Massage Therapy at a Glance

• Hourly wages: $15 to $50
• Level of patient contact: High
• Length of program: seven month certificate or two-year degree
• Program location: The Body Therapy Center and School of Massage
• Program start time: Spring and Summer semesters
• Hands-on training and practice
• Meet with program coordinator to enroll. Contact Coordinator Tamara Bivin at 618-239-6400 or tamara.bivin@swic.edu.

Program Capacity

Spring Semester Capacity

During the spring semester, the Massage Therapy program generally accepts 20 students for morning classes.

Summer Semester Capacity

During the summer semester, the Massage Therapy program generally accepts 20 students for the evening classes.

Program Location

The Massage Therapy Certificate and Degree consist of general education courses, MT pre-fix courses and clinical practicum courses. Specific locations depend on the course type:

General Education Courses

General education courses are offered at the Belleville, Sam Wolf Granite City or Red Bud campuses.

Massage Therapy Courses

Massage Therapy program courses are only offered at:

The Body Therapy Center and School of Massage

4 Executive Woods Court

Swansea, IL 62226
618-239-6400
Owner & Director: Holly Pinto, BS, LMT, BCTMB

Periodically, some classes may be moved to the Belleville Campus as needed.

Clinical Practicum Courses

Clinical practicum (practice in massage therapy) skills is completed at The Body Therapy Center and School of Massage and at off-site locations for special events. Students may periodically be required to travel outside of the college district for clinical practicum. Practicum work begins as early as the first semester of the program and continues every semester until program completion. Clinical practicum is completed by scheduled client appointments and the student’s availability. Hours may be completed during the day, evening and/or weekend.

Program Cost

Massage Therapy Certificate program

For details, see the Massage Therapy Certificate Cost Sheet.

Massage Therapy Degree program

For details, see the Massage Therapy Degree Cost Sheet.

Time Commitment

The Massage Therapy certificate program begins each spring and summer at the Body Therapy Center and School of Massage.

Schedule for certificate program

Summer Semester Start:

Evening Class:

• Summer: Monday and Wednesday 4 p.m. – 10 p.m., Thursday 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. and one weekend per month (Sat/Sun 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
• Fall: Monday and Wednesday 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. and Thursday 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Spring Semester Start:

Day Class:

• Spring: Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Thursday 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Summer: Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thursday 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. and one weekend per month (Sat/Sun 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Note: Schedule subject to change. Additional sections may be available depending on enrollment.

Clinical practicums are scheduled by appointment only.

Medical Requirements

Students will be required to have a physical examination prior to beginning the program. Students are encouraged to carry a current CPR certification card, but is not mandatory. The program coordinator will provide more information prior to your enrollment.

Work Requirements

MBLEx State Exam

Upon successful completion of SWIC’s Massage Therapy certificate program, graduates are eligible to take the MBLEX state test. Students who successfully pass this examination are eligible to apply for licensure. For information about the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), go to www.fsmtb.org.

Background Check & Fingerprinting

In addition, states require graduates to submit to a criminal background check and provide verification of fingerprint processing by an approved agency. The laws regarding massage therapy practice vary from state to state; refer to the AMTA website for more information.

State Requirements

Illinois and Missouri laws require massage therapists to be licensed to practice massage therapy within their state.

Board Certification

Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCTMB) represents the highest attainable credential within the massage therapy and bodywork profession. Board Certification is a separate credential above and beyond entry-level massage therapy licensure.

As Board Certification is voluntary, its achievement represents the highest level of commitment to clients and to the advancement of the massage therapy and bodywork profession. For more information, go to www.NCBTMB.org.

Certification Pass Rate

The SWIC graduate certification pass rate for 2021 is 92%.

Get Started

For more information, please fill out the form on the contact page.