Therapeutic Massage Certificate Program

Applications for Fall 2026 entrance through Fall 2028 entrance (TMSG)

Admissions Guidelines

Minimum requirements to apply to the Therapeutic Massage Certificate program:

1. CCRI Application for Enrollment into General Studies with a pre-therapeutic massage certificate (TMSC) concentration.
2. Official copy of a high school transcript, GED® transcript or baccalaureate transcript from an accredited institution, including date of graduation or completion.

3. CCRI uses a multiple measures approach to determine admission into Health Science programs (For example: High School GPA/GED® transcripts, SAT, ACT, HESI A2, Accuplacer scores or ENGL 1002 Critical Reading with a grade of A- or better [see below for points system]). Placement can also be determined by taking college level English and Math courses. Anyone with a degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution may have this requirement waived following submission of the official college transcript.

4.  

    Completion of BIOL 2201 Anatomy & Physiology I and TMSG 1000 Introduction to Therapeutic Massage      with a grade of "C" or better.
5. If applicable, a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for any college courses taken is required.

PLEASE NOTE: Students must be 18 years or older to register for TMSG 1000.

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All the above requirements must be met satisfactorily BEFORE submission of the Performance-Based Health Science (PBHS) application and does not guarantee acceptance.  Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester must resubmit a PBHS application for the program and meet current requirements.  Once accepted into the program, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Rehabilitative Health Department.

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1. Complete and submit an online PBHS application here.
   Deadlines are listed on the form.

Technical Standards: The physical activity level for the Therapeutic Massage Certificate program is classified as “medium” by the Department of Labor in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Students must have the ability to perform essential physical skills and demonstrate the cognitive and behavioral skills or be able to perform them using compensatory techniques and/or adaptive devices. These essential skills can be found on the Essential Skills for TMSG website.

Students are required to submit a background check when directed by notification from the Office of One Stop Student Services. Final acceptance to the program is dependent on the results of the background check. Anyone convicted of a crime may be unable to attend clinical experiences that are required to complete the program.

Policies following acceptance into the Therapeutic Massage Certificate program: 

• Students must have a physical examination and required immunizations completed prior to starting the program
• Students must have a current CPR card (American Heart Association, Health Care Provider Level) obtained through an AHA-recognized community training center.
  This course is available at CCRI through the division of Workforce Partnerships (https://www.ccri.edu/workforce/programs/healthcare/BLSCPR.html).
• Students must have a current First Aid Certification.
• Students must be able to perform basic massage techniques and demonstrate the ability to give and receive a therapeutic massage treatment.

Please note: Requirements are subject to change. 

For more clarifying information regarding any of the above please contact the Office of One Stop Student Services at:

• Deb Watson, Newport Campus, [email protected]
• If more specific information is needed, contact Maddie Josephs, Chair, Allied & Rehabilitative Health Department, at [email protected].
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  Therapeutic Massage Certificate Program Admission Criteria Point System

The performance‐based acceptance process is based on the performance indicators identified for the program. A point system based on the admissions guidelines has been assigned to the performance criteria.

The criteria for the incoming class will include:

• Grades in BIOL 2201 and TMSG 1000
• Selected Multiple Measure

Grades for prerequisite courses BIOL 2201                  Each course's letter grade is converted to points and TMSG 1000                                                               and added A     (4.0)                                                                                      40                                                A-    (3.7)                                                                                      37 B+   (3.3)                                                                                      33 B     (3.0)                                                                                      30 B-    (2.7)                                                                                      27 C+   (2.3)                                                                                      23 C     (2.0)                                                                                      20 Maximum points                                                               40

Multiple Measures (one of the following will grant 5 points)
High School GPA of 2.5 or better
or SAT Reading & Writing score of 480 or better
or ACT English score of 34 or better
or GED English of 165 or better
or ACCUPLACER Reading score of 90 or better
or Next Generation ACCUPLACER Reading score of 259 or better
or a bachelor's degree
or a grade of "A-" or better in ENGL 1002 Critical Reading
Maximum points	5 points (can only receive points once)
Maximum Total Points	85 points

Credits granted through AP, CLEP, challenge exams or assessment of prior learning will be recognized as satisfying course requirements and will be assigned points equivalent to a grade of "B."

Please review the Department of Health website to learn about licensing and certification requirements for the health sciences professions.

Please note: A Social Security number is required to begin the certification process for the health sciences professions.