Degrees & Certificates
Massage Therapy
Certificate of AchievementOverview
As people pay increasing attention to their overall health and wellness, many turn to massage therapy to recover from injury or reduce stress.
In nine months, Waubonsee's Massage Therapy Certificate of Achievement puts students in a position to quickly achieve a promising massage practice, either on their own or in a professional setting. Community partners are personally asking Waubonsee to help meet this demand for massage therapists, and according to the U.S. Department of Labor, job opportunities for massage therapists are increasing and are growing faster than other health care support occupations.
The Massage Therapy Program has a special admissions process. Contact the Health Professions and Public Service office for further information at (630) 870-3900 or HPPS@waubonsee.edu.
Admission, Accreditation, and Success
The Massage Therapy Program has pre-entrance requirements and a specific application process.
The Massage Therapy Program at Waubonsee Community College is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), and apply for the State of Illinois Massage Therapy license upon successful examination.
Waubonsee Community College is recognized by the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois State Board of Higher Education, and the U.S. Department of Education. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- Waubonsee's pass rates on the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) for 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 graduating classes were 100%.
- National Certification Board in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) Assigned School status, June 30, 2018.
Working in Massage Therapy
Like many health-focused professions, massage therapy requires a combination of knowledge and perception. Being able to effectively communicate with clients about their condition and how to treat them is essential—especially since massage therapists specialize in multiple modalities which require varying techniques to produce positive outcomes for patients.
Some massage therapists manage their own business in a private practice, while others work in settings such as medical offices and hospitals, patient housing, sports organizations, health clubs, and of course salons and resorts.