Massage Therapist & Physical Therapy Aide

The program provides students with the basic skills, knowledge and habits necessary to perform directed routine treatments under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist or chiropractor in entry-level positions in the field of physical therapy or massage therapy.

The CHAC Massage Therapist & Physical Therapy Aide program in Carson, CA is an 800 clock hour diploma program completed in 36 weeks, taught fully on campus with a 240-hour externship. Day and evening classes run Monday through Thursday, and the program is approved for the training of eligible veterans under Title 38. Federal financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Draping policy. Draping includes methods used by the massage therapist to protect modesty, privacy, warmth and/or comfort of a patient/client by the use of sheets, towels, blankets or any item that serves this purpose. Students enrolling in the MT&PTA Program must be aware that the lab portion of this program requires students to physically touch another person and be touched by another person for demonstration, training and learning purposes.

Real rehabilitation support skills. Patient assistance, therapeutic modalities, exercise support, and physical medicine and rehabilitation fundamentals, taught by doing.

All hands-on, at the Carson campus. Small-group, in-person training on real equipment, with day and evening schedules Monday through Thursday.

240-hour externship before you graduate. Your final two modules are a 240-hour externship in an affiliated site with real patients and real treatment settings.

Serving Southern California since 1988. Approved to operate by the state of California since 1988 and accredited by ACCSC.

The College seeks to admit students who possess the appropriate credentials and have demonstrated capacity or potential that indicates a reasonable probability of success in completing the educational programs offered by the College. Students must complete the entire admissions process on or before the first day of class. All prospective applicants must be personally interviewed by a school representative, tour the campus and receive a catalog describing the course offerings and the school policies.

Applicants to the MT&PTA program must be at least 18 years old and are subject to a background check for purposes of live scan eligibility. The College does not accept enrollment of prospective students with felony convictions in the Massage Therapist & Physical Therapy Aide program.

Class schedules. All Programs (DAY): Classes are held Monday to Thursday from 8:00am to 1:00 pm. All Programs (EVG): Classes are held Monday to Thursday from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. CHAC offers year-round enrollment for all programs; the beginning of a module offers an opportunity to join the program.

Externship. Externships are normally conducted in affiliated clinics generally during daytime working hours from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and scheduled for 35-40 hours per week (6-8 hours per day) for 240 hours. Students may be required to travel up to 25 miles from campus to the site.

Start dates. Upcoming 2026 start dates are November 3, 2026 and December 7, 2026 (Thanksgiving Recess 11/25/2026 to 11/29/2026; Winter Recess 12/18/2026 to 01/03/2027). New modules start about every 4 weeks, and you can enroll at the start of any module.

Breakdown of charges. The charges for a period of attendance and total charges for the entire program are the same:

• Tuition: $17,073
• Registration Fee (non-refundable): $100
• Books: $512
• Supplies Kit: $225
• Uniforms (non-refundable): $40
• STRF: $0.00
• Total: $17,950

The total cost does not include transportation costs to/from externship or clinical sites; this cost is the student's responsibility. All textbooks, hard copies or electronic, are included in the total charges and are distributed at the beginning of each program/course and/or level.

WIOA pricing. Discounted prices are available to qualifying students referred by local WIOA agencies (Massage Therapist & Physical Therapy Aide: $12,995).

Other fees. Laptop Charge: a $400.00 charge will be charged to students who wish to add a laptop computer to their charges. Late Payment: a $20.00 fee may be charged for late payments 10 or more days delinquent on agreed-to tuition installments made directly with CHAC. Additional uniforms and textbooks are charged at the current rate.

Payment plans. Tuition is payable in advance and due at the time of enrollment, and students may enroll under one of CHAC's tuition payment plans. Several payment plan options exist, and staff of well-qualified financial aid officers will assist students in financial advising and applying for aid. Payments may be made with check, money order, or credit card.

Federal financial aid. California Healing Arts College participates in Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans. Those seeking federal financial assistance must first complete the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa (CHAC federal school code 036813). Students without a high school diploma or equivalent may not receive Title IV funds.

Veterans and agency benefits. CHAC programs are approved for the training of Veterans and eligible persons under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code; the GI Bill and Post 9/11 are a few of the VA programs available. Service members who intend to participate in the Military Tuition Assistance (TA) program must seek funding approval prior to the program's start date. Work Investment Act, State Rehabilitation, and Displaced Workers programs are available through various agencies.

Net Price Calculator. Estimate your net price at https://www.chac.edu/net-price-calculator/.

Physical Therapy Aides work in the following positions: Physical Therapy Aide, Chiropractic Assistant, Orthopedic Assistant, Massage Therapist, in Physicians' Offices, Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Groups, Sport Medicine Clinics, Rehabilitation Centers, Sports & Fitness Centers, Orthopedic Clinics, Pain Treatment Centers and Extended Care Facilities.

School Performance Fact Sheet (calendar years 2023 & 2024, published December 1, 2025). On-time completion rate: 76% in 2024 (59 of 78) and 69% in 2023 (22 of 32). Job placement rate employed in the field: 81% in 2024 (48 of 59) and 82% in 2023 (18 of 22). Licensure exam passage data: N/A (not an employment requirement for graduates of this program).

ACCSC Graduation and Employment Chart (2025 annual report, class starts 03/2023-02/2024). Graduation rate 76% (63 of 83); employment rate 82% (50 of 61 graduates available for employment).

Career services. Resume preparation and coaching, job-seeking skills training, interview coaching, and job leads after program completion. CHAC does not guarantee employment.