This certificate offers graduates of the Post-Degree Professional Certificate in Massage Therapy and Certificate of Proficiency in Massage Therapy advanced bodywork training which enhances a massage therapist's career by preparing them for positions in specialized areas of massage therapy. Associate of Applied degree students in Massage Therapy are required to complete the Advanced Massage Therapy courses.  Therefore, students graduating with the AAS degree in Massage Therapy will also receive the Short-Term Advanced Massage Therapy certificate.

Program contact: Learn more

Financial Assistance funds cannot be applied towards this program.

This certificate will be automatically awarded when the certificate requirements are completed. If you do not want to receive the certificate, please notify the Office of the Registrar at RegistrarOffice@tri-c.edu.

Learn more about how certificate credits apply to the related degree.

Program Admission Requirements

Application must be submitted to the Massage Therapy Program Office at the Eastern Campus.

  • Must be awarded a Certificate of Proficiency or Post-Degree Professional Certificate in Massage Therapy.
  • Submit an "Intention to Complete the Short-Term Certificate" to the Massage Therapy Program. Call 216-987-2331 for more information.
  • High School Diploma/GED, HiSET or TASC
  • Overall minimum of 2.5 GPA. Students with an overall GPA lower than 2.5, but no lower than 2.0, can be accepted as “Conditional Status” students. Contact the Program Manager for more information regarding "Conditional Acceptance" and "Conditional Status."
  • Once accepted, students must maintain a 2.5 GPA throughout program. Students with an overall and/or MT course GPA below 2.5, but no lower than 2.0 will be placed on Conditional Status.

Other Information

  • All students graduating with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Massage Therapy will also receive the Short-Term Certificate in Massage Therapy.
  • Students must submit evidence of good health and required immunizations before acceptance to program. Students will not be accepted or will be dropped from the program if significant limiting health conditions are present to prevent student from performing the essential functions of a Massage Therapy student and/or constitute a hazard to health and safety of patients or classmates.
  • Pass/No Pass (P/NP) and Audit (A) grading options not accepted.
  • Criminal background check required.

Program Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  1. Use physical observation, verbal investigation and advanced assessment techniques to create and perform advanced treatment plan for disorders to the human body.
  2. Educate the patient, within the scope of practice as defined by the State Medical Board of Ohio, on the principles of treatment used for specific disorders, proper body mechanics as well as suggest appropriate modalities.
  3. Apply the knowledge of pathological conditions as they indicate or contraindicate the applications of massage therapy.
  4. Apply the principles of pharmacology as it relates to the indications and contraindications to massage therapy.
  5. Demonstrate work ethic, hygiene, office management, customer service, time management and team work skills needed in a clinic setting.
  6. Communicate verbally and in writing, including SOAP charting, to clients, colleagues and other health care professionals.
  7. Conduct yourself professionally, ethically and legally, especially regarding sexual and substance abuse issues, according to the State Medical Board of Ohio and American Massage Therapy Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice including identifying and referring patients to an appropriate licensed healthcare professional as needed.
  8. Apply emergency, safety and sanitation protocols according to OSHA and CDC regulatory standards.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
Summer StartCredit Hours
MT-1280 Somatic Studies III 2
MT-2201 Massage Modalities and Career Paths 2
 Credit Hours4
First Semester
MT-2311 Advanced Massage Therapy 3
MT-2380 Advanced Massage Therapy Clinic 3
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours10

MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement.  These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016.  Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.