Massage Institute of Maryland (F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions)

How can I learn therapeutic massage?
We all know massage. It was the earliest form of health care. When you bump yourself, you generally rub out the pain. Massage Therapy in most states is regulated as health care. In Maryland, in order to provide massage to others outside of your family and to be compensated for providing Massage Therapy you must be trained and credentialed. Our 500 hour program meets the minimum educational requirements for Maryland and most states.

See our "500 Hour MT Program" section of this website. We offer a couples class where you can get an overview of basic massage techniques. See our "Continuing Education" section of this website.

What is the cost of the 500 hour program?
The tuition for the "500 Hour Professional Massage Therapy and Body Work Training Program" is currently $6200. The tuition includes textbooks and most supplies. There is a $90 application fee.

You may pay your tuition using our payment plan. $1200 is due by the first class. The remaining $5000 balance is paid monthly over the remaining months of the program session. There is an 8% amortized charge applied to the outstanding balance until the tuition is paid off to cover administrative costs. This is generally less then $150.

Can I apply for the program session before I have all my documentation together?
You can apply for the session you want to attend before you have all your admisstion documentation together - as long as your application is complete. Your educational documentation, photo, medical and TB exam, etc. can be submitted before or on the first night of class. We know it might take some time to get it together. It is important to submit the application and application fee so that you reserve space in the class and we can plan for you. When we receive your application, we will send out a confirmation letter.

What if I don't have a high school diploma or GED?
What if I have a transcript from a foreign country, can I still apply for training?
You DO need evidence that you completed secondary education (high school) or have passed a competency examination (GED). A transcript from a post-secondary institution is valid evidence. The documentation also needs to be in English, so if you have a document written in another language you need to have both an original document and a notarized translation of that document. There are many translation services available and you can search for them on the Internet. In some situations we might ask for a professional evaluation of your foreign documentation to determine if it meets our entrance criteria.

You DO need evidence that you completed secondary education (high school) or have passed a competency examination (GED). A transcript from a post-secondary institution is valid evidence. You can also take an Ability to Benefit Test (ATB). This test will show that you have the basic skills necessary to enter a post-secondary program. We use the Accuplacer test which is administered locally by the Baltimore County Community College in Catonsville, Maryland. The Phone Number of the testing center is: 410-455-6946

Your documentation also needs to be in English, so if you have a document written in another language you need to have both an original document and a notarized translation of that document. There are many translation services available and you can search for them on the Internet. In some situations, we might ask for a professional evaluation of your foreign documentation to determine if it meets our entrance criteria. In some cases, we may ask for you to have your foreign certificate or transcript evaluated for equivalency with a high school diploma or GED.

Is there student financial aid?
Students who attend the Massage Institute of Maryland's 500 Hour Program are eligible to receive financial from the State of Maryland through several programs. These include the Legislative Scholarships, the Workforce Investment Act and the Maryland Division of Rehabilitative Services

The Massage Institute of Maryland is eligible to work with Sallie Mae SLMF Career Loans.

You may also make payment arrangements with us. You may pay your tuition using our payment plan. $1200 is due by the first class. The remaining $5000 balance is paid monthly over the remaining months of the program session. There is an 8% amortized charge applied to the outstanding balance until the tuition is paid off to cover administrative costs. This is generally less then $150.

Approved for VA Educational Benefits

Please see the "Financial Aid Resources" section of this website.

What about Title IV Financial Aid? Will it cost me more to use Title IV funds?
Although the Massage Institute of Maryland does not accept Title IV at this time, you still may end up spending less on your education at our school. This is because your benefits are based on many factors, including the school's tuition and other expenses such as the cost of books and supplies.

If you are offered a Title IV financial aid package at another school, look closely at your award. If that award is less then difference between that school's total cost and our tuition we may end up being a better value for you!

Can you explain the Massage Therapy credentialing process in Maryland?
It is important to understand that 500 hours of massage therapy training is just the first part of the process.

A candidate for becoming a massage therapist must also pass an exam given by the "National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork" (NCBTMB) Website: http://www.ncbtmb.com/.

In addition, they must also pass a jurisprudence exam give by the Maryland "Massage Therapy Advisory Committee" (MTAC) Website: http://www.mdmassage.org/.

You should plan to spend about two or three months after graduation from school to complete the credentialing process. You cannot practice Massage Therapy in Maryland until you have your certificate from the "State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene". In addition, several counties in Maryland require that you register with them before you begin to practice.

The cost of national and state application, test and credentialing fees will cost approximately an additional $550. Count on this expense ahead of time, so you do not need to wait to get the credentialing process started!

What is the difference between a "Registered Massage Practitioner (RMP)" and a "Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)"?
The difference between an RMP and a CMT is that a CMT has earned 60 college credit hours and produces a college transcript to the committee during the Maryland application process. The college credits may be in any subject.

An RMP may not practice Massage Therapy in a healthcare facility. That is - in a hospital, nursing facility, medical office or other similar location.

A Certified Massage Therapist, or CMT, may practice Massage Therapy in any appropriate setting.

We suggest you become familiar with the "Statutes and Regulation" by visiting the MTAC website (http://www.mdmassage.org/).

How often will I need to update my credentials?
At this time, the national certification lasts for four years from the date of your last renewal and the state credentialing (RMP or CMT) runs until October 31 of even numbered years. There are Continuing Education requirements for both the national and state credentials. They average about 12 hours per year.

If I am a Massage Therapist already, how can I get credentialed in Maryland?
You must meet Maryland's standards to become credentialed here, even if you were able to practice elsewhere before.

The two most common problems we encounter are "I didn't get enough hours of training the massage school where I graduated to work here" or "the massage school where I graduated was not accredited by a recognized accrediting agency". The Massage Institute of Maryland will work with you, as best we can, to accept previous training toward a certificate from our school. You will need to take a placement written and practical exam and complete coursework with us. Call and let's talk.

We suggest looking at the Maryland "Massage Therapy Advisory Committee" (MTAC) website (http://www.mdmassage.org/) for current regulations. There is a provision that you can work temporarily within Maryland if you are authorized elsewhere and you should look at the MTAC website for that information.

What are the regulations for Massage Therapy in other states?
You must meet each individual state's standards in order to be credentialed to work in other states.

Larger Massage Therapy Associations keep their members informed of regulatory requirements on their websites.

If you are an "Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals" (ABMP) member you can look at their website, located at: https://www.abmp.com:450/members/legislative.html

Or if you are a member of the "American Massage Therapy Association" (AMTA) you can look at their website, located at: http://www.amtamassage.org/member/legislative/leg_briefing.html.

Otherwise you can contact the regulatory agency in the state where you plan to work.

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