Established in 1987 as the Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy, our goal has remained the same throughout the years: to prepare our students for successful careers by striving to provide the highest standards of excellence in massage therapy education. We achieve this by staying true to the intent of our mission: to focus on anatomy and physiology, hands-on practice, clinical experience, professionalism and ethics.

Founders Bob and Susen Edwards, both licensed massage therapists, saw the need for developing a massage therapy school based on the highest degree of quality, professionalism, and ethical standards. Through the years, the Edwards' were instrumental in the growth and development of the profession in New Jersey and were actively involved in the governance of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

In September 1998, Chris Froelich purchased the school. Chris continued the Edwards' legacy through active involvement in the field of massage therapy. He was at the forefront of efforts to create a state certification for massage therapists in New Jersey and became First Vice President of the AMTA Council of Schools in 2002.

In an effort to meet the needs of an expanding student body, Cortiva opened a second campus in Wall Township in 1999. Three years later we relocated the main Somerset campus to a larger facility in Piscataway. Cortiva was acquired by Cortiva Education (New Jersey), Inc in May 2004.