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Overview
Massage therapy is a very rewarding career. The licensed massage therapist (LMT) plays an important role in the wellness of their clients. Massage therapy is the manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues of the body (by stroking, kneading, or rubbing with one or both hands or with the use of an instrument) for therapeutic purposes. Clients of the LMT benefit from decreased stress and increased relaxation, reduced pain, decreased muscle soreness and tension, improved circulation, improved energy and alertness, lowered heart rate and blood pressure, and improved immune function.
Graduates of the program may pursue self-employment or may obtain positions in a variety of settings including: group practices, spas, salons, chiropractic offices, gyms, health and athletic clubs, hotels, resorts, medical offices, holistic centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, cruise ships and more.
The SUNY Niagara massage therapy program is 64 credit hours over two years, leading to an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in massage therapy. The course of study meets the New York State Education Department (NYSED) requirements for massage therapy including more than 1000 clock hours of coursework in anatomy, physiology, neurology, myology, kinesiology, pathology, hygiene, first aid, CPR, infection control procedures, assessment and evaluation, development of a treatment plan, as well as the theory, technique and practice of both oriental/eastern and western massage/bodywork therapy and professional responsibilities. Students receive a minimum of 150 hours of LMT-supervised hands-on practice in the massage clinic on the SUNY Niagara Sanborn campus. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the New York State massage therapy licensure examination as well as the national licensure exam.
This program enables new students as well as current health professionals and paraprofessionals to obtain the requirements to become licensed massage therapists upon successful completion of the state and/or national board examination.
Program Goals and Objectives
- To prepare students for licensure in massage therapy.
- To develop students’ skills in Eastern and Western massage.
- To prepare students for professional/private practice.
- To fulfill 6 SUNY General Education Requirements.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified.
The Massage Therapy A.A.S. program at SUNY Niagara is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State.
Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that Massage Therapy A.A.S. program at SUNY Niagara, if successfully completed, is sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States:
| State | Massage Therapy |
| New York | https://www.op.nysed.gov/massage-therapy |
It is important to note that SUNY Niagara is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. States and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.
Alumni Spotlight
Cassandra Schumacher ’20
“I love how hands-on the Massage Therapy program is. The onsite lab and smaller class sizes allow for a ton of hands-on practice and contact time with professors to make sure we’re performing techniques properly and learning best practices. It’s a game changer. SUNY Niagara offers scholarship opportunities that other massage programs can’t compete with. This program offered me a great learning experience at a price I could afford. My goal from the start has been entrepreneurship, and I’m excited for the flexibility and freedom that comes with this profession and this option!”
Degree Program Learning Outcomes
The assessment of student learning outcomes is not only a key indicator of program effectiveness, it is also one of the standards of excellence identified by the Middle States Commission (Standard 5) and is required through the SUNY assessment initiative.
View Learning Outcomes.
Expected Growth of Occupations
Data from the NYS Department of Labor predicts that New York will need approximately 15,560 new healthcare practitioners and healthcare technicians per year to meet the needs of the state’s health care system.
*Data taken from NYS Occupational Handbook
Program Contact
Dr. Deborah G. Wyzykiewicz, DPT, MS, PT
Program Coordinator
Phone: 716-614-6422
Email: dwyzykiewicz@niagaracc.suny.edu
Location: C-285
Division Office: 716-614-5940
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