Massage and Hydrotherapy Program is a Diploma program offered by Florida School of Massage in Gainesville, FL. The program takes 6 months to complete, with a total tuition of $11,100.
Program Overview
FSM’s Massage and Hydrotherapy Licensing Program consists of 670 clock hours of training, offered three times a year as a six-month day program starting in January, May and September. One clock hour is 50 minutes in class and a ten-minute break.
The program integrates three areas of work: the development of knowledge and skills, professional preparation, and working with our own self-understanding. The mission of the Florida School of Massage is to enhance the quality of life through the vehicles of touch and awareness, and students learn to offer massage in a context of personal inquiry and empowerment.
Completing the program prepares participants to take the entry-level exam provided by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Upon graduation, a diploma is granted.
What sets this Program apart
- Massage as a vehicle for awareness. Students begin with sensitivity and perceptivity exercises that form the base for contacting clients with safety and respect, and communication skills are taught throughout the program.
- Small hands-on groups. Each class of about 60 students splits into two groups of 30 that work in 15 pairs, with two or three instructors present, so the teacher-to-student ratio in bodywork classes runs from 1:4 to 1:8.
- Teachers trained by the school. Every teacher has completed the school’s teacher’s assistant program in addition to meeting state requirements; nearly all are graduates of the program, and the modalities are taught by specialists who generally exceed ten years of experience.
- Five massage modalities. Swedish, Connective Tissue Therapy, Polarity Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy and Sports Massage, plus hydrotherapy.
- Real clients before graduation. Supervised massages take place in the student clinic, with outreach at the Ronald McDonald House, the Alachua Nursing Center and area events.
- More than 50 years of massage education. The school enrolled its first students in 1973.
Admission Requirements and Process
Thank you for your interest in the Florida School of Massage! A tour of the school and an interview with an admissions representative are required for admission, giving you an opportunity to explore our program and to experience our community environment, facilities, and educational philosophy. Please note that the program commonly fills and goes to a waiting list, so by applying early you will ensure your place in the program.
General Requirements
- Minimum AgeBe 19 years of age (may be waived through a personal interview with the director).
- High School Diploma or GEDOne of the following: High School transcripts showing graduation date, High School Diploma, GED certificate or college transcripts. NOTE: College transcripts must show at least 60…
- Application StatementsSubmit an application along with a brief statement explaining your motivation for training in massage and your philosophy of health care, and a brief description as your best…
- PhotographAn identifiable, original and recent photograph of yourself.
- Valid Driver's LicenseA copy of your valid driver's license.
- Application FeeA $100 non-refundable application fee made payable to the Florida School of Massage. The application fee is non-refundable, but also does not expire from one program to the next.
- Tour and InterviewParticipate in a tour of the school and an interview with an admissions representative.
- Three Professional MassagesReceive at least three professional massages before the program begins. Satisfaction of requirement is on an honor system; documentation is not necessary.
- Signed Enrollment AgreementSubmit a signed enrollment agreement as required by the Commission for Independent Education prior to the start of the program. Upon registration, anyone with a tuition balance…
Application Process
- 1Tour and Career Planning SessionSchedule a tour of the school and a career planning session with our admissions staff to explore our program and experience our community environment, facilities, and educational philosophy.
- 2Application FormContact admissions to complete the application form with a brief description of your interest in massage therapy and philosophy on health care, a brief description of how your best friend might describe you, a copy of your valid driver's license or government ID, your high school diploma, GED or college transcripts, a recent photograph, and the $100 non-refundable application fee.
- 3Complete the FAFSAComplete your online FAFSA at least 5 days before your next appointment.FAFSA Code for Gainesville: 041299Fill Out the FAFSA
- 4Application and Financial Aid AppointmentReview your application with the Admissions Team to set you up for success during school, and review and accept financial aid with the Financial Aid Director.
- 5Interview Meeting with DirectorComplete an acceptance interview with the Director.
- 6Registration AppointmentSign your enrollment agreement at your registration appointment. Programs begin in January, May, and September.
Program Schedule
Classes run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break. Electives, student clinic and required massages are scheduled after class hours, and students receive a monthly schedule of each class’s content.
| Program | Start | Graduation |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 09/16/2026 | 03/12/2027 |
| January 2027 | 01/27/2027 | 07/23/2027 |
| May 2027 | 05/19/2027 | 11/12/2027 |
Each program includes a two-week break. Dates are the school’s published schedule; the September 2026 catalog prints that class’s end date as 03/12/2026, which the school’s schedule page gives as 3/12/27. All dates are subject to change.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
This program: the Florida School of Massage is accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). It is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License #446), and approved by the Florida Board of Massage Therapy.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Gainesville Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 1 student whose race or ethnicity was not reported is included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 96% rather than 100%.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (all instruction and classes, course manuals and class notes, ABMP Exam Coach) | $11,100 |
| Application fee (non-refundable, does not expire) | $100 |
| Administrative fee | $75 |
| Books and supplies | approximately $400 in the catalog; approximately $600 on the school’s investment page |
| MBLEx exam fee | $265 |
| Florida Board of Massage Therapy license fee | $155 |
| Livescan background check | approximately $80 |
| Massage table (not required) | $500 to $700 |
Not covered by tuition: personal living expenses, optional electives and workshops, fees for non-compliance with attendance policies, payment-plan service or late charges, tutoring fees and other state licensing fees. An incomplete fee of up to $250 may be assessed for students incomplete at graduation. The school publishes no total cost, and tuition, fees and dates are subject to change.
Paying for school. Tuition is preferably paid in full at or before registration; at registration anyone with a tuition balance pays a deposit and agrees to a payment plan, and students whose financial aid packages exceed tuition do not need to make a deposit.
Financial aid. The school is qualified to participate in Title IV federal financial aid: Pell Grants, Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and PLUS loans for parents of dependent students. Students may also use private signature loans, the Florida Prepaid College Program, Workforce Investment Act grants, FSM payment plans and work study, veterans’ educational benefits, and the Florida Departments of Blind Services and Vocational Rehabilitation. FSM offers two merit scholarships, of $1,000 and $500, for students who demonstrate financial need and an exceptional commitment to massage as a vehicle for personal growth and empowerment.
Veterans. For Post-9/11 GI Bill and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment students, the tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679(e): they are not penalized for a delay in VA tuition and fee payments.
Curriculum
Fifteen courses, 670 clock hours. MAS101 to MAS105 each include massage-related pathology, 25 hours in all. The catalog notes that course offerings and hours are estimates and subject to revision; unsupervised practice massages are in addition to the 670 hours and are not counted for transcript credit.
The required courses below are from Florida School of Massage's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| MAS101 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Foundations/Swedish | 63 |
| MAS102 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Connective Tissue Therapy | 55 |
| MAS103 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Polarity Therapy | 41 |
| MAS104 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Neuromuscular Therapy | 55 |
| MAS105 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Sports Massage | 39 |
| MAS106 | Allied Modalities | 80 |
| MAS107 | Supervised Clinical Practicum | 45 |
| ANA101 | Anatomy & Physiology/Pathology/Medical Errors | 100 |
| KIN101 | Kinesiology/Pathology/Medical Errors | 93 |
| BUS101 | Business and Professional Development | 25 |
| BE101 | Boundaries and Professional Ethics | 10 |
| HIV101 | Living with AIDS | 3 |
| CS101 | Awareness and Communication Skills | 26 |
| HYD101 | Hydrotherapy | 25 |
| CC101 | Community Circle | 10 |
| Totals | 670 |
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name |
|---|---|
| MAS101 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Foundations/Swedish |
| MAS102 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Connective Tissue Therapy |
| MAS103 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Polarity Therapy |
| MAS104 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Neuromuscular Therapy |
| MAS105 | Massage Therapy Techniques - Sports Massage |
| MAS106 | Allied Modalities |
| MAS107 | Supervised Clinical Practicum |
| ANA101 | Anatomy & Physiology/Pathology/Medical Errors |
| KIN101 | Kinesiology/Pathology/Medical Errors |
| BUS101 | Business and Professional Development |
| BE101 | Boundaries and Professional Ethics |
| HIV101 | Living with AIDS |
| CS101 | Awareness and Communication Skills |
| HYD101 | Hydrotherapy |
| CC101 | Community Circle |
| Totals |
Career Outcomes
Massage therapy has become a recognized approach to wellness, stress relief and injury recovery in mainstream healthcare. Employment areas include health service centers and athletic clubs, private spas, beauty and tanning salons, hotel and resort fitness facilities, cruise ships, private practices and clinics, medical and chiropractic practices and hospitals. Many practitioners do outcalls or set up their own clinics, and many pursue more than one opportunity at once.
Business classes teach how to find employment in any community, write resumes and proposals, build a practice and keep records, and work within the legal and ethical boundaries of the profession. The school provides career advisement and keeps a file of available positions from around the country, available to graduates at any time; it provides limited placement assistance and cannot guarantee employment.
Licensing. The program prepares graduates for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx), which Florida and many other states use. Students planning to practice in a state that requires more than 670 hours can combine the program with the school’s advanced trainings, at additional cost and time. The school publishes no placement or exam pass rate in its catalog.
What to expect as a Florida School of Massage student
The school occupies over 11,000 square feet on ten acres in the raised hammock bordering Paynes Prairie State Preserve, a 21,000-acre wildlife sanctuary, just south of the University of Florida and within four miles of the heart of Gainesville. Facilities include lecture rooms, practicum and exercise areas, private massage treatment rooms, a library and multimedia collection, advisor meeting rooms, a sauna and whirlpool, and a sun deck; outside are gardens, wooded walking paths, a fire pit and picnic tables under the live oaks.
Massage classes follow a format of lecture, demonstration and paired practice. Classes are graded Pass/Incomplete through written examinations, practical observations and attendance, and students must attend or make up 90% of scheduled hours, and 100% of MAS107 and HIV101. Missed classes may be made up through videos, Q&A sessions, preapproved electives, tutorials or repeating with a future class.
Optional electives, from movement, yoga and meditation to infant massage, Thai massage and self-care, are held in the afternoons and on weekends, most for a nominal charge. Community Circle meets on Friday mornings for announcements, dialogue and awareness exercises, and students give and receive a massage with a staff member for individual feedback.