Massage Therapy Students

Program Requirements
Massage therapy students are required to have an annual medical examination, liability insurance, and First Aid/CPR certification. All students in hands-on courses (Eastern massage, Western massage, Practicum I and II, massage electives, myology, and kinesiology) are required to present completed medical clearance from Health Services, evidence of liability insurance, and First Aid/CPR certification to the instructors of their courses at the beginning of each semester.

Medical Clearance
A massage student medical form must be completed by a physician or nurse practitioner and submitted to the Health Services Office. Massage student medical clearance must be updated each semester.

Student Liability Insurance
All students in hands-on courses (Eastern massage, Western massage, Practicum I and II, massage electives, myology, and kinesiology) are required to carry liability insurance. Massage student liability insurance policies are available through membership in various organizations:

• Associated Massage and Bodywork Professionals
• American Massage Therapy Association
• Hands-On Trade Association
• Massage Magazine Insurance Plus

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers Certification
Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification is required for all massage therapy students during the program. Students in hands-on courses (Eastern massage, Western massage, Practicum I and II, massage electives, myology, and kinesiology) are required to present evidence of current First Aid and CPR certification to their course instructors at the beginning of each semester.

Uniforms
All students in Eastern and Western massage courses are required to wear QCC massage student uniforms to class. QCC massage student polo shirts and sweat pants or yoga pants must be worn to every class. The uniform polo shirts can be ordered through Lands End www.landsend.com/school. The school code is #9001-3228-3.

Any color polo shirt is acceptable for lab classes. Students in hospital-based clinical massage classes must wear white polo shirts and navy blue scrub pants.

Attendance
Attendance for all massage (HA) and science (BI) classes is required. Students who miss a class must make up the class and any coursework. Students who do not fulfill attendance or course requirements will not be permitted to pass the course.

Academic Standing
Students must receive a C or better in each of the massage (HA) and science (BI) courses to remain in the program. A student who does not receive at least a C in an HA or BI course is allowed to repeat the course one time.. Students may not progress in the HA course sequence without successful completion of all pre-requisites.

Massage students are strongly advised to consult with a member of the full-time massage faculty before withdrawing from any class.

All students must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of at 2.0 or better to remain enrolled in the program and to graduate from QCC. Students who have a GPA under 2.0 will be placed on academic probation and not allowed to enroll in massage courses. Students on academic probation who successfully raise their GPA to above a 2.0 may seek permission to re-enroll in the massage therapy program.

Academic Advisement
Academic advisement is required for all QCC massage therapy students prior to registration for classes. First semester, full-time, first year freshmen are advised in the Health Sciences Academy. Transfer students and continuing students must make academic advisement appointments with full-time massage therapy faculty.

Registration
Massage courses are listed under the Healing Arts program. Biological science courses including anatomy & physiology, myology, kinesiology, and neurophysiology are listed under the Department of Biological Sciences and Geology. Click here to view the QCC schedule of classes online

The QCC massage program is an excellent option for aspiring massage therapists from the New York City area and Long Island. The Queensborough Community College campus is centrally located in Bayside, Queens, NY. It is accessible by public transportation from Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island. Click here for directions to the campus.

Admissions and Placement
To be admitted to the Queensborough Community College massage program, a student must hold a high school diploma or the equivalent. All students entering QCC must take the CUNY Assessment Tests in Writing and Reading as well as the CUNY Mathematics Assessment Test. These tests are required for all incoming Freshman and non-CUNY transfer students. Testing requirements vary for transfer students from non-CUNY institutions.

Students who hold previous academic degrees are considered transfer students. Students interested in transferring into the massage program must submit their transcripts for any and all other schools or academic institution to the Transfer Advisor in the Registrar's Office to have their prior coursework evaluated for transfer credit. At least 30 credits must be taken at Queensborough Community College in order to be eligible for the A.A.S. degree in massage therapy.

Incoming students who are required to take remedial coursework must successfully complete all remedial courses before entering the massage therapy course sequence.

Program of Study
The QCC massage degree is a full-time, two year structured sequence of courses that begins in the Fall Semester. Part-time students may begin in the Spring or Summer terms, but may not begin massage courses until the Fall term.

Students must receive a C or better in each of the massage (HA) and science (BI) courses to remain in the program. All students must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of at 2.0 or better to remain enrolled in the program, and to graduate from QCC.

Program Requirements
Massage therapy students are required to have an annual medical examination. A massage student medical form must be completed by a physician or nurse practitioner and submitted to the Health Services Office. Massage student medical clearance must be updated each semester.

Massage students are required to carry liability insurance. Massage student liability insurance policies are available through professional massage association student memberships.

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification is required for all massage therapy students during the program.

Class Schedule
Massage courses are listed under the Healing Arts program. Biological science courses including anatomy & physiology, myology, kinesiology, and neurophysiology are listed under the Department of Biological Sciences and Geology. Click here to view the QCC schedule of classes online.

How much is tuition for the massage program?
Tuition is paid per credit hour, per semester. The full cost of the program will be different for students who transfer courses from other academic institutions, as well as for in-state and out-of-state students. Get more information about QCC tuition. In addition to tuition, students will be required to purchase textbooks, massage uniforms, and pay required college fees.

Can I complete the program in less than two years?
No. The program takes a minimum of two years to complete. Courses are sequenced in order beginning in the fall semester.

Do you accept part-time students?
Yes. But students who enroll part-time will need 3-4 years to complete the massage therapy degree. The amount of time in the program will vary depending on the number of courses a student is able to take each semester.

Does the QCC Massage Therapy Program offer evening classes?
Yes. However, some evening classes start as early as 5:00pm

I need to be finished with school by 3:00. Can I enroll in the morning program?
No. There is no morning program. Depending on the class, some day classes can start as early as 8:00am, other classes may end as late as 6:00pm.

If I want to register for day and evening classes is that possible?
Yes. Scheduling is flexible. Classes are offered in the morning, afternoon, and evenings and some courses are scheduled for Saturdays. Students can register for any courses that are open as long as they meet the requirements to enroll in those classes.

Are there massage classes during the winter and summer terms?
No. There are no massage classes during the winter term and summer terms. Part-time students who wish to take general education classes, or begin remedial courses can take them during the winter and summer terms.

Can I transfer to the QCC massage therapy program from another massage school?
Maybe. It depends on the accreditation of your previous school. For massage programs like those in the State University of New York system, that are academically accredited, some courses may transfer. If your previous massage school was a vocational or trade school, transfer credits may not be accepted at QCC.

I just want to be a massage therapist. I am not interested in science. Can I just take massage courses without all the science?
No. New York State has strict education requirements for massage. Therefore, we cannot enroll non-degree students in our massage courses. For information about becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist, click here for the New York State Massage Website.

I do not have a strong science background. If I want to take the massage courses first and A&P, myology, kinesiology, and neurophysiology courses later, is that an option?
No. These courses are pre- or co-requisite courses. The science courses in the QCC massage program curriculum provide the foundation for the Western massage courses. These classes must be completed or taken simultaneously with Western massage.

As a yoga therapist, personal trainer, Pilates instructor I am interested in learning massage techniques to perform on my clients. Can I do that at QCC?
No. Massage courses are only open to massage majors. New York State requires a license to practice massage and the law has strict requirements regarding the practice of massage. While some professions are exempt from licensure, yoga therapists, personal trainers, Pilates, and other fitness instructors are not. Information about the New York State Massage Regulations.

I want to be a nurse, physical therapist, medical doctor, or chiropractor. Does the massage therapy program satisfy pre-med requirements?
No. The massage therapy curriculum is a professional program that complies with New York state Dept of Education legislation and regulations for massage therapy licensure. It is not a pre-med or pre-nursing curriculum. Requirements for other professions vary. Some courses may transfer. However, some students want to become Licensed Massage Therapists before pursuing other degrees. Massage therapy offers a flexible career for students to pursue other degrees and interests after they are licensed.

I am a licensed or certified massage therapist in another state. How can QCC help me get my New York State massage license?
The New York State Office of the Professions should be your first point of contact. They have an informative website that will be able to answer your questions.

I plan to enroll in the QCC massage program. Where can I take First Aid and CPR?
The QCC Department of Health, Physical Education and Dance offers CPR courses. CPR can also be taken QCC continuing education, as well as the American Heart Association. CPR and First Aid courses are also offered at area hospitals, as well as the American Red Cross, and by the National Safety Council.

Do your massage students perform internships and clinical rotations? We would like to get a massage therapy student to work as an unpaid intern at our salon/spa/medical clinic. Who do we contact?
New York State Massage Therapy regulations require all Massage Therapy students to be supervised by faculty associated with the students' school. QCC offers clinical experiences that are integral to the program's courses.

Can my chiropractic/dermatology/medical office hire a recent massage therapy graduate who does not have a license?
No, unless the recent graduate has obtained a limited permit to practice massage under the supervision of a New York state licensed massage therapist. Article 155 of the New York State Education law for massage.

Are QCC massage program graduates eligible to take the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and the Federation of State Massage Therapy Board's MBLex?
Yes. Our massage program meets the requirements for NCBTMB and FSMTB exam eligibility. These exams are accepted for licensure in many states, but they are not accepted in New York, which administers its own Board Exam. For students who want to obtain an academically-accredited massage degree but want eventually to practice massage in another state, the QCC massage program may be an option.