FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Enrollment

How do I start?

1.  Verify you meet our pre-enrollment qualifications.
2. Complete and submit Enrollment Application.
3. Email a photocopy of your government issued ID and your High School Diploma (or High School Transcripts).
4. Upon receipt, Admissions will set up a video call [i.e. Facetime/Zoom video] to continue the enrollment process with you.
5. Upon completion of the Verification call, there are 4 additional documents that you will need to complete and submit with an initial payment of $275.00 to initiate your Online Access Code.
6. Lastly, Admissions will discuss tuition payment options.  If needed, we will help you set-up a payment plan through Tuition Financing Company.  See Tuition section for more details.

We offer program start dates on the first and third Monday’s on each month.  To determine your specific start date, please discuss this with our Admissions Team. 

You may be able to transfer credits from another Massage Therapy program.  All applications are considered on an individual basis.   Please include a copy of your transcript when contacting Admissions to inquire.  Upon receipt, our Director of Education will be able to further assist you.  To finalize a transfer of credits, you will be asked to provide an original transcript. 

What materials do I need to purchase for school?

Included in your tuition and book fee, each student will be provided with an e-textbook and online access, Trail Guide to the Body book, online access to Exam Coach, PMA uniform T-shirt, lotion bottle and holster and a portable massage table. As a student, the only additional purchases you are responsible for are lotions/creams and/or any sheets you would like to use with your massage table. You are responsible to purchase and take a CPR/First Aid class prior to starting your externship.

Online Massage Program Questions

We have spoken to many individuals that were extremely interested in pursuing Massage Therapy; however, they did not have the flexibility or availability to attend class 4 to 5 days during ‘school hours’ each week due to a variety of reasons [i.e. second career paths, child/parent care needs, alternatively educated, etc.].  

To solve this problem, PMA created a hybrid approach to streamline the textbook curriculum, homework assignments, quizzes/tests, thereby making education accessible to students online.  Theory, science and business classes are conducted through an on-line/interactive curriculum; Students are able to work at their own pace and on their own schedule while also having the benefit of access to an Instructor for questions, guidance, support and encouragement.  Throughout the program, there are benchmarks where “Hands-On Training” is scheduled with each student and an Instructor in a professional clinic environment.  The Hands-On Training is where the student applies what they are learning. 

Flexibility in time commitments, accommodation of various learning styles and hands-on training conducted in a professional spa environment gives the Students real work-life experiences – This approach offers more students the opportunity to enter this profession.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM 

How does the hands-on training work?

Hands-On Training is supervised in-person training where Instructors provide instruction and oversight while students learn different modalities and practice their techniques.  

As each individual’s Hands-On Training benchmark nears [typically 3 – 4 weeks lead time], the student will be contacted by a PMA Staff Member to coordinate time and location. Hands-on training is hosted at The Professional Massage Academy or any PMA Partner clinics within 50 – 75* miles of the student [*or as discussed during the Admissions process]. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM 

The online Massage Therapy Program is a 600-hour Program. PMA offers 3 different program commitment levels.  Upon enrollment, the Student determines which program best fits their weekly commitment to their studies.  Each student’s experience with the time to completion may vary.  Every Student is welcome and supported to work at a quicker pace, if they choose.

Plan A: Student commits to completing 5 – 15 hours per week of Massage Therapy curriculum.  If choosing this Plan, students can finish as quickly as 40 weeks.  

Plan B:  Student commits to completing 15 – 30 hours per week of Massage Therapy curriculum.  If choosing this Plan, students can finish as quickly as 20 weeks.  

Plan C: Student commits to completing 30+ hours per week of Massage Therapy curriculum. If choosing this Plan, students can finish as quickly as 15 weeks.  

SEE OUR CURRICULUM 

This program was created with your busy schedule in mind!  We know the day-to-day demands of jobs, family, appointments, sports, home commitments, friends, travel time, etc., so we specifically designed a program to make Massage Therapy attainable for busy adults. 

The online learning of our curriculum can be completed anytime throughout the week as long as you have internet access and a laptop or a computer.  It is a 24/7 online program.  As an example, let’s say this week is extra hectic and you only have Friday and Saturday available; as long as you complete at least 5 hours of your studies in those two days, you remain in compliance with your hourly commitment and proceed onto the next week’s curriculum.

Tuition Assistance

What are the payment options? 

We accept credit/debit, a check, PayPal, or Venmo as a form of payment.  Students have the option of paying for the tuition in full prior to starting the Online Program or paying monthly through TFC, Tuition Financing Company.  Through TFC, we are able to set-up payment contracts up to 30 months of tuition payments without interest fees or credit checks.

In addition to working with the Tuition Financing Company [TFC], many of our partner clinics offer a Tuition Reimbursement Program.  While the parameters of the Program may vary by Clinic, in many instances it is as follows: Upon graduation from The Professional Massage Academy, you must interview and be hired at a participating partner clinic location.  You must work a minimum of 30 hours a week [average] and commit to two [2] years of employment.   Over those 2 years, the PMA graduate would receive tuition reimbursement up to $3,750.00 when benchmark commitments are met.

Career Placement

While The Professional Massage Academy does not offer career placement, we do conduct our Hands-On Training in partner clinics which gives each Student an opportunity to get acclimated to a professional work environment, it’s employees and management.  In many instances, graduating students choose to interview and work at their training sites after graduation.  Our Admissions and Instructor Teams help interested students find a partner clinic close to them for this portion of the curriculum.  

The Professional Massage Academy encourages our partner clinics to offer a Tuition Reimbursement Program.  While the parameters of the Program may vary by Clinic, in many instances it is as follows: Upon graduation from The Professional Massage Academy, you must interview and be hired at a participating partner clinic location.  You must work a minimum of 30 hours a week [average] and commit to two [2] years of employment.

The Professional Massage Academy

Accreditation

The Professional Massage Academy and it’s curricula is reviewed and approved annually by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.  The Office of Higher Education provides consumer protection for students and prospective students. PMA is not accredited by any other agencies at this time.

Where are we located? 

The Professional Massage Academy is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. With our Massage Therapy Program being offered online, we have students that live across the entire state of Minnesota.

If you have any questions not covered here, our admissions team will be happy to assist!