200 hours at Paul Mitchell The School Rapid City in “high gear” by dressing, acting, and working like a true professional. You will use your recently acquired abilities, coupled with the assistance of the Learning Leaders, to prepare yourself for your future massage therapy career.

Massage Course Subjects

The instructional program of Paul Mitchell The School Rapid City meets or exceeds the state requirements:

The institution offers employment assistance to help graduates’ efforts to secure education-related employment that includes, but is not limited to training in professionalism, resume’ development, job interview preparation and job search skills.

Massage Program Testing and Grading Procedure

The following tests and grading procedures are used to assess student learning and mastery of course content in the 750-hour course:

1. Academic theory exams: Students must receive a grade of 80% or higher on each assigned theory exam.
2. Core written and practical skills evaluation: Students must receive a grade of 80% or higher on each written exam and each practical skill exam in order to complete the Core program. The exams are an overview of instruction taught during the Core schedule. All Core written and practical skill exams must be passed with a 80% or higher in order to transition to the Clinic Classroom. If students are unable to pass each exam after two attempts, the student may be asked to withdraw from the program and re-enroll in the next available Core class start date.
3. Final exam 1: This test is an overview of all related massage subjects (e.g., anatomy, kinesiology, pathologies, etc.). Students must receive a grade of 80% or higher on all Final tests.
4. Final exam 2: This written test covers an overview of all theory instruction and other items covered on the National exam.
5. Practical Evaluations: Students will be graded at a minimum 6 times during the Clinic Classroom experience. Students must receive a grade of 80% or higher on all Final exams.
6. Clinic practical worksheets: Students must complete all clinic practical worksheets.