Program facts 
Prepare for a career in massage therapy with this 24-credit-hour (600-clock hour) certificate program. You’ll learn techniques to manipulate soft tissue to promote wellness, flexibility and healing of the body, mind and spirit. The program combines a variety of massage modalities, focusing on both relaxation and rehabilitative massage therapy.
Your training will include 2 semesters of experience in Harper College's on-site Massage Therapy Clinic, a real-world massage clinic environment. The entire program can be completed as quickly as 11 months.
After graduation, to work in IL you must pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) and apply for licensure with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
You will also be eligible to sit for the Board Certification Exam to be Board Certified for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCTMB), the highest credential in the massage therapy profession.
It is natural to want your education to be on the cutting edge and to know the effort you are putting in is matched by your school's desire to provide a quality education that meets the highest standards. Harper College's Massage Therapy Program has earned Programmatic Accreditation through the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), (900 Commonwealth Place Suite 200-331, Virginia Beach, VA 23464, 202-888-6790). There are fewer than 15 massage therapy schools in the country that have earned this distinction. Harper College's combination of affordable in-district tuition, job placement assistance available to graduates for life, caring and experienced faculty and the full complement of community college student services, makes Harper College's Massage Therapy program a great choice for your education.
Our program is a school member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the oldest and most respected massage therapy professional association in the country. With this school membership students get a free student-level membership to the association. We are also an Assigned School with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, (NCBTMB) both of which are members of the Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations.
This 24 credit-hour program prepares the graduate to be a massage therapist and sit for the required Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) and apply for state licensure as a Massage Therapist. Graduates also have the option to take the exam to become Board Certified for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. A massage therapist manipulates soft tissue to promote wellness as well as restore and improve function. Massage therapists are employed in diverse environments from chiropractic and rehabilitation settings to beauty and health spas. Many massage therapists own their own businesses as well as travel to on-site locations. Massage therapy can be a full-time career or part-time supplemental employment. This program combines clinical and didactic educational experiences to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide high-quality massage therapy care to clients with diverse background and clinical presentations. The Massage Therapy Program is programmatically accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (900 Commonwealth Place, Suite 200-331, Virginia Beach, VA 23464, Phone: 202.888.6790, Email: info@comta.org, Website: www.comta.org). To work in the massage therapy profession, graduates must meet the requirements set by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR): 18 years of age, high school graduate or equivalent (GED) and successfully pass a criminal background check. Graduates must pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) and apply for licensure with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Prospective students must meet the current program admissions requirements including a program orientation with the program coordinator.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
First Semester | Hours | |
| MTP 110 | Massage Practice Fundamentals | 1 |
Description: Covers the requirements for the practice of therapeutic massage including sanitary and safety issues. Discusses the effects of stress on the body and the importance of self-care. Introduces the benefits of breathwork, meditation and mindful movements. Prerequisite: You must be 18 years of age or older and complete the program orientation to register for this course. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 1 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 112 | Massage Therapy: Structure and Function I | 2 |
Description: Begins an overview of the structure and function of integumentary, fascial, skeletal, muscular and nervous systems. Examines the indications for and benefits of massage therapy on these systems. Discusses the different types of massage modalities and manual therapies appropriate for each body system covered. Includes medical terminology for professional record keeping. Prerequisite: Must be 18 years of age or older and complete the program orientation to register for this course. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 2 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 115 | Foundations of Massage Therapy I | 3 |
Description: Covers effects, indications, contraindications, proper body mechanics, professional draping and the practice of massage within a wellness model. Covers a general sequence for a full body relaxation/wellness massage in the context of an hour-long appointment. Prerequisite: Must be 18 years of age or older and complete the program orientation to register for this course. Lecture Hours: 5 Lab Hours: 5 Contact Hours: 5 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 118 | Hydrotherapy and Introduction to Clinic | 1.5 |
Description: Covers the stages of injury and inflammation from acute, early to late subacute, and chronic. Discusses effects, indications and contraindications of massage therapy techniques on compromised tissue. Discusses different hydrotherapy techniques, effects, indications, contraindications, and sanitation. Introduces assessment procedures including intake and documentation. Ethics, standards of practice, and professional decision-making processes are discussed. Includes theory and practice of clinic treatments and procedures. Prerequisite: Must be 18 years of age or older and complete the program orientation to register for this course. Lecture Hours: 5 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 5 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 123 | Integrative Palpation I | 3 |
Description: Examines musculoskeletal system and kinesiology more specifically in this hands-on class for massage practitioners. Focuses on bony landmarks, muscle location and function of the regions: shoulder, upper arm, torso, spine, abdomen, pelvis and thigh. Regional treatments incorporating specific anatomy are introduced. Prerequisite: Must be 18 years of age or older and complete the program orientation to register for this course. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| Hours | 10.5 | |
Second Semester | ||
| MTP 122 | Massage Therapy: Structure and Function II | 2 |
Description: Covers the structure, function, and dysfunction of the following systems: cardiovascular and blood, lymphatic and immune, endocrine, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive. Examines the indications and contraindications for massage therapy on these systems. Includes further examination of scientific research and critical thinking around common pathologies in the context of a massage therapist's scope of practice and medical terminology for professional communications. Prerequisite: MTP 112 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 2 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 125 | Foundations of Massage Therapy II | 2.5 |
Description: Provides in-depth adaptation of MTP 115 (Foundations of Massage Therapy I) techniques along with body mechanic theory to apply more specific treatments. Integrates anatomy palpation with specific clinical treatments. Introduces specific tissue (deep tissue) treatment, trigger point therapy approaches, specific myofascial therapies and cross-fiber friction. Prerequisite: MTP 115 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 5 Lab Hours: 4 Contact Hours: 5 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 128 | Massage Therapy Clinical I | 1 |
Description: Provides the students with the opportunity to perform massage therapy in a clinical setting under the supervision of licensed massage therapists. Allows the student opportunities to perform management tasks associated with clinic operation such as booking appointments, taking payments and filing clinic charts. Students complete 48 clinical hours in the on-site clinic. Prerequisite: MTP 115 and MTP 118 with grades of C or better. Lecture Hours: 0 Lab Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 133 | Integrative Palpation II | 2 |
Description: Continues examination of musculoskeletal system and kinesiology more specifically in this advanced hands-on class for massage practitioners. Focuses on bony landmarks, muscle location and function of the regions: head, neck, face, forearm, hand, lower leg, foot. Regional treatments incorporating specific anatomy are introduced. Prerequisite: MTP 123 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| Hours | 7.5 | |
Third Semester | ||
| MTP 135 | Foundations of Massage Therapy III | 2 |
Description: Introduces clinical massage theory and applications for specific conditions and special populations. Assessment procedures, advanced modalities and plans of care appropriate for specific conditions are discussed. Prerequisite: MTP 125 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 136 | Advanced Treatment Planning and Applied Therapies | 2 |
Description: Covers the laws of movement and contraction principles as related to massage therapy. Students will learn posture and range of motion assessment within the massage therapy scope of practice and develop strategies for synthesizing massage therapy treatment plans. Applies neuromuscular therapies to facilitate change for musculoskeletal and movement related conditions. Prerequisite: MTP 122, and MTP 133 with grades of C or better. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 137 | Massage Practice Development | 1 |
Description: Discusses career options, marketing strategies and resume development for an entry-level massage therapist. Legal aspects of massage practice, business practices including referrals, and basic tax requirements are covered. Licensing exam review and practice tests are implemented with test-taking strategies discussed. Continuing education and specialties for massage therapists are discussed. Prerequisite: MTP 128 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 1 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MTP 138 | Massage Therapy Clinical II | 1 |
Description: Allows students to continue practice of massage therapy techniques in a clinical setting under the supervision of licensed massage therapists faculty. Includes completing sessions of different lengths of time and focused treatments, as well as participation in community massage events. Students complete 48 clinical hours in the on-site clinic. Prerequisite: MTP 128 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 0 Lab Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
The Massage Therapy Program curriculum has been designed to promote learning and development so that following successful completion of the program each graduate will be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to perform as an entry-level massage therapist, including the ability to:
The competencies taught in the Massage Therapy program are consistent with the competencies assessed by the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx).
Competencies related to general knowledge of body system structure, function and pathology, detailed knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy, physiology and kinesiology, assessment, therapeutic massage application, professional standards, ethics, self-care as well as business and legal practices are incorporated into Harper College’s Massage Therapy program.
As a Health Career program, Harper College Massage Therapy Program encourages students to be up to date with vaccinations for influenza, COVID, varicella, TDAP and MMR, but as this program does not require an off-campus clinical rotation, this program does not require these vaccinations as a criterion for admission. Check with the Massage Therapy Program Coordinator to find out what other requirements must be completed prior to starting classes.
Note: This policy is unique to the Massage Therapy Program among Harper College’s other Health Careers programs. Other departments and programs in the Health Careers division may have requirements that differ from this policy, in most cases based on the requirements of that program’s clinical site(s) where students complete clinical internships.
For more information about massage therapy courses at Harper College, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can reach the program coordinator at 847.925.6076. You can also apply online.