Therapeutic Massage is a Certificate program (Hybrid) offered by SOLEIL - Holistic Massage Therapy School in St. Louis, MO. The program takes 30 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $11,550.
Program Overview
SOLEIL offers a 625 clock hour hybrid Therapeutic Massage course, completed in 30 weeks. The course is designed to meet state and national certification requirements and presents therapeutic massage and bodywork content through theory lectures, live demonstrations and supervised clinical practice.
The core curriculum covers the foundations of therapeutic massage, professional ethics, anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, pathology, sanitary and safety practices, universal precautions, advanced massage techniques, ethics and business practices, therapeutic relations, clinical charting and other somatic therapies.
A Certificate of Completion is awarded after successful completion of the 625 contact hours, theory testing with a minimum score of 70 percent, practical competencies with a minimum score of 70 percent, and completion of all assignments. The course leads to licensing as a massage therapist in the State of Missouri.
What sets this Program apart
- Hybrid learning. Theory work and chapter testing are done online on the Milady CIMA platform (250 interactive online hours); energy work and self-care, live demonstrations, supervised practice, student clinic and MBLEx prep are done in person (375 hours).
- COMTA accreditation. The school describes itself as Missouri’s only therapeutic massage school nationally accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation.
- A nonprofit school. SOLEIL is a 501(c)(3) public charity with a stated mission of education at an affordable cost.
- A real student clinic. 175 hours of the course are supervised clinic practice on the public, in a separate clinic area with five treatment rooms.
- Small classes. The catalog gives a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:12.
Admission Requirements and Process
SOLEIL prepares students to successfully complete the Licensing Examination, while preparing students for successful careers as massage therapists. All admission requirements must be met and students must interview with a School Director to complete the admission process.
General Requirements
- Minimum Age 18Minimum Age Requirement is 18 years of age.
- High School Diploma or EquivalencyCopy of High School Diploma or equivalency. SOLEIL does not accept Ability to Benefit students.
- Photo IDCopy of PHOTO ID is required with proof of age.
- Criminal Background CheckPerson of Good Moral character, able to pass the required criminal background check.
- Interview with School DirectorAll admission requirements must be met & students must interview with a School Director to complete admission process.
Application Process
- 1Schedule a TourContact the school to schedule a tour and learn about the 625 Hour Therapeutic HYBRID Massage Course.
- 2Interview with a School DirectorAll admission requirements must be met and students must interview with a School Director to complete the admission process.
- 3Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)Financial aid is available to those who qualify.FAFSA Code for St. Louis: 042878Fill Out the FAFSA
- 4Enroll and Pay DepositSign the enrollment agreement; $1000 is due at time of enrollment. The non-refundable kit cost is due 2 weeks prior to the class start date.
- 5Attend Orientation and Start ClassThe Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and school rules are reviewed during Orientation. Half of the remaining balance is due the 1st day of class (students can request alternative payment plans).
Program Schedule
625 clock hours over 30 weeks, about 20 hours a week: in-person sessions on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., plus an average of 10 independent online hours a week.
The maximum time to complete all graduation requirements is 45 weeks. Students who extend past the 30-week schedule without an approved leave of absence pay $18.50 an hour for make-up time. The catalog lists 2026 class starts on January 20, March 9 and 31, August 18 and September 14. The catalog’s attendance policy says students must clock 600 contact hours to graduate, while its programme description requires 625; the 625-hour figure is the one the curriculum and the rest of the catalog use.
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: SOLEIL is institutionally accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). It is licensed by the Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage and approved to operate by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.
- 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 St. Louis Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| School tuition | $11,550 |
| Kit (non-refundable): massage table, student license, textbook and e-platform, Trail Guide workbook, holster | $2,350 |
| Tuition and kit | $13,900 |
Tuition includes supplies and products for lab practice. Students also provide their own notepad, binder, scrubs, sheets, towels, wraps and writing supplies.
Paying for the course. $1,000 is due at enrollment, half of the balance on the first day of class and the rest at the midpoint. Students may instead use an interest-free payment plan: a $1,000 deposit, $1,500 on the class start date, six monthly payments of $1,500, and a final $2,400 that includes the kit. The kit cost is due two weeks before the class start date. Credit payments carry a 3% convenience charge.
Federal financial aid. SOLEIL is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in federal financial aid; students can access Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans by filing the FAFSA with school code 042878.
Costs before licensing, not charged by the school. First Aid and CPR certification, the MBLEx national exam (current cost $265), background check and fingerprinting ($40.30), proof of professional liability insurance ($89) and the Missouri Board licensing application ($125).
Curriculum
Seven courses, 625 clock hours in all; each clock hour is 50 minutes of classroom, lab or clinic instruction.
The required courses below are from SOLEIL's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| MT:101 | Massage Therapy Foundations | 100 |
| MT:125 | Sanitary and Safety Practices | 50 |
| MT:201 | Advanced Massage Therapy Techniques | 100 |
| MT:210 | Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, & Kinesiology | 100 |
| MT:225 | Ancillary Therapies | 50 |
| MT:250 | Professional Ethics and Business Practices | 50 |
| MT:200 | Student Therapeutic Massage Clinic | 175 |
| Totals | 625 |
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name |
|---|---|
Career Outcomes
The course prepares students to pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination and pursue careers as massage therapists. Massage therapists work in hospitals, chiropractic offices, physical therapy practices, destination resorts, salons and day spas, and can establish their own massage therapy businesses.
To apply for Missouri licensure the State Board of Therapeutic Massage requires a minimum of 625 hours from a licensed school, a criminal background check, CPR certification and a passing MBLEx score; licensing requirements vary by state. The school provides ongoing placement counseling during enrollment and after graduation but does not guarantee employment, and it publishes no placement rate for this course.
What to expect as a SOLEIL student
SOLEIL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution in south St. Louis County with easy highway access. The facility is over 6,000 square feet, with multiple classroom areas, demonstration rooms and a separate clinic area with five treatment rooms.
The primary presentation classroom has white boards and a projector; demonstration and technology areas have flat-screen TVs; and the lab has three massage tables and professional massage therapy products. Teaching combines theory lectures and videos, demonstration, give-and-receive lab practice and clinical practice on the public.
The school promotes services and events for supervised clinic practice, and students are expected to build their own clients to meet their clinic goals. Special field trips and guest speakers are offered at no extra charge. The school is an American Massage Therapy Association Partner School and an Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals Premiere School, and it also offers continuing-education classes approved by the Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage.