Study the Art of Massage at NUNM
Are you someone who believes in a whole-person approach to healing and wellness? Do you believe that you would find fulfillment in delivering much-needed care to others? Do you imagine yourself in a career that is hands-on, flexible, and versatile?
If so, then Massage Therapy might be the right career path for you.
At NUNM, we offer an education in Massage Therapy in two distinct ways:
- Massage Therapy certification
- A Bachelor of Science in Massage Therapy
We offer students these options to provide a rich, rigorous education while also offering long-term career flexibility.
Many students choose to earn their Massage Therapy certification to advance into a career as a massage therapist more quickly.
Others choose Massage Therapy certification as an additional credential and set of skills to obtain while they earn their Naturopathic, Chinese Medicine, or nutrition degrees.
And others choose the Bachelor of Science in Massage Therapy pathway to experience an even deeper dive into whole-person care, hands-on training in advanced massage therapy techniques, and the ability to stand out in an in-demand field, where undergraduate degrees are rare and marketable.
Whichever path you choose, you’ll learn invaluable skills in the art of massage and whole-person healing, readying you for a fulfilling career in Massage Therapy.
What You’ll Learn in NUNM’s Massage Programs
Massage Therapy Certificate
NUNM’s Massage Therapy certification track will give you the technical training you need to become a skilled massage therapist.
Typically, you can expect to earn your certification in approximately 1-year covering 38 credit hours, including hands-on clinical training.
Upon completion of the program, you’ll be eligible for the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) which represents a nationally recognized set of standards in massage and accepted by most state licensing boards .
NUNM delivers Massage Therapy certification students rich curriculum, covering four main pillars of education:
- Foundational Sciences — Functional Anatomy, Kinesiology, Pathophysiology, and Pain Science
- Massage Techniques — Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and Trigger Point Therapy
- Professional Standards — Effective Communication, Setting and Maintaining Boundaries, Demonstrating Professional Ethics, and Conducting Clinical Assessments
- Clinical Integration — Turning theory into practice by demonstrating clinical readiness in a supervised setting with real patients
Over the course of the four-term program, students will learn foundational skills across biomedicine, clinical competence, professionalism, and practice readiness, resulting in everything needed to become a skilled licensed massage therapist or to gain additional training while earning your Chinese Medicine, Naturopathic, or Nutrition degree.
It’s a great opportunity for students looking to enter the Massage Therapy industry on an advanced timeline.
For those looking for a more advanced credential and deeper educational experience, we’d recommend the Bachelor of Science in Massage Therapy program.
Bachelor of Science Massage Therapy
NUNM’s Bachelor of Science in Massage Therapy track is a two-year, 97-credit program designed to deliver a fuller, more rigorous foundational healthcare degree.
While students will learn the same basic principles that Massage Therapy certification students do, the Bachelor of Science in Massage Therapy curriculum offers an even richer science-based curriculum.
This is bachelor’s degree-level coursework, expanding on the certificate-level education to include:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Pathophysiology
- Pain Science and Kinesiology
- Evidence-Informed Practice
- Interpersonal Communication Techniques
- Cultural Humility and Trauma-Informed Care Training
- Supervised Clinical Rotations
This advanced curriculum offers a deeper scientific and medical foundation in the art of massage, and prepares you for a career in a variety of different wellness and healthcare settings, or for a graduate degree in nutrition, Chinese or Naturopathic medicine.
A degree in therapeutics-based massage is unique, giving you a marketable advantage over others in the field as you enter the workforce, given the depth of education and clinical training gained throughout the program.
Kickstart Your Massage Career at NUNM
Whether you’re interested in becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist or in developing a strong foundation in massage to prepare for advanced studies in integrative health, nutrition, acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, or Naturopathic Medicine, NUNM is here to provide a rigorous, well-rounded education in the healing arts.
If you’re ready to learn more about how you can study Massage Therapy at our campus in beautiful Portland, Oregon, contact us today.
You can join one of our virtual or in-person admissions events, schedule a campus tour, or email our team directly to get started.
Don’t delay — your massage therapy career starts here, at NUNM.