Program Overview
Our Massage Therapy program in Atlanta, Georgia is recognized nationally and internationally for our school, training, spa and therapeutic excellence. Become a licensed massage therapist in Georgia and work in a high demand field of spa, chiropractic, clinical and alternative wellness therapies.
Total Program Length
600 total hours
Full-time day: 5.5 Months
Part-time Evening: 9 Months
Full-Time Massage Therapy Day Program
Monday – Friday 9:00am – 2:30pm
Part-Time Massage Therapy Evening Program
Tuesday – Thursday 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Saturdays 8:30am – 4:30pm
Click here for start dates
ESI offers tuition payment plans and offer federal financial aid. Tuition and registration payments can be made online in our tuition payment section of our website. More information can be found about financial aid and tuition on our Financial Aid page.
Learn from internationally specialized educators in sports massage and thai massage. Our massage therapy curriculum covers a vast array of subjects such as Therapeutic Massage, Chair Massage, Aromatherapy, Body Treatments, Deep Tissue Massage, Hydrotherapy, Athletic Sports Massage, Alternative Medicine Massage, Clinical Massage, Reflexology, Prenatal, Shiatsu, Neuromuscular Therapies and much more.
The goal for the ESI Massage Therapy Program is to become a Certified Massage Therapist in 7-9 months.
Curriculum
- Industry Concepts
- Swedish Massage
- Musculoskeletal Anatomy
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Orthopedics
- Additional Modalities
- Body Systems
(Anatomy and Physiology) - Eastern
- Spa Modalities
Program Objectives
The school’s primary goal is to prepare each student to meet and exceed the requirements of the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and the Georgia State Board of Massage Therapy. Our school’s instructional environment fosters a solid foundation in the practice of massage therapy by providing theory, instructor/guest demonstrations, guided practice, and clinic experience under instructor supervision, that prepare students to fully comprehend body systems. Students can explore many different hands-on techniques of holistic bodywork that will educate their clients and guests better understand how massage therapy can improve health and emotional well-being. Our staff strives to develop each student’s special talents and abilities into a deeper understanding of the art of massage therapy and other natural healing modalities by adhering to the following objectives:
• To provide each student with a quality learning environment
• To employ faculty and staff who are dedicated health practitioners or massage therapists and who possess exemplary
• To provide an educational experience consisting of the art, science, practice, and ethics of massage therapy.
• To provide every student with a wide range of academic and career enhancement opportunities.
• To encourage personal growth, self-awareness, and respect among faculty and students.
Student Kit
- iPad
- ESI Jacket
- stool
- bottle
- holster
- sheets
- blankets
- table
- physical and digital textbooks
Kits are provided to every student and are subject to change.
Completion time depends on the schedule the student chooses and attends regularly. Based on a full-time schedule, the normal time frame of completion would be 7 months. The part-time night schedule time frame of completion would be 9 months.
Hours Breakdown
In-class supervised instruction in human anatomy, physiology & kinesiology: Minimum 125 Theory/Clock hours
In-class supervised instruction in pathology: Minimum 40 Theory/Clock Hours
Massage Therapy Theory, Technique & Practice: Minimum 200 Theory/Clock Hours which must include in-class supervised instruction of clinical techniques and hands-on clinical practice and must include, at a minimum, the following subject matters: effleurage/gliding; petrissage/kneading; compression; friction, tapotement/percussion; vibration; direct pressure; superficial warming techniques; pumping; stretching; jostling; shaking; and rocking.
In-class supervised instruction in contraindications: Minimum 125 Theory/Clock Hours also includes benefits, universal precautions, body mechanics, massage history, client data collection, documentation, and legalities of massage, professional standards including draping and modesty, therapeutic relationships and communication.
In-class supervised clinic Ethics & Business: Minimum 10 Clock Hours (to include a minimum of six (6) hours in ethics)
Supervised student clinical practice: Minimum 50 Clock Hours but no more than sixty (60) hours in supervised student clinical practice. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prohibit a massage therapy school that has a curriculum greater than five hundred (500) hours from having more supervised student clinical practice so long as it has at least four hundred and forty (440) hours of in-class supervised instruction.
Total Clock Hours: 500
After a student completes 600 hours, services, exams and fulfills all financial obligations to the school, a certificate will be awarded.
The Massage Program requires that each student have a minimum grade of 75% and the student have a minimum attendance of 80% in order to receive credit/hours in massage therapy related course and clinical work.
The ratio of students to faculty in the lab/clinical/community area shall not exceed 20 students to 1 instructor with no more than 10 student therapists and 10 students serving as clients. Lecture classes are not subject to this ratio.
State Board Requirements
A minimum of one hundred twenty-five (125) hours of in-class supervised instruction in human anatomy, physiology and kinesiology.
A minimum of forty (40) hours of in-class supervised instruction in pathology.
A minimum of two-hundred hours (200) in massage therapy theory, technique and practice, which must include in-class supervised instruction of clinical techniques and hands-on clinical practice and must include, at a minimum, the following subject matters: effleurage/gliding; petrissage/kneading; compression; friction, tapotement/percussion; vibration; direct pressure; superficial warming techniques; pumping; stretching; jostling; shaking; rocking.
A minimum of one hundred twenty-five (125) hours of in-class supervised instruction in contraindications, benefits, universal precautions, body mechanics, massage history, client data collection, documentation, and legalities of massage, professional standards including draping and modesty, therapeutic relationships and communications.
A minimum of ten (10) hours of in-class supervised instruction in ethics and business (to include a minimum of six (6) hours in ethics).
Of the five hundred (500) total clock hours, the curriculum must include a minimum of fifty (50) hours in supervised student clinical practice, but no more than sixty (60) hours in supervised student clinical practice. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prohibit a massage therapy school that has a curriculum greater than five hundred (500) hours from having more supervised student clinical practice so long as it has at least four hundred and forty (440) hours of in-class supervised instruction.
In addition to the certificate from The Elaine Sterling Institute, massage therapy students graduate with the following certifications:
- Clinical Massage
- Swedish Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Sports Stretching
- Neuromuscular Therapy
2021 Completion, Placement and Licensure
Graduation Rate: 63%
Graduate Placement Rate: 83%
Licensure Exam Pass Rate: 100%
*These calculations are based on formulas provided by the institutions accrediting board
Student Kit
What sets ESI apart?
The school’s primary goal is to prepare each student to meet and exceed the requirements of the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and the Georgia State Board of Massage Therapy. Our school’s instructional environment fosters a solid foundation in the practice of massage therapy by providing theory, instructor/guest demonstrations, guided practice and clinic experience under instructor supervision, that prepare students to fully comprehend body systems. Students have the opportunity to explore many different hands-on techniques of holistic bodywork that will educate their clients and guests better understand how massage therapy can improve health and emotional well-being.
Curriculum Highlights:
- Learn in a real spa-like environment with industry standard equipment and skills.
- Provide education that aligns with industry trends and goes beyond the State Board of Massage expectations.
- To provide an educational experience consisting of the art, science, practice, and ethics of Massage therapy.
- To provide every student with a wide range of academic and career enhancement opportunities.
- To encourage personal growth, self-awareness, and respect among faculty and students.
life at
ESI
Our students have the unique opportunity to learn from licensed Massage Therapists, using cutting-edge skincare technology in a spa-like environment.
