Licensed Massage Therapy Program

General Policies Related to Students in the Licensed Massage Therapy Program

Program is consistent with those in effect for all students enrolled at Central Texas College and can be found in the Central Texas College Student Handbook and the Central Texas College Catalog. Support Services are available to students and information and can be found in the Central Texas College Student Handbook and in the semester enrollment guides.

Admission Policy

Applicants for the program must follow the regular procedures for admission to Central Texas College. In addition, the student must complete Department of Health Sciences standard program admission requirements: CPR (American Heart Association (AHA) - Basic Life Support (BLS), Certification), 11-Panel Drug Screen, and Criminal Background check.

See: Policy, Standard and Timing for Drug Screening and Background Checks and Mandatory Immunizations for the Licensed Massage Therapy Program.

The following must also be completed by the eligibility deadline date before admission to the Licensed Massage Therapy Program:

• All students must be 18 years of age at the time of enrollment.
•  Complete the online application for the Licensed Massage Therapy Program.
• Complete the online Registration Packet for the Licensed Massage Therapy Program through PreCheck/Sentry MD Student Check.
• Once your Registration packet is complete you will be registered for the first semester courses. 

Additional Need-to-Know Information

Students are required to wear uniforms in all classes.

Licensed Massage Therapy Readmission Policy

Readmission to any massage therapy course is dependent upon availability of class openings after current class cohort completes. Readmission is not automatic.

• If a student does not successfully complete any massage therapy course or withdraws from a massage therapy course with a failing average, the student may apply for readmission to the Licensed Massage Therapy Program Director one time. Failure of any two massage therapy courses will result in ineligibility for readmission.
• Students who become ineligible for readmission may reapply after 3 years to other DHS programs unless failure was due to a safety issue or unprofessional conduct.
• Students applying for readmission must bring all admissions requirements current and go through the selection process. See admissions requirements information.

When an applicant has been accepted for readmission, the student will follow standard DHS admission policies found in the current DHS Student Handbook.

Licensed Massage Therapy Progression Requirements

• To progress in the Licensed Massage Therapy Program, a student must maintain an average of 75 percent or higher in each course.
• Complete the Licensed Massage Therapy Program within two years of first time enrollment.
• Provide documentation of medical release to return to class/clinical/lab after mental or physical condition, illness, injury, surgery, and pregnancy, “break in clinical” etc. that would result in a change of the physical limitations status. Documentation must be mailed, emailed, or faxed from the healthcare facility directly to the Department of Health Sciences. Safety is a priority for the patient and health and well-being of students and faculty. Failure to inform the program may result in immediate withdrawal from the course or program.
• Meet the requirements of healthcare facility for clinical rotations.
• Maintain a negative 11-panel drug screen and criminal background check.
• Meet immunization requirements.

  Tuberculosis Documentation of negative screening results for tuberculosis (TB) is required. Repeated annually thereafter: 2-Step Tuberculin Skin Test; QuantiFERON^®-TB Gold in- Tube test (QFT-GIT or Q-Gold) or T-SPOT^®TB test (T-Spot). Thereafter a 2-Step Tuberculin Skin Test; QuantiFERON^®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT or Q-Gold) or T-SPOT^®TB test (T-Spot) is required annually. Those who have had a previous positive TB skin test result will be required to submit a negative chest x-ray completed within thirty (30) days preceding first day of first clinical rotation period at any Facility. Thereafter an annual negative chest x-ray will be required through program completion.

• The Licensed Massage Therapy Program culminates in a certification-of-completion for college credit. Completion of this program prepares the graduate to take the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) or the Texas Massage Therapy Exam. Upon passing either exam, the graduate may apply for state licensure through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The Licensed Massage Therapist is responsible to maintain the Rules and Regulations Relating to Massage Therapy education, licensure, and practice in the State of Texas.

Massage Therapy students are responsible for maintaining professional conduct throughout all aspects of this program. TDLR defines the Massage Therapy Code of Conduct. A link to the State website can be found in the CTC LMT Program Student Handbook. Failure to maintain the professional code of conduct may subject the student to disciplinary action and/or removal from the program.

Transfer Students

Definition: A transfer student is a person who has attended another massage therapy program in another college and has transferred course credit(s) to Central Texas College with the intention of enrolling in the LMT Program.

• Must apply for and meet general admission requirements of Central Texas College.
• Must submit the CTC Licensed Massage Therapy Program application and meet current program admission requirements.
• Transcripts providing evidence of maintaining a “C” (2.0 GPA) at the previous school.
• Grades for all courses that are transferred in must be a “B” or better.
• Massage Therapy courses used for transfer must have been completed within the previous two years and meet State of Texas requirements (Healthcare professionals wanting to use previous healthcare courses to meet Massage Therapy licensing standards may have their official transcripts evaluated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to determine what Massage Therapy courses they need to complete.)
• Students requesting transfer must submit a packet containing:

  - Letter of request for transfer submitted 90 days prior to the student’s requested start date. Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis.

  - Two official letters from the previous massage therapy program providing character reference and skills evaluation. One letter is to be from the LMT Program Director and the other from the hands-on skills professor.

  - The official course description, learning guide, and syllabi of the massage therapy courses the student is requesting be transferred.

  - Proof of completion of CPR course – American Heart Association (AHA)- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification or Military Training Institute: CPR and AED. Submit a copy of the front and back of the card.

  - Proof of completed mandatory immunizations.

  - Proof of negative FBI Background Check.

  - Negative 11 panel drug screen.

  - Proof of having necessary massage therapy supplies and equipment.

Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Students must complete the Licensed Massage Therapy Program within two years of first time enrollment into the program.