Massage FAQ

The Professional Massage Practitioner diploma program is available with two timetable options—either full-time or part-time to suit your unique and individual needs.

For our 750-Hour Professional Massage Practitioner Diploma you can choose an 11-month, full time or 22-month, part-time program. If you feel called to provide skilled bodywork to help others improve their health and well being, you will love the art and science of this program. This program covers the core competency courses and allows you to specialize in your areas of interest.

Our 1000-hour Master Massage Practitioner Diploma has 14-month, full-time or 29-month, part-time options. This program includes all of the core competency courses required to become a classically trained licensed massage therapist, plus additional training in two or more primary holistic specialty areas which interest you. Choose from Aromatherapy, Holistic Nutrition, Polarity, Spiritual Studies, Reflexology, Yoga Teacher Training, Reiki, Cranial Unwinding, Spa Management, and more. Not only will you earn certification each specialty, you will have an edge over other licensed massage therapists when applying for employment or starting a private practice. With 300 hours of training over the state requirement, you can see why this our “Master” massage program. This program far exceeds the massage training requirements in nearly all states in the country. We truly help you become a master in your field!

Both programs exceed the 700-hour requirement for massage therapy training in Arizona and make students eligible to apply for a massage therapy license in Arizona and the national certification exam if they choose. Graduates of these programs are prepared for an introductory-level position as a professional massage practitioner, or may choose to begin their own practice.

All it takes is a high school diploma or GED to enroll in a program! To take classes for personal development, no previous education is required. With just a little groundwork you’ll be ready to take off on your journey to becoming a student at SWIHA and beginning your adventure towards landing an exciting and fulfilling new profession!

You can get all the information about tuition and cost estimates for books, supplies and materials in a relaxed conversation with one of our friendly admissions coaches. Just fill out our form and we will get back to you right away. Or call 480-994-9344 to talk with a SWIHA representative today!

Individual attention for each student from our faculty members is a priority at SWIHA. We have experienced instructors with a thorough understanding of the material and courses who are also often working professionals in the fields in which they teach. Our teachers facilitate the courses by fostering community, connection, deep learning and a hands-on, real-world approach to education. We are committed to guiding and supporting students throughout their courses and creating a productive, professional educational environment. Students can also receive support from dedicated student services and advising staff and ongoing career, job placement and entrepreneurial assistance.

Our Success Center is SWIHA’s dedicated Placement Resources and Entrepreneurial Division. We provide students and alumni with ongoing career placement assistance as well as entrepreneurial support to those planning to create and grow their own private practices or businesses. Our Success Center team helps you meet your goal of gainful employment or entrepreneurship through life-long assistance with marketing, résumé and portfolio development, business coaching and more.

SWIHA is proud of its diverse student body made up of individuals of all ages and walks of life. Professionals with daytime jobs often attend evening classes to transform their careers and their lives, while daytime courses often serve those who need to be home in the evening for their families. Students just beginning their post-secondary education love the nurturing environment at SWIHA. We value uniqueness and diversity and honor that no two individuals, learning styles or living situations are identical.

Yes! Why choose only one career when you can have two or three? Our aesthetics, yoga and other programs all grew out of our original award winning Massage College. Now with all we offer, you can combine the best of training! Earning multiple licenses, certificates of excellence and specialties expands your opportunities whether you choose to work for an established business or for yourself and expand how you serve in the world. Many of our students maximize their education by combining their training to build successful entrepreneurial holistic wellness businesses.

• Be a Massage Therapist and a Skincare Specialist – You can earn a dual license as a Massage Therapist and a Skincare Specialist to gain a leading edge in the competitive and lucrative spa and wellness industry.
• Be a Massage Therapist and Yoga Teacher – Combine your training as a Licensed Massage Therapist with Yoga Teacher Training certification to gain a deep understanding of body mechanics to fully support your clients.
• Be a Massage Therapist and Holistic Nutrition Coach/Urban Farmer – You can broaden your options even further when you bring together massage plus holistic training such as Holistic Nutrition Coaching and Urban Farming to offer clients a sustainable wellness lifestyle.
• Be a Massage Therapist and Hypnotherapist – Bring together the mind-body wellness of Massage Therapy plus Hypnotherapy to specialize in guiding clients to releasing stress, fears, anxiety and finding complete mental and physical relaxation.

There are so many winning combinations for rewarding and profitable careers. The options at SWIHA are far-reaching in how you can customize your personal path.

As a massage therapist you might work at a spa, resort, professional healthcare, hospital or medical office, sports clinic, even on a cruise ship. Many massage specialty day spas are now located in communities close to other businesses. Some massage therapists practice corporate massage where they travel to businesses on appointment offering ‘massage breaks’ for employees, or provide massage at client’s homes, or at events. You can also choose to create your own private practice either as a sole business, or along with working other wellness professionals.

You don’t have to begin with a background in health or any particular industry. The beauty of becoming a massage therapist is that you create your own area of expertise and design the focus of your own practice. You may feel called to work with a certain community of clients or develop your own unique specialty area. There is increasing demand for specialties such as elder massage, massage for specific health issues, sports injury treatment and more. The opportunities are as unique as each individual massage therapist!

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of massage therapists: “will grow 23 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new openings for massage therapists.” According to the BLS, the median annual wage for massage therapists was $35,970, with the top 10 percent earning more than $70,140 as of May 2012.

For more than 20 years SWIHA has been helping individuals advance their education in holistic wellness and launch their careers helping others find health and wellbeing. Founded by KC Miller in 1992, SWIHA has grown into our Natural Aesthetics branch, (SWINA) location as well as our auxiliary Yoga Educational Facility and Studio (Spirit of Yoga) in Tempe, Arizona as well as bringing its programs to the world, online. You will still find KC enthusiastically teaching classes both on campus and online, and hosting events for students and the community at our campus locations.

SWIHA is approved by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET). Our school licensed by the Arizona State Board of Private Postsecondary Education (AZPPSE). SWIHA is also approved as a continuing education (CEU) provider by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) and approved for the training of veterans by Arizona Department of Veterans Services (AZDVS). SWIHA proudly holds the title as an A+ Member of the Tempe Better Business Bureau (BBB).

programs honor the vast range of faiths and belief systems of every individual. SWIHA respects the freedom of every person to have their own spiritual path. While SWIHA does not subscribe to or endorse a specific religious philosophy, students are always welcome to embrace and practice their own belief in a higher power and divine presence through prayer, meditation and creativity.

SWIHA offers a wide variety of holistic health career training programs on campus in Tempe, Arizona. You can earn an Associate Degree in Holistic Healthcare with several specific areas of concentration to choose from including Mind Body Transformational Psychology. You can also earn a diploma in areas such as Master Massage Practitioner, Western Herbalism, our 600 or 800 Hour Yoga Teacher Training program and more. In addition, Certificates of Excellence are available in many modalities including Life Coaching, Holistic Nutrition, Hypnotherapy, Medical Massage, Reiki, Spa Treatments, our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, and much more. We also offer Continuing Education Unit classes and courses that can be taken individually for personal development.

Over the years we have seen many of our students begin with an individual course, fall in love with all that we offer at SWIHA, and go on to enroll in and complete a full program. However, most of our courses are designed to be taken to fulfill a Degree, Diploma, or Certificate of Excellence Program. If you would like take a complimentary ‘test drive’, we can arrange for you to sit in and observe the first four hours of any class.

Many licenses and certificates require Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to stay active or be renewed. We offer a variety of Continuing Education Unit courses and workshops. Please see our Class Calendar for a full listing of CEU courses.

Our full calendar or classes is available online HERE. You can also request a class calendar be mailed to you by filling out our ‘Request Information’ form, calling 480-994-9244 or emailing us at info@swiha.edu.

Yes we do accept financial aid! As a nationally accredited (ACCET) school there are many options for those who qualify for financing your tuition. These include Federal Student Aid, Special Aid for Military Members and Veterans, qualifying cash incentive concessions and work-exchange opportunities for those who qualify. For full information please call and speak with our friendly Financial Aid department.

Call us at 480-994-9244 and make an appointment to talk with an admissions coach and schedule a tour of our campus. You can also fill out our information request form and we will give you a call. Either way, we are ready to help you begin your journey to a new exciting career in holistic health and wellness!