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Several spaces remain for Isothermal Community College’s (ICC) massage therapy evening class starting Monday, August 31, at ICC’s Polk Center in Columbus.

The year-long program combines class time with hands-on practice of massage techniques. Coursework includes anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, nutrition, business practices, ethics and specific massage modalities. Upon completion graduates of the program may apply for the MBLex exam to practice therapeutic massage in the state of North Carolina.

Massage therapists can work in a variety of settings from physician’s offices to spas and hospitals to fitness centers. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for massage therapists are expected to grow 22 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average of all occupations. The median annual wage for a massage therapist in the United States was $42,820 during 2019. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor)

The upcoming class will meet each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. until August 19, 2021. For North Carolina students, financial aid may be available.

“This program is an outstanding value,” said Karen Marshall, director of the Isothermal Polk Center. “We have wonderful instructors who teach to the highest standards. Our students are very successful in finding great jobs, often immediately after they are licensed and approved.”

This course prepares students to take the Massage Board Licensing Exam (MBLEX) and meets the standards to apply to the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy (NCBMBT) to practice in North Carolina as a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (LMBT). Successful completion of the course and the MBLEX is also the first step in applying to multiple other states for a license to practice.

Call 828-395-1100 to learn more about the program curriculum or to reserve your space in the upcoming class.

Submitted by Mike Gavin