Kaplan College - Merrillville

Clinical Massage Center - Merrillville Campus

Career trends

A career in Clinical Massage Therapy is a healing, rewarding, and challenging choice for anyone desiring to help and care for others. These experiences can be fun and exciting!

Clinical massage is an important component of physical therapy, sports medicine, and some nursing practices. The Kaplan College Massage Therapy programs provide graduates with the clinical and technical skills required by health care and personal service employers in a myriad of settings to include medical offices, hospital departments, rehabilitation clinics, and integrative medical centers such as chiropractic practices, fitness centers, salons, and recreation outlets such as ski resorts, cruise ships, and professional sports teams.

Hospitals are beginning to recognize the value of massage, as evidenced by the formation of organizations such as the Nursing Touch and Massage Therapy Association and the Hospital-Based Massage Network. Massage therapies are becoming an increasingly common component of hospice care and psychological treatment. In summary, the profession is growing, prospering, and gaining well-deserved respect.

Massage therapy offers the opportunity for an independent, flexible career working as part of a health-care or wellness organization or in your own private practice.

Clinical Massage Therapy

Certificate Program
60.50 Credits ~ 4 Quarters
The Kaplan College Clinical Massage Therapy certificate program is a 700 clock hour program, which includes extensive core training in anatomy and physiology, considerable focus on massage therapy and practice, and introductory exposure to an array of modalities with courses on the business, ethical, and professional aspects of maintaining a practice. The program is intended to provide training in a formal atmosphere to the individual desiring to practice massage as a professional in a clinical or paramedical environment.

Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork

Associate of Applied Science Degree Program
102.5 Credits ~ 7 Quarters
The Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork program consists of 1,240 clock hours, is an extension of the certificate program, and is for the serious student desiring advanced levels of massage therapy and bodywork training. This Associate Degree offering moves the therapist from basic relaxation and therapeutic massage techniques to more advanced wholistic, clinical, and technical skills such as the advanced study of sports injuries, reflexology, acupressure, trigger point therapy, myofascial technique, plus cranio-sacral and lymphatic techniques. Additionally, various bodywork modalities will be studied including hydrotherapy, hot stone therapy, aromatherapy, rain drop therapy, and vichy treatments. Numerous body wraps and scrubs such as parafango, herbal, seaweed, salt glow/ scrub, fango treatment, and others are also taught to put the graduate at the top of their field.

Program highlights

• A diverse student population in day, evening, and weekend classes.
• Excellent Certificate & Associate Degree programs in Clinical Massage Therapy and Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork get you in the work force in 9-17 months!
• State-of-the-art classrooms with the latest audio, video, and multimedia technology plus public spa rooms and wet room suites with Vichy Shower and a Hydrotherapy tub.
• Small classes.
• Convenient scheduling.
• Caring instructors who will not only challenge you academically, but help you meet those challenges.
• Classes taught by faculty with industry credentials and practical experience.
• Excellent employment rate of graduates seeking employment.
• Practical hands-on exposure and networking opportunities through public clinic and community outreach events.
• Employment assistance available.
• Financial Aid available for those who qualify.
• State of Indiana approved.
• Accredited by The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.
• National certification available through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB).

If you are interested in any of our programs and would like to find out more, please Request Information.