Massage Therapy Certificate

California Massage Therapy Council Program Learning Outcomes Admissions

Completion Requirements Tuition and Fees Refund Policy

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California Massage Therapy Council

The School of Professional Studies offers a thirteen-course, seven-month program (625 hours) to earn a Massage Therapy certificate. Students attend evening and weekend classes. Students may enroll at one of five entry points per program cycle, at the beginning of designated modules. For more information contact the Office of Admissions.

The Massage Therapy Program is a California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) approved program. Graduates of the Massage Therapy Certificate Program are eligible to sit for the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx, required for certification by the California Massage Therapy Council) and/or the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM, an optional exam to apply for other state certifications). IN order to practice Massage Therapy in the state of California, graduates need to apply for certification with the CAMTC.

The Massage Therapy Certificate Program at SCU is approved by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). Attendance and/or graduation from a California Massage Therapy Council approved school does not guarantee certification by CAMTC. Applicants for certification shall meet all requirements as listed in California Business and professions Code section 4600 et. seq.

SCU’s CAMTC School Approval code is SCH0043.

Students may visit the official website of CAMTC at www.camtc.org for detail of certification requirements and/or obtain a full text of the Massage Therapy Act approved in September 2014 and codified at California Business and Professions Code section 460, 4600-4621 and Government Code section 51034.

Students should also note CAMTC’s Law related to unfair business practices as related to massage:

Pursuant to California Business and Professions Code section 4611, it is an unfair business practice for a person to do any of the following:

1. To hold himself or herself out or to use the title of “certified massage therapist” or “certified massage practitioner,” or any other term, such as “licensed,” “certified,” “CMT,” or “CMP,” in any manner whatsoever that implies or suggests that the person is certified as a massage therapist or massage practitioner, unless that person currently holds an active and valid certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council.
2. To falsely state or advertise or put out any sign or card or other device, or to falsely represent to the public through any print or electronic media, that he or she or another individual is licensed, certified, or registered by a governmental agency as a massage therapist or massage practitioner.

A student or any member of the public with questions that have not been satisfactorily answered by the school or who would like to file a complaint about this school may contact the California Massage Therapy Council at One Capitol Mall, Suite 320, Sacramento, CA 95814, www.camtc.org, phone: (916) 669-5336, or fax (916) 669-5337.

Program Learning Outcomes

Basic Science Knowledge: Graduates will apply the fundamental principles of structure (Anatomy) and function (Physiology) to the practice of Massage Therapy.

Skill Mastery and Application: Graduates will demonstrate skill mastery of various Massage and bodywork techniques and therapeutically apply them to various situations or conditions.

Decision Making: Graduates will determine the appropriate application of Massage for the safety and need of clients/patients.

Professionalism: Graduates will demonstrate leadership in the promotion of health and wellness and application of ethics in professional and business practices.

Integrative Health: Graduates will be able to appraise CAM practices and engage in collaboration with other health care practitioners in the best interests of clients.

Admissions

Application Requirements

Applicants for admission must provide:

• Completed application for admission. The online form is available and submitted through www.scuhs.edu
• Graduating high school transcript. Request from the high school to have it sent directly to SCU in a sealed envelope, or arrange through parchment.com or studentclearinghouse.org
• Personal statement of motivation, minimum of 150 words (include a personal and academic history and indication of why you are interested in massage therapy). Include in the online application and/or email separately.

Please have transcripts, and/or other print items mailed to:

SCU Office of Admissions
16200 Amber Valley Drive
Whittier, CA 90604
Scans and other electronic items may be emailed to an admissions advisor or to admissions@scuhs.edu

Applicants must also complete a successful admissions interview:

• A personal interview with the Admissions Director will be required of applicants prior to final selection. This personal admissions interview will normally be scheduled on campus. Under certain circumstances, an off-campus or telephone admissions interview may be arranged.

Academic Requirements

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or GED and must attain 18 years of age prior to the start of classes.

Physical Requirements

The primary goal of the certificate programs in the School of Professional Studies (SPS) is to prepare students to become competent, caring, practitioners. Contemporary massage therapy education requires that the acquisition and utilization of scientific and professional knowledge be accompanied by necessary sets of skills, professional attitudes, and behaviors. The School of Professional Studies maintains that prospective and enrolled students must meet certain technical standards, which are essential for successful completion of all phases of the educational program. Candidates for the Certificates in Massage Therapy must meet the following technical standards with or without reasonable accommodations. Candidates for admission and students must demonstrate: The strength, coordination, and ability to stand and use the torso and all limbs in the performance of common manual procedures and techniques.

1. The strength, manual dexterity, and tactile perceptiveness and ability to perform in all laboratory and clinical settings, to diagnose and treat human ailments, and to maintain the safety and well-being of fellow students and patients without posing a threat to themselves;
2. The visual, hearing and speech skills and personal hygiene requisite to professional performance including performing any and all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures;
3. The ability to reason, learn, and perform independently demonstrating the conceptual, integrative, and quantitative skills that are necessary for critical thinking, problem solving, measurement, the ability to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships, diagnosis, and therapeutic applications; and
4. The emotional health required for the full use of intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt and safe completion of all responsibilities; the ability to adapt to change, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties and stressful situations; empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation which will be assessed during the admissions process and throughout their education.

Transfer Students

Transfer students, or any healthcare or massage professional, may request a transcript evaluation to determine eligibility for advanced standing in the Massage Therapy Certificate Program. Students with advanced standing receive credit for courses already completed.

Completion Requirements

The Massage Therapy certificate of completion may be awarded to those who have completed the following requirements:

• Completed all courses (minimum 625 clock hours) of the curriculum;
• Passed each course with grade of 70% or above (a letter grade of A, B, or C);
• Are free of all indebtedness and other obligations to the University; and
• Are recommended for graduation by the faculty and the president of the University.

To earn the certificate, massage therapy students must also comply with the following policies regarding attendance.

Hygiene, Dress Code, and Draping

Students must come to each class prepared to learn and work. Our goal is to prepare students for clerkships in the University Health Center, as well as the working environment. Students are required to: 1) wear scrubs, 2) wear closed-toe shoes, and 3) bring a set of sheets and towels to every class session. Students should keep these items in their vehicles at all times. Not being prepared for class will count as an unexcused absence.

Attendance Requirements

Please note the SCU policy on attendance: In the Massage Therapy certificate program, the designated clock hours for the program must be obtained to be awarded a certificate of completion. Attendance will be taken each class day in each course. Attendance is recorded in minutes of actual presence.

Attendance affects the course grade as well as the awarding of clock hours for that particular course. If students fail to pass the course with a grade of 70% or above (a letter grade of A, B, or C), clock hours for that course will not be awarded. In this case, students will need to register for the class when it is offered again and may need to be financially responsible for that additional course.

In general no more than 10% of the clock hours may be considered excused absences. When absences, including excused absences, exceed 10%, the student may be withdrawn from the class. In this case, students will need to register for the class when it is offered again and may need to be financially responsible for that additional course.

Withdrawal

A “W” or withdrawal will be documented on the student’s record if they miss 10% and beyond for any course. This will remain on student records.

The “W” does not prevent the student from continuing on to the next course/module, however multiple ‘W” grades may impact continuing on in the program.

CAMTC

The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), which issues certification for Massage Therapy, requires a minimum of 500 supervised clock hours of training and education. In order to obtain a certificate of completion and apply for CAMTC certification, 500 HOURS MUST BE COMPLETED.

CAMTC does not allow online or distance learning hours, including but not limited to: externships, homework, and self-study or credits through challenge examinations, achievement tests, or experiential learning.

Absences

Absences shall be computed on the basis of roll calls, tests and/or quizzes, or other mechanisms. Faculty shall disclose at the beginning of the term the mechanisms that will be employed to monitor attendance. Performance of roll call shall be a faculty responsibility with the method for taking roll left to the discretion of the individual instructor.

Excused absences shall be tallied along with unexcused absences and recorded on the student’s attendance record without differentiation.

In the Massage Therapy Certificate Program, the maximum number of clock hours a student can be absent is a total of 62 clock hours. This total of 62 clock hours includes in class and open lab learning.

Excused Absence Policy

Students who must be absent may request an excused absence from their immediate instructor with documentation and below 10% of the clock hours. If justifiable cause can be shown for the absenteeism, the student may be permitted to make up missed assignments. Documentation must be provided for an excused absence to be approved. Only those absences that meet the following criteria will be deemed acceptable (i.e. illness with a physician’s letter, car problems, death in family, or court summons.) An excused absence is still considered part of the overall attendance policy.

Tuition and Fees

For current tuition and fees, refer to the published Tuition and Fees schedule. Tuition and fees are approved by the Board of Regents annually. The University reserves the right to adjust tuition and/or fees.

Refund Policy

In the event a student must withdraw or take a program leave, a partial refund of the full program tuition may be available. The percentage of tuition student is responsible for is based on the number of calendar days elapsed between the first day of the program and the official withdrawal/leave date provided by Registrar department.

1-10 days: 0% Tuition responsibility
11-22 days: 25% Tuition responsibility
23-45 days: 50% Tuition responsibility
46-68 days: 75% Tuition responsibility
+69 days: 100% Tuition responsibility (no refund)

*** Reservation deposit is non-refundable