Massage Therapist & Physical Therapy Aide Diploma
Train hands-on for a career in massage therapy and physical therapy support in 36 weeks at ACH College of Health. One diploma program, two career paths, taught in person at our Riverside and Huntington Park campuses. Looking for an online program? We explain below why this one is on campus, and why that matters for your career.
¿Quieres ser terapeuta de masaje? Este programa se imparte de forma presencial en nuestros campus de Riverside y Huntington Park. No se ofrece en línea. Llámanos al 1-888-430-4224 y te atendemos en español.
This program prepares you for entry-level work in both fields. The skills overlap, and the settings often do too.
Massage therapists use massage for medical benefit or for relaxation, and there is a wide range of treatment to meet those distinct needs. Massage that aims to improve physical health typically differs in duration and technique from massage intended to relax or rejuvenate a client. This program prepares you for both. Massage therapists work in spas, clinics, and physical therapy settings, and some run their own business.
Physical therapy aides work under the direction of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, or under chiropractors as chiropractic assistants. They help patients before and after treatment, secure patients onto therapy equipment, assist with routine treatments such as hot and cold packs, hydrotherapy, and paraffin baths, record vital signs, schedule appointments, and keep treatment areas ready.
Related occupational titles include Massage Therapist, Certified Massage Therapist, Bodywork Therapist, Physical Therapy Aide, Rehabilitation Aide, and Chiropractic Assistant. Actual job titles depend on the employer and on any certification you complete after graduation.
Not at ACH, and not fully anywhere. Massage therapy is learned through touch, pressure, body mechanics, draping, and palpation, with an instructor in the room correcting your technique. Every classroom course in this program includes hands-on palpation and practice on a table. That is why the ACH catalog lists this program as delivered only in a residential format, meaning students physically attend all scheduled classes and modules. There is no online or hybrid version of this program at ACH.
There is a second reason. Students who want California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) certification must complete 100% of the program’s contact hours, and any hours missed must be made up. In-person attendance is built into how the program works and how the state counts your training.
What you get in exchange for showing up: an instructor who can feel whether your pressure is right, classmates to practice on and learn from, a lab set up like a massage therapy spa with massage tables and chairs, and four schedule options including evenings so the program fits around work and family.
Nine 4-week modules. Each classroom course introduces muscular and skeletal anatomy through hands-on palpation of a different region of the body.
| Course | Title | Contact hours | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMA 410 | Medical Terminology for Massage Therapists | 80 | 4 |
| PMA 420 | Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage | 80 | 4 |
| PMA 430 | Anatomy & Physiology | 80 | 4 |
| PMA 440 | Patient Management for Massage Therapy Application | 80 | 4 |
| PMA 450 | Therapeutic Modalities | 80 | 4 |
| PMA 460 | Introduction to Massage through Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | 80 | 4 |
| PMA 470 | Sports Massage Therapy | 80 | 4 |
| PMA 400-1 | Externship 1 | 120 | 4 |
| PMA 400-2 | Externship 2 | 120 | 4 |
Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage covers Swedish massage theory, technique, draping, and practice, supported by lectures and videos on stress reduction, anatomy, and body alignment.
Therapeutic Modalities introduces hot stone, Shiatsu, Thai, reflexology, acupressure, aromatherapy, pregnancy, infant and child, oncology, and animal massage principles.
Patient Management covers business practice, office management, communication with patients and medical staff, customer service, documentation, and electronic health records.
Clock hours do not include time required for homework or class preparation.
Call 1-888-430-4224 or apply online. An advisor answers your questions, in English or Spanish, and schedules a campus visit if you want to see the massage lab.
High school diploma or a recognized equivalency diploma, a passing background check before enrollment, a qualification questionnaire, and a personal interview with Admissions.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Our financial aid team helps you understand what you may be eligible for before you commit.
No credit for previous training may be transferred into this program because of the hour requirements set by the California Massage Therapy Council.
Graduates who want to work as a Certified Massage Therapist in California apply to the California Massage Therapy Council. Certification requires at least 500 hours of massage education from an approved school, a passing score on a national massage therapy exam, and a background check. A CAMTC certificate lets you practice massage anywhere in California without a separate city or county massage permit.
CAMTC certification is not a requirement for employment in the State of California. Attendance and graduation from a CAMTC-approved school do not guarantee certification, and CAMTC may deny an application based on criminal background. For current requirements visit camtc.org.
No. The Massage Therapist & Physical Therapy Aide program is delivered only in a residential format. Students physically attend all scheduled classes and modules at the Riverside or Huntington Park campus.
No. ACH does not offer a hybrid or blended version of this program. The catalog delivery method for this program is on campus only.
The program is 36 weeks: 800 clock hours including 560 contact hours on campus and 240 hours of externship.
A diploma, awarded when you successfully complete the program. CAMTC certification is a separate application you make to the state council after graduation.
Yes. Evening classes run 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. Morning, mid-morning, and afternoon sessions are also offered. On-campus hours may vary.
No. The Massage Therapist & Physical Therapy Aide program is offered at the Riverside and Huntington Park campuses.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Visit our Financial Aid page or call 1-888-430-4224 to speak with an advisor.
Talk to an admissions advisor about the Massage Therapist & Physical Therapy Aide program at Riverside or Huntington Park. English and Spanish.