Kish College partners with ReUp Education to support returning learners
Kishwaukee College has partnered with ReUp Education to support students who are reenrolling in college to complete a degree or certificate program.
Read MoreTherapeutic Massage
Therapeutic Massage
Massage therapists use touch to relieve pain, help injuries heal, improve circulation, reduce stress, promote relaxation and support wellness in their clients. These complementary health professionals do a lot to help people feel better. They manipulate muscles and soft tissue and are highly knowledgeable in the human body. Massage therapists are also responsible for maintaining treatment records, ensuring sanitation and safety protocols are met and communicating with care. They can be found in spas, gyms, cruise ships, medical offices, hospices, long-term care facilities and many other locations.
In our therapeutic massage program, you will:
- Receive excellence in massage therapy training to become a highly skilled practitioner
- Gain a thorough foundation in massage techniques, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, business, professionalism and ethics
- Complete clinicals in our beautiful, on-campus spa frequented by the public
- Prepare to become a licensed massage therapist (LMT) in the State of Illinois
Degrees and Certificates
Program Details
- We'll prepare you for a career as a licensed massage therapist.
- The National Career Clusters Framework created a tool to help you find a career that suits your interests and skills. Our therapeutic massage program is part of the Health Science career cluster.
- Modern classrooms and a fully equipped spa provide an environment for excellence in massage education.
- Clinicals are held on-campus in a peaceful, modern spa that is open to the public and at Oak Crest in DeKalb.
- Our curriculum meets the standards set by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IDFPR), and we stay informed of the Illinois Massage Licensing Act to ensure our graduates remain eligible for professional licensure in the State of Illinois.
- Graduates are eligible to sit for the Massage and Bodywork Licensure Exam (MBLEx).
- Once successfully passing MBLEx, graduates can apply for licensure in Illinois to begin practicing.
- Classes are scheduled at convenient times so busy adults can maintain their schedules while completing the program.
- Along with applying to Kish, students seeking admission into this program must meet special program requirements.
- A variable tuition rate applies to this program.
- To learn more about the program, tour our state-of-the-art facility, meet the coordinator, and have all your questions answered, please call program coordinator.
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE PROGRAM COSTS 2025-2026
Post-Graduation Expenses: Students should take the MBLEx exam upon graduation. The examination cost is approximately $265. This is not a graduation requirement but is required to apply for an Illinois massage therapist license. After passing an approved exam, Illinois massage therapists must apply for licensure through the State of Illinois Department of Professional Regulation to practice massage therapy in Illinois. Graduates should plan to spend $250 total for the initial licensure, including $175 to apply for the license and approximately $75 for fingerprinting.
Kishwaukee College Continuing Education offers Therapeutic Massage Continuing Education Units (CEUs). All classes are taught by Julie Kimpan-Freeman. Three-hours classes are $75, four-hour classes are $100, and six-hour classes are $150.
2024 Schedule
- Pregnancy Massage — Friday, Nov. 15 (9 am-4 pm) — Register
- Stretching Your Client — Monday, Dec. 2 (9 am-4 pm) — Register
For additional questions about the classes, contact Melissa Gallagher at mgallagher1@kish.edu or 815-825-9466.
Students in Kish's Therapeutic Massage and Esthetics Programs practice massage, skin care and esthetics treatments. Book an appointment.
The Therapeutic Massage program is designed to prepare students to apply for licensure or certification in Illinois. Program completion may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in a state other than Illinois.
News & Events
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