Courses Required for Massage Therapy Certificate
Courses Required for Massage Therapy
Certificate: Course No. Course Title Credits Hours ANP-201 Anatomy & Physiology I 5 50 ANP-202 Anatomy & Physiology II 5 50 KIN-401 Kinesiology 5 50 PAT-301 Pathology 5 50 BPE-101 Business and Professional Ethics 6 60 CNM-101 Contraindications of Massage 2 20 HLH-101 Health & Hygiene 2 20 MSE-350 Massage Essentials 2 20 DTM-351 Deep Tissue Massage 2 20 TPB-352 Theory and Principles of Body Work 2 20 TMS-353 Therapeutic Massage 2 20 SHI-710 Shiatsu 5 50 SMG-712 Sports Massage 5 50 RFX-714 Reflexology 5 50 AWC catalog 2026-2027 page 59 ACP-716 Acupressure 5 HMC-715 Hydrotherapy & Hydro Massage 50 4 SPM718 Specialty Massage 40 5 HSM101 History of Massage 50 4 INT-551 Internship 40 10 Total: 81 units 810 hours 100
The student who is meeting the 500 hours of instruction required by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) can apply for certification. Please note that American West College has not applied for CAMTC approval yet.
Students completing the program at American West College will not be able to get their Massage Therapy Certification
Career Opportunities
A graduate of the Massage Therapy Program may launch his/her own business; find employment as a massage therapist (SOC Code 31-9011) and physical therapy aide (SOC Code 31-2012) or assistant (SOC Code 31-2011) in a hospital, chiropractic office, public or private health club/resort, or fitness centers, health clubs, salons and spas, rehabilitation clinics, multi-specialty medical groups, wellness facilities; or may be employed in the educational field as an instructor (SOC Code 25-1194) in a non-degree granting institution.
Ability to Benefit
Students who do not have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent may still be admitted if they are at least 18 years old and pass the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test. The Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) is an ability to benefit test approved by the US Department of Education that is used to determine whether an application without a high school diploma or recognized equivalent has the ability to benefit from our program.
The following forms of the test are used: Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-2, Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2. The approved passing scores on this test are as follows: Verbal (200) and Quantitative (210). Ability-to-benefit students must achieve a passing score on both skill assessments in a single testing session to pass the test and be eligible for admission. The student will be required to have the test administered by a third party and the results delivered to us prior to admission as a student at American West.
