Massage Therapy Diploma (720 Hours) is a Diploma program (Hybrid) offered by Orion Institute in Perrysburg, OH. The program takes 40 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $12,600.
Program Overview
Orion Institute offers a 720-clock-hour Massage Therapy Diploma designed to teach the skills needed to become a licensed massage therapist. The curriculum includes lecture, laboratory, clinical and field experiences, and the catalog addendum effective August 18, 2026 retains it as an active program alongside the new 600-hour option.
It runs 40 weeks in four 10-week terms, about 10 months, and is delivered as a hybrid. Instructors teach through lectures, labs, hands-on experience, clinics, field experience and visual aids, and online class meetings may be recorded for students who cannot attend live.
The program teaches the structure and function of the human body, the emotional and physical effects of massage with its benefits and contraindications, and ethical and professional behaviour, and prepares graduates for private practice or supervised employment and for Ohio licensure and the MBLEx.
What sets this Program apart
- Four anatomy and physiology courses. 320 hours of anatomy and physiology, from medical terminology and the skeletal system to the nervous, lymphatic, digestive and reproductive systems, with a cumulative pathology exam.
- Two clinic courses. 96 hours of supervised clinic in which students complete the program’s 48 required massages.
- A published licensure rate. The school reports a 76.9 percent licensure rate for this program on its E21 disclosure.
- Small classes. A maximum of 30 students, with evening classes usually smaller.
- Tutoring and exam preparation included. Individual tutoring and licensure exam preparation at no additional cost.
Admission Requirements and Process
Orion Institute admits academically qualified students without regard to sex, age, race, national origin or disability. Every applicant meets an Admissions Representative first, and all admissions requirements and documents must be complete before the end of the add/drop period, three weeks after the start date. The requirements and steps are listed below.
General Requirements
- Age 18, or parental consentApplicants 18 or older may enroll; applicants under 18 may enroll with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
- Proof of high school graduationA copy of your high school diploma or GED, a transcript showing graduation, or a letter confirming graduation. Documents must be in English; foreign documents must be translated…
- English proficiencyAll courses are taught in English. Applicants for whom English is a second language may be asked to show proficiency, for example with the TOEFL.
- Admissions interviewMeet with an Admissions Representative, who reviews the requirements, program, costs and student services and tours the facility with you.
- Technology for online classesBe able to use the internet and email, set up a USB headset and webcam, use word processing, and download and save files.
- Documents before add/dropComplete every admissions requirement and document before the add/drop period ends, three weeks after the start date.
Application Process
- 1Contact admissionsCall the campus at (419) 874-4496 to speak with an Admissions Representative and schedule an admissions interview.
- 2Interview and tourDiscuss the program, career opportunities, costs and student services, and tour the facility in Perrysburg.
- 3Provide your documentsSubmit proof of high school graduation or its equivalent.
- 4Admissions Committee reviewYour application goes to the Admissions Committee with the representative’s recommendation, and you are accepted, conditionally accepted or denied.
- 5Complete enrollmentFinish every admissions document before the add/drop period ends, three weeks after your start date.
Program Schedule
720 clock hours over 40 weeks, in four 10-week terms, about 10 months. The two federal payment periods are hours 1–360 and 361–720, and the maximum time to complete is 1,080 attempted hours, or 60 weeks.
The base catalog lists day and evening classes and describes the program as 24 weeks in three terms; the addendum effective August 18, 2026 replaces that with 40 weeks in four terms, which is the schedule shown here. Classes may be held Monday through Sunday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and every missed hour must be made up.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name |
|---|---|
| MTP100 | Anatomy & Physiology I |
| MTP105 | Massage Theory & Practice I |
| MTP111 | Anatomy & Physiology II |
| MTP107 | Ethics |
| MTP112 | Massage Theory & Practice II |
| MTP106 | Pathology |
| MTP121 | Anatomy & Physiology III |
| MTP108 | Business and Law I |
| MTP110 | Massage Clinic I |
| MTP114 | Business and Law II |
| MTP113 | Ethics II |
| MTP122 | Massage Theory & Practice III |
| MTP131 | Anatomy & Physiology IV |
| MTP120 | Massage Clinic II |
| MTP132 | Massage Theory & Practice IV |
| Totals |
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Orion Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), which continued the school on Warning in May 2026 and will review it in November 2026; it remains accredited. Orion is approved by the State Medical Board of Ohio and registered with the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools.
- 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 Perrysburg Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,600 |
| Books / Technology Fee | $900 |
| Uniform / MT Kit Fee | $250 |
| Total | $13,750 |
Federal financial aid. Orion Institute is approved to participate in Title IV programs: the Federal Pell Grant, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, FSEOG and Direct PLUS Loans, for those who qualify. Start with the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. The school is also an approved training provider for Ohio Workforce Investment Act programs and the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, and is approved for veterans’ benefits.
Paying tuition. Interest-free in-school installment plans are available, and the American Massage Therapy Association offers scholarships to enrolled massage students. No graduation participation fee is charged. State licensing, examination and background-check fees are paid directly to those third parties and are not school charges.
Cancellation and refunds. A student who cancels within five calendar days of signing the enrollment agreement gets all fees back; after that and before the first class, all money paid is refunded less the application and registration fees, and the school keeps no more than $125. After classes begin, tuition for the term is charged by the share of the term completed: 25% under 15%, 50% from 15%, 75% from 25%, and 100% from 40%.
Curriculum
Fifteen courses: 528 lecture hours and 192 lab and clinic hours, 720 in all.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Lecture | Lab | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTP100 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 70 | 10 | 80 |
| MTP105 | Massage Theory & Practice I | 60 | 20 | 80 |
| MTP111 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 70 | 10 | 80 |
| MTP107 | Ethics | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| MTP112 | Massage Theory & Practice II | 60 | 20 | 80 |
| MTP106 | Pathology | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| MTP121 | Anatomy & Physiology III | 70 | 10 | 80 |
| MTP108 | Business and Law I | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| MTP110 | Massage Clinic I | 0 | 48 | 48 |
| MTP114 | Business and Law II | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| MTP113 | Ethics II | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| MTP122 | Massage Theory & Practice III | 26 | 6 | 32 |
| MTP131 | Anatomy & Physiology IV | 70 | 10 | 80 |
| MTP120 | Massage Clinic II | 0 | 48 | 48 |
| MTP132 | Massage Theory & Practice IV | 22 | 10 | 32 |
| Totals | 528 | 192 | 720 |
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared for entry-level work as massage therapists (SOC 31-9011) once they meet Ohio licensure requirements, or for related healthcare and fitness settings. Orion lists settings such as franchised clinics, chiropractic offices, spas, hotels, fitness centers and sports medicine facilities, and many choose self-employment or open their own practice.
Licensure. Massage Therapy graduates are eligible to apply for Ohio licensure and to take the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). Applicants apply directly to the State Medical Board of Ohio and must meet its education, examination, application, background-check, age and fee requirements; Orion runs an MBLEx review as institutional support.
Published outcomes. Reported to ACCSC in the 2025 Annual Report for students who started between January and November 2023: graduation 71 percent and employment 54 percent (55 starts, 39 graduates available for employment, 21 employed in the field), with a licensure rate of 76.9 percent on the school’s E21 disclosure. ACCSC’s current Warning asks the school to show verifiable records supporting its reported employment rates.
What to expect as a Orion Institute student
Orion Institute runs a single campus at 340 Three Meadows Drive in Perrysburg, Ohio, with no branch campuses or additional locations. The school was founded in fall 1997 as Healing Arts Institute, offering massage therapy instruction, continuing education and massage services, and took the name Orion Institute in late 2015.
The facility has four large classrooms, including a massage classroom with tables, and two private rooms with massage tables, Bose sound and adjustable lighting, plus a clinic classroom, student lounge, learning resource center, retail store and ample free parking. It is equipped with massage tables and chairs, hydrocollators, skeletons, organ and muscle models, and oils and linens. Classes are capped at 30 students, and evening classes are usually smaller.
Online portions run as synchronous Zoom class meetings, with instructor feedback and communication through the Canvas learning management system; class meetings may be recorded. Every student gets access to the LIRN online library, and individual tutoring and licensure exam preparation are included at no extra cost. Classes may be scheduled Monday through Sunday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Career services help graduates wherever they are, with online meetings, mock interviews and job-search techniques, job leads, referrals and on-campus job fairs. The school does not guarantee employment or wages.