Massage is a Certificate program offered by Sandra Academy of Salon Services in New Tazewell, TN. The program takes 17 weeks full time or 32.5 weeks part time (650 clock hours) to complete, with a total tuition of $7,475.
Program Overview
The Massage program at Sandra Academy of Salon Services is a 650-hour course that trains students in the hands-on skills, safety judgment and professional habits needed for entry-level massage therapy work and licensure. The catalog states that it meets the Tennessee licensing requirements and exceeds the educational requirements for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx).
The curriculum runs in five phases, from massage history and requirements for practice through anatomy, physiology and kinesiology, massage theory and technique, allied modalities, and business practices. Students learn the effects, benefits and contraindications of massage, infection control and safety, client communication and rapport, and critical thinking to plan therapeutic sessions.
Sandra Academy has campuses in New Tazewell and Morristown in East Tennessee, and its massage mission is to prepare every student for program success and the MBLEx.
What sets this Program apart
- Built for the MBLEx. The catalog says the program exceeds the national exam’s educational requirements.
- Science-heavy preparation. 200 hours of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and pathology.
- 300 hours of massage practice. Supervised technique, client assessment and allied modalities.
- Finish in 17 weeks. At the full-time schedule, or 32.5 weeks part time.
Admission Requirements and Process
Sandra Academy is committed to providing quality educational opportunities to all students and does not discriminate based on sex, age, race, color, religion, or ethnic origin in admitting students. During the admissions process, each prospective applicant is given access to the institution’s catalog prior to program acceptance and admission, and is informed about current programs and statistics, facilities, and state licensing requirements.
General Requirements
- Age 18 or OlderTo enroll in a program at Sandra Academy, a student must be 18 years of age or older.
- High School CompletionProvide official transcripts showing high school completion or official transcripts of a High School Equivalency Diploma. Home schooled students are required to present documents…
- Identification DocumentsProvide a Social Security card or proof of eligible non-citizenship status, and a valid driver’s license, state ID with photo, or valid passport.
- Photos and CertificatesProvide two personal photos and copies of all marriage certificates.
- Immunization CertificationSandra Academy requires certification of immunizations prior to acceptance for admission to a program. Appropriate forms are available on the school website.
Application Process
- 1Contact AdmissionsContact our admissions team or call 423-626-7877 to learn about current programs, facilities, and state licensing requirements.
- 2Complete the ApplicationComplete the Sandra Academy application. You will be given access to the school catalog before acceptance and will acknowledge receipt of pre-enrollment information in writing. Contact admissions to get started.
- 3Complete Your FAFSADetermine your dependency status, create your FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website, and complete your FAFSA, then contact the admissions team.FAFSA Code for New Tazewell: 042364
- 4Submit Required DocumentsProvide proof of high school completion, identification, Social Security card or proof of eligible non-citizenship, two personal photos, marriage certificates, and certification of immunizations. Transfer students must submit certification of completed hours before signing an enrollment agreement.
- 5Sign the Enrollment AgreementOnce admitted to a program and before attending classes, you receive a copy of your completed Enrollment Agreement. Payment arrangements are determined at the finance interview; a $100 registration fee applies.
- 6Attend OrientationSandra Academy conducts an orientation program on the first day of class which provides information about the instructional programs, goals of each course, policies affecting students and services available to students.
Program Schedule
650 clock hours: 17 weeks at the full-time schedule of 40 hours a week, or 32.5 weeks part time at 20 hours a week. Classes run only when enough students enroll, and the school may reschedule or postpone a start.
A note on the website. The school’s Massage program page says the program takes 20 weeks and costs $9,075, the same figures as its Esthetics page. Both catalogs print 17 weeks full time and a total of $8,575, which are used here.
Class times. Programs run year-round. Day and evening classes begin the first Monday of each month. Day classes meet Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and evening classes Monday to Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The school observes New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Progress and attendance. Students must attend at least 67 percent of their cumulative scheduled hours and finish within 150 percent of the program length. Theory is tested after each unit and practical work is graded as it is completed, on a scale where 70 to 79 is average and 69 or less is failing. Hours count only when clocked, and a student absent for 14 calendar days without notice is withdrawn.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Sandra Academy of Salon Services is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) at both campuses. Massage licensure is through the Tennessee Board of Massage, and the school is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
- 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 New Tazewell Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $7,475 |
| Registration fee | $100 |
| Kit and books | $1,000 |
| Total | $8,575 |
Paying for school. The catalog states that Sandra Academy is approved for Title IV federal student aid, available to those who qualify. The school does not publish a FAFSA school code on its website or in the catalog. Tuition may also be paid in monthly installments due on the 1st or 15th, set at the finance interview. The school publishes a 2025-26 net price calculator.
Other charges. The catalog lists a $150 administrative fee for students who withdraw or are terminated before finishing, a $1,000 charge to change programs, a $25 late fee for payments more than 10 days late, a $20 returned-check fee, and extra instructional charges for students who run past their contracted end date. Licensing exam and application fees are paid to the state and its testing vendor.
Cancellation and refunds. Cancelling within three business days of signing returns all money paid. After that but before classes start, everything is refunded except the $100 registration fee. Once classes begin, the school keeps a share of tuition based on scheduled hours: 20 percent under 5 percent of the program, then 30, 40, 45 and 70 percent, and all of it at 50 percent or more. Kits and books a student has received are not refundable. Refunds are paid within 45 days.
Curriculum
The catalog’s massage outline totals 650 clock hours: 200 hours of sciences, 300 hours of massage theory and practice, 125 hours of related subjects including business and CPR and first aid, 20 hours of ethics and 5 hours of Tennessee massage law. Detailed lesson plans follow in the catalog, each with its own theory and lab hours.
The required courses below are from Sandra Academy of Salon Services's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Name | Lecture | Lab | External | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science | 80 | 5 | 115 | 200 |
| Massage | 110 | 40 | 150 | 300 |
| Related | 10 | 60 | 55 | 125 |
| Ethics | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Law | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Totals | 225 | 105 | 320 | 650 |
Required Courses
| Name |
|---|
| Science |
| Massage |
| Related |
| Ethics |
| Law |
| Totals |
Career Outcomes
Graduates can sit the MBLEx and apply for a Tennessee massage license with the Tennessee Board of Massage. The catalog lists careers as a licensed massage therapist and as a massage establishment manager or owner.
The catalog cites a Jobs4TN annual median wage in Tennessee of $49,484 for massage therapists. The school’s program page states that the program meets licensure requirements in Tennessee and reciprocal states.
When all program requirements are met, the school certifies the student’s hours; massage graduates apply to the Tennessee Board of Massage with the licensing fee.
What to expect as a Sandra Academy of Salon Services student
Both campuses have lecture and demonstration classrooms, a clinic floor with 20 individual styling stations with hydraulic chairs, a platform area for presentations and competitions, a dispensary, laundry, study areas and offices. The New Tazewell campus has about 8,990 square feet and the Morristown campus about 5,975 square feet, all on one ground-level floor that is accessible to students with disabilities. Every client service is performed by supervised students.
Students have computers and internet access for study. The catalog asks applicants to weigh the physical side of the work: long hours standing with the hands at shoulder level, bending over shampoo bowls, long periods seated at a nail station, and exposure to chemicals and fumes that can cause allergic reactions. Pay in the field may be salary, commission, a mix of both, or independent booth rental, and building a clientele can take a personal investment in advertising.
Students are expected to present themselves professionally, keep their kit and station clean and inspected, and follow the Tennessee sanitation rules. Alcohol, drugs and smoking are not permitted on campus, and students may be drug tested.