Massage Licensing Program
The Washington Spa Academy licensing program is a comprehensive education designed to train students with a balanced approach of theory and technique.
WSA has developed a comprehensive 660-hour Massage program, utilizing an exceptional cloud-based learning platform for added resources to help you efficiently prepare for state licensure, in addition to offering small-class sizes to optimize your one-on-one instruction and practical training.
The Traditional Massage program is 660 hours and takes approximately eight months to complete. This exceeds the State of Washington requirements for licensure, which currently requires 625 hours.
COVID vaccination is required for all WSA staff and students - medical and religious exemptions may be accepted.
Sessions
Our next scheduled AM class start is Monday September 18th, 2023 and PM class start is September 25th, 2023! Contact Admissions for more details.
Washington Spa Academy's massage licensing program is 660 hours, running 20 hours per week and lasting approximately 33 weeks while offering multiple program starts per year:
Exact completion dates will vary based upon observed Holidays, email Admissions@waspaacademy.com for more information.
Class Hours
At Washington Spa Academy, morning or evening sections are offered to fit most schedules
- AM Section: Monday - Thursday 9:00am-2:00pm
OR
- PM Section: Monday - Thursday 5:30pm-10:30pm
Student Clinic
The Student Massage Clinic portion of the Professional Massage Licensing Program begins in the last part of the program. In the Student Massage Clinic, student practitioners are required to perform 36 massages on the public in a supervised setting. This real-world work experience is vital to refining the student massage therapists’ skill set. The Student Massage Clinic is integrated within the regular class schedule towards the end of the program, when the student is equipped and ready to begin clinic training.
Core Subjects
Over the 40 years that WSA has been preparing students to enter the field of massage therapy, the curriculum has been refined into a solid, comprehensive platform that effectively prepare students to become exceptional practitioners. The WSA curriculum is built around the core subjects of:
- Massage Theory & Practice: This subject is the heart of the program. The art and science of massage therapy, in all its many facets, is thoroughly covered including: history, draping, indications and contraindications, physiological effects of the six strokes of Swedish massage, advanced treatment skills including myofascial release, deep tissue, MET, trigger point work, and much more.
- Clinical & Business Practices: This aspect of Massage Theory & Practice addresses business management, taxes, billing insurance, record keeping, sanitation, proper hygiene, medical terminology, and laws pertaining to massage and massage businesses.
- Anatomy & Physiology: This subject investigates the structure and function of the body including the systems of the body and the functions of the organs and glands, as well as the various parts of the skeletal and muscular systems.
- Pathology: This subject explores the signs and symptoms of common diseases and abnormalities of the various body systems, as well as the relationship of massage to various diseases-including when massage should and should not be used.
- Kinesiology: This subject covers body movement and how and where muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments interact to create movement at the joints
- Ethics: This topic covers the therapeutic relationship of the massage therapist and client/patient, human behavior, communication skills, professional boundaries, standards of ethical practice, and state laws and rules related to massage and health care ethics.
- Student Clinic: This is where you put it all together. Creating a real-world climate to practice your new skillset and develop into the massage therapist you were always meant to be.