Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Does SBMC focus exclusively on massage therapy education?
A: YES, SBMC has been devoted exclusively to massage therapy education, since July 1998.
Q: Is SBMC State-Approved?
A: YES, South Bay Massage College was granted approval to operate from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary & Vocational Education in July 1998. (School Code 1936381)
Q: Does SBMC offer Federal Financial Aid?
A: In order to qualify for federal financial loans you must attend school for 9 months full time. Those massage schools that offer federal financial loans, have extremely high tuition (up to $16,000 or more) and which needs to be paid back. They also make you take and pay for classes that you may not have any interest in. Be very cautious! They should be able to tell you their tuition cost over the phone, if not be careful. Also ask them, if you can talk with their students and graduates about their program.
We have financial loan programs and affordable payment plans available to you. Our massage program is one of the most affordable programs in Southern California. You will receive an amazing education at South Bay Massage College at a very affordable cost.
Q: How many hours is your massage program?
A: We have over 1000 hours of state-approved classes; therefore, with our massage program you can obtain the required 500 hours to become nationally certified if that is your goal. Our initial massage therapy program is 125 hours of
education plus 75 hours of spa internship, totaling 200 hours. We have over 900 hours of advanced massage courses available.
Our program allows you to choose classes that you have an interest in, therefore, we don’t group our hours together into one program. You will receive a certificate for each class you complete and an official transcript with all your classes completed. All classes completed are added up for your total massage educational hours.
Q: How many students does SBMC typically have in each class?
A: Great question. Our massage classes typically have 6 -10 students to a maximum of 12 students. Many massage schools will have 20-30 students per class; we don’t believe you can learn proper biomechanics with over 12 students per class. Therefore, you will receive more personal attention from our instructors. Make sure to ask this question when checking other massage schools out.
Q: Does SBMC offer a massage therapy certification?
A: Yes, after completing the initial massage therapy program you will become certified and you can become qualified to take the national massage certification exam after completing the required 500 hours of massage education. You will receive a certificate after completing each advanced class also.
Q: Can we talk with SBMC students and/or graduates?
A: Yes, we want you to talk with as many students as you can here. At our Open House we typically have 10-12 students/interns attend so they can share their experience with you and you will be able to ask them any questions. This is so valuable to hear it from students that have gone through our classes and internship program. Make sure to ask this question to all massage schools you are checking out. This is very important to make a wise decision.
Q: Do you have open houses or private tours?
A:Yes, both. We have monthly open houses on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Call to receive these dates and reservation. You will receive a coupon that you can use at our internship spa for a 1 hour Swedish massage for only $15, so you can feel what you will be learning and be able to talk with interns at the spa. This is another valuable experience to help you make your school decision.
Q: Does SBMC have a well-rounded massage training curriculum that will prepare me for a career in massage therapy?
A: YES, we have over 1000-hours curriculum that allows our students the skills that employers are looking for and our state-approved internship spa where you’ll learn valuable spa experience. You will be well trained with our massage program.
Q: Does SBMC provide work experience for students while in school?
A: YES, our Internship Spa allows our students to gain hands-on experience performing massages on the public. We have over 700 massages each month at our beautiful intern spa. Our spa is open 7 days a week so there are many shifts available in the morning, mid-day, evening and weekend hours. So it’s very flexible based your busy schedule.
Q: Will SBMC help me to find a job after I graduate?
A: YES, our massage school offers career placement assistance and we have great relationships with many employers in the massage therapy industry, locally in the South Bay and greater Los Angeles areas. We have direct relationships with owners looking to hire our graduates. Graduates from SBMC are able to find massage positions very readily.
Q. Why 500 hours?
A: Currently, California does not have a national state law for regulating massage therapy. As such, California cities and counties establish their own hourly requirements for massage therapists. 500 hours enables you to practice throughout most of the state. In addition, if you'd like to take your training outside the states, our courses prepare you for the National Certification, which allows you to practice in most of the country.
A: YES, SBMC has been devoted exclusively to massage therapy education, since July 1998.
Q: Is SBMC State-Approved?
A: YES, South Bay Massage College was granted approval to operate from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary & Vocational Education in July 1998. (School Code 1936381)
Q: Does SBMC offer Federal Financial Aid?
A: In order to qualify for federal financial loans you must attend school for 9 months full time. Those massage schools that offer federal financial loans, have extremely high tuition (up to $16,000 or more) and which needs to be paid back. They also make you take and pay for classes that you may not have any interest in. Be very cautious! They should be able to tell you their tuition cost over the phone, if not be careful. Also ask them, if you can talk with their students and graduates about their program.
We have financial loan programs and affordable payment plans available to you. Our massage program is one of the most affordable programs in Southern California. You will receive an amazing education at South Bay Massage College at a very affordable cost.
Q: How many hours is your massage program?
A: We have over 1000 hours of state-approved classes; therefore, with our massage program you can obtain the required 500 hours to become nationally certified if that is your goal. Our initial massage therapy program is 125 hours of
education plus 75 hours of spa internship, totaling 200 hours. We have over 900 hours of advanced massage courses available.
Our program allows you to choose classes that you have an interest in, therefore, we don’t group our hours together into one program. You will receive a certificate for each class you complete and an official transcript with all your classes completed. All classes completed are added up for your total massage educational hours.
Q: How many students does SBMC typically have in each class?
A: Great question. Our massage classes typically have 6 -10 students to a maximum of 12 students. Many massage schools will have 20-30 students per class; we don’t believe you can learn proper biomechanics with over 12 students per class. Therefore, you will receive more personal attention from our instructors. Make sure to ask this question when checking other massage schools out.
Q: Does SBMC offer a massage therapy certification?
A: Yes, after completing the initial massage therapy program you will become certified and you can become qualified to take the national massage certification exam after completing the required 500 hours of massage education. You will receive a certificate after completing each advanced class also.
Q: Can we talk with SBMC students and/or graduates?
A: Yes, we want you to talk with as many students as you can here. At our Open House we typically have 10-12 students/interns attend so they can share their experience with you and you will be able to ask them any questions. This is so valuable to hear it from students that have gone through our classes and internship program. Make sure to ask this question to all massage schools you are checking out. This is very important to make a wise decision.
Q: Do you have open houses or private tours?
A:Yes, both. We have monthly open houses on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Call to receive these dates and reservation. You will receive a coupon that you can use at our internship spa for a 1 hour Swedish massage for only $15, so you can feel what you will be learning and be able to talk with interns at the spa. This is another valuable experience to help you make your school decision.
Q: Does SBMC have a well-rounded massage training curriculum that will prepare me for a career in massage therapy?
A: YES, we have over 1000-hours curriculum that allows our students the skills that employers are looking for and our state-approved internship spa where you’ll learn valuable spa experience. You will be well trained with our massage program.
Q: Does SBMC provide work experience for students while in school?
A: YES, our Internship Spa allows our students to gain hands-on experience performing massages on the public. We have over 700 massages each month at our beautiful intern spa. Our spa is open 7 days a week so there are many shifts available in the morning, mid-day, evening and weekend hours. So it’s very flexible based your busy schedule.
Q: Will SBMC help me to find a job after I graduate?
A: YES, our massage school offers career placement assistance and we have great relationships with many employers in the massage therapy industry, locally in the South Bay and greater Los Angeles areas. We have direct relationships with owners looking to hire our graduates. Graduates from SBMC are able to find massage positions very readily.
Q. Why 500 hours?
A: Currently, California does not have a national state law for regulating massage therapy. As such, California cities and counties establish their own hourly requirements for massage therapists. 500 hours enables you to practice throughout most of the state. In addition, if you'd like to take your training outside the states, our courses prepare you for the National Certification, which allows you to practice in most of the country.
