15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in South Carolina in 2024 | How to Apply

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With over 25 million Americans seeking massage treatments each year, massage colleges in South Carolina are striving to fill their programs with prospective professionals. 

Furthermore, campuses can be located throughout the state in small communities and large cities such as Columbia and Charleston. 

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South Carolina massage schools typically offer programs that last less than a year. Courses may include business, ethics, anatomy, physiology, hands-on training in deep-tissue and sports massage, health and wellness, and business practices.

Also, South Carolina’s coasts are stunning, making them ideal weekend getaways for students. 

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Golf, amusement parks, shopping, and a gorgeous beach are all available at Myrtle Beach, which is within a few hours’ drive from most points in the state.

Keep reading to learn more about the best massage therapy schools in South Carolina.

See Also: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Illinois

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Are there Massage Therapy Schools in South Carolina?

There are a good number of massage therapy schools in South Carolina. These schools are:

  • Spartanburg Community College
  • Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Conway
  • Central Carolina Technical College
  • Southeastern Institute-Charleston
  • Horry Georgetown Technical College
  • Strand College
  • Midlands Technical College

How Does One Become A Massage Therapist in South Carolina?

To become a massage therapist in South Carolina, you must first get a high school diploma or a GED. 

The student must then attend a postsecondary school with accreditation that offers a state-approved MT program.

However, the program must include at least 500 hours of instruction and practice. The course instructor will cover anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, pathology, fundamental massage techniques, business skills, hygiene, and laws and ethics.

Many curricula go above and beyond the basic standards. The quantity and types of massage methods taught vary by program. 

Some specialize in medical massage, while others specialize in spa services. The hands-on component of a curriculum could be at an on-campus student clinic or an externship at a massage facility in the community.

Following graduation, a prospective practitioner must apply for a license with the state panel. An applicant must be 18 years old, present a transcript from an accredited school, and obtain a passing score on the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx).

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards conducts the exam with a $200 application fee. Pearson VUE administers the computer-based exam at testing sites regularly and reports the results to the panel.

Every alternate year, a license must be renewed. This will cost you around $175. Another requirement, commencing with the second renewal, is to complete at least 12 hours of continuing education. 

Also, classes provided by approved national associations or state-approved schools are accepted by the panel.

What are the Best Massage Therapy Schools in South Carolina?

Below are the best massage therapy schools in South Carolina with some information about them:

1. Spartanburg Community College

This public school covers residents of Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties in upstate South Carolina.

While providing the state-required training, the therapeutic massage program concentrates on Swedish and basic massage methods. 

Beginning in the fall, the 31-credit curriculum is divided into three terms lasting 42 weeks. Hands-on experience is available on campus and at nearby clinics.

However, students may pursue a massage therapy associate in applied science degree to further their studies. 

Additional classes must be taken in composition, communications, human relations, public speaking, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, art, music, humanities, early Christian and Jewish history and literature, world religions, and computers.

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2. Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Conway

MMT was founded in 1916 as a branch campus of the privately owned Platt College in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The massage therapy curriculum lasts eight months and consists of 710 clock hours. Students take Somatic Psychology, Hydrotherapy, and Aromatherapy in addition to the compulsory coursework. 

They are also taught Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, prenatal, and geriatric massage methods, as well as neuromuscular treatment. Three “periods” at the school’s teaching clinic are part of the program.

Applicants must complete a learning readiness test “to determine the type of support” they will require if accepted into the program.

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Read More: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Philadelphia|

3. Central Carolina Technical College

This Sumter public community college offers a massage therapist certificate that requires 12 months of full-time day classes. The hospital-based curriculum provides acute-care training.

Completing developmental courses is a prerequisite for admittance. Massage therapy classes begin in January and August. 

Also, students study the required subjects while providing one-hour massages to the public in an on-campus clinic.

Participants in the 960-hour program may also pursue a specialist certificate in massage therapy for integrative healthcare, the first of its type in the United States, recognized by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

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4. Southeastern Institute-Charleston

This is a for-profit medical school with campuses in Charleston and Columbia. It has small class sizes, teachers with industry experience, career placement services, and day or evening sessions.

Furthermore, 900 hours are required for the Professional Clinical Massage Therapy certificate program. Massage and neuromuscular therapy classes include 700 hours in the curriculum. 

However, students work 100 hours at an on-campus clinic, administering treatments to clients.

Applicants to the program must pass a pre-admission exam. Some students who do not receive “appropriate” grades are admitted to the school. Students must submit a CV, prepare an appeal letter, and participate in an interview.

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Read More: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Oregon|Ranking

5. Horry Georgetown Technical College

Are you a patient, compassionate person who enjoys making others happy? If this is the case, HGTC’s Massage Therapy certificate program may be an excellent choice for you. 

Massage is both a healing art and a science that necessitates academic and technical knowledge, clinical abilities, manual dexterity, sensitivity, and awareness. 

However, this program will train you to become certified to work as an entry-level massage therapist.

Massage therapy is quickly rising due to the public’s growing interest in types of healthcare that promote well-being and a greater quality of life. 

Also, a job in massage therapy allows you to serve others in both a personal and professional capacity.

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6. Strand College

Massage Therapy/Bodywork is a 650-hour training program that includes theory and practice, clinical experience, and an in-depth study of human anatomy and physiology. 

Massage Therapy School students will learn various massage methods and ethics, business management, practices, laws, rules, and regulations.

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education has approved, and NACCAS has accredited the Massage Therapy and Bodywork curriculum.

Also, massage therapy information and practical skills will be acquired by students through lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experience. 

Testing at the end of each incremental level will be used to assess the learning process. Students who complete the Massage Therapy 650 course will be eligible for graduation and the FSMBT licensure exam MBLEx.

In addition, the state of South Carolina requires this exam to work as a massage therapist.

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Read More: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Indiana

7. Midlands Technical College

The Clinical Massage Therapist Certificate is a 10-month, 600-contact-hour continuing education program designed to prepare students for the national licensing exam. 

Students can then apply for state licensure through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.

As a clinical massage therapist, you will learn how to treat soft tissue injuries, chronic pain, myofascial injuries, and structural and postural abnormalities. 

Interestingly, this profession is highly fulfilling because you frequently relieve people’s agonies through therapeutic touch.

This 10-month classroom and clinical program, available day and night, will prepare you to become a certified massage therapist in South Carolina.

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Also Read- 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in North Carolina|Ranking

How Long are Massage Therapy Schools in South Carolina?

You must complete a 500-hour massage therapy training program at a recognized massage or bodywork school to get certified. 

Potential massage therapists study anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology, as well as how the structure and function of the tissues being treated influence the patient’s overall body function. 

However, to become licensed as a massage therapist in South Carolina, you must finish the educational component and pass either the NCETMB or the MBLEx exam. Licenses are issued by the South Carolina Massage and Bodywork Panel.

How Much are Massage Therapy Schools in South Carolina?

Although costs differ greatly based on the program, massage therapy school tuition might be less expensive than that for a four-year college degree.

Most institutions require 500 to 1,000 hours of study before granting a license to practice massage therapy, and more intense programs cost more money to enroll in.

As you consider your educational alternatives, ensure you are ready with the right financial advice.

The cost of attending massage therapy colleges varies greatly. Community college courses could cost as little as $5,000 to $7,000. Others would charge you up to $20,000 for a one-year curriculum.

Don’t Fail To Read- 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Tennessee|Ranking

How Much Do Massage Therapists Make In South Carolina?

The median yearly salary for a practitioner in South Carolina is a little under $41,000, or around $19.70 per hour; this is a little less than the national average, which is over $41,400, or roughly $20.

The top 10% of earners in the state receive around $59,900 ($29), which is less than the national median of about $78,300 ($37.65). 

The bottom 10% of earners receive $20,600, or around $10, in South Carolina and over $21,300, or roughly $10.25, nationally.

In 2016, there were 3,710 massage therapists in this area. By 2026, there will be 4,540 jobs, according to predictions made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the federal government. 

However, compared to the agency’s expected 26 percent nationwide growth, that would represent a 22 percent expansion.

Conclusion

Understanding how massage affects the body’s structural, physiological, and emotional aspects is part of a student’s training to become a certified massage therapist. 

Most massage schools in South Carolina also cover the industry’s business, financial, and moral facets. 

Furthermore, the capacity to blend technical expertise, clinical massage abilities and client-needs awareness will be developed in massage students. 

Along with teaching traditional Swedish massage, schools also include additional body therapies like spa treatments, sports massage, and medical-massage. 

Also, popular massage techniques include deep tissue, reflexology, aromatherapy, acupressure, and shiatsu. 

Professional athletes and others with sore muscles may benefit from deep-tissue massage. 

Additionally, reflexology manipulates points on the hands, feet, and ears to promote balance and well-being in the body. 

Massage therapists practicing aromatherapy utilize essential oils and lotions to calm the body and promote general circulation. 

Would you be interested in becoming a licensed South Carolina massage therapist?

If you do, then try out any of the schools listed above.

FAQs

If I have a massage therapy license in another state, can I become licensed in South Carolina?

Yes, if the qualifications for licensure in that state are at least as stringent as ours, an endorsement may be granted. This includes, but is not limited to, the type of examination you passed to become a massage therapist.

What is the highest degree in massage therapy in South Carolina?

The highest voluntary credential offered to massage therapists is board certification.

Is becoming a massage therapist in South Carolina worth it?

Yes. Overall, massage therapists report high job satisfaction with their job.

Reference

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