Cortiva Institute

Diploma in Professional Massage Therapy – 600 hours

This program provides a well rounded educational experience in the art and science of massage therapy. Client centered care is at the heart of the curriculum, which provides a foundation of basic and advanced approaches, including:

Swedish Sports Neuro-muscular Myofascial

Deep Tissue Chair Massage Trigger Point Hydrotherapy

The therapeutic massage techniques taught, from the fundamental to advanced, include; Effleurage, Pettrissage, Friction, Vibration, Tapotement, Passive range of motion, and transitioning to create a relaxing wellness massage. Advanced Clinical and Myofascial techniques are also taught and come together in a Clinical Integration course where students practice their skills in the supervised and supported Massage Therapy Center.

This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for certification or licensing in the many states that require National testing and/or 500 to 600 hours of education. Nearby states with current or expected requirements at this level are New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Extended Professional Massage Therapy Program – 1080 hours

This program gives students the opportunity to broaden their experience beyond the 600 hours in the Professional Massage Therapy Diploma program. The additional coursework in this program builds upon and introduces advanced classes and topics including;

• The Eastern Approach, a contextualized East Asian perspective introducing the philosophical and experiential groundwork in Asian healing modalities in general, and Zen Shiatsu in particular.
• Neurology, a course focused on the spinal cord, nerves and their communication with the brain.
• Myology and Kinesiology, advanced coursework in joint, muscle, tendon and ligament pathologies.
• Orthopedic Massage Techniques introduces advanced techniques for orthopedic conditions and how to adjust treatments as a clinical therapist.
• Advanced Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology; additional courses to help students relate the body’s structure, systems, and functions to practice of massage. Including a course that introduces nutritional concepts, obesity prevention, and basic physiology of exercise.
• In addition to the courses listed here, there will be additional course time including; Massage Therapy Center, infection control procedures, stone massage, and further work in osteo and neuromuscular pathologies.

This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for certification or licensing in New York, which requires 1000 hours of education. Additionally, this program will prepare the therapist with advanced skills and training giving them a distinguishing advantage as they enter the professional world of massage.

The 600-hour Professional Massage Therapy Program is offered in the following formats:

• 6 month full-time program of two quarter terms - day classes
• 12 month part-time program of four quarter terms - evening classes

All 600 hour program students are given the option to add on the additional terms of advanced studies in order to meet educational requirements for the New York State massage therapy board.

The 1080 – hour Extended Professional Massage Therapy Program is offered in the following formats:

• 12 month, 4 quarter format full time - day classes
• 21 month, 7 quarter format part time – evening classes