Massage Therapy

Tuition and fees. The 2026-2027 Post-Secondary Cost Sheet for Massage Therapy (750 hours) lists:

• Enrollment Fee (non-refundable): $40.00
• Registration Fee (non-refundable): $30.00 + $30.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
• Activity Fee (non-refundable): $30.00
• Tuition: $1,095.00 + $1,095.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
• Lab Fee: $275.00 + $275.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
• Liability Insurance: $25.00

Total for tuition and fees: $1,495.00 (Session 1) and $1,400.00 (Session 2).

Rates. Post-secondary students are assessed college fees and program tuition and fees which vary based on the number of clock hours in the program and instructional requirements; the in-state rate is $2.92 per clock hour, and students must meet residency requirements to qualify for in-state tuition rates. Some students may require additional hours to complete a program; additional blocks of time are available and tuition will be charged accordingly. All prices are subject to change pending vendor changes, legislative actions and/or district approval.

Paying. All payments are made in Student Services / Cashier’s Office; cash, check, Visa or Mastercard are accepted. Dual enrolled or shared high school students pay no tuition or fees.

Financial aid. Financial assistance is meant to supplement the efforts of the student and/or the student’s family and is available to eligible students. The following sources may be available to WTC students: Federal Pell Grant (WTC school code is 016258), Veterans’ Educational Benefits, State-based Scholarships and Grants, and Community-Based Scholarships. WTC does not provide student loans. The finalized FAFSA application and supporting documentation must be received by the WTC Financial Aid Office prior to the May 15th deadline to be eligible for approval and award.

Net Price Calculator. WTC publishes the federal Net Price Calculator, which uses student-entered and institution-provided data to estimate a net price at WTC.

Cost of attendance. Student budgets (cost of attendance) are a calculation component for determining financial aid assistance and are not the actual program cost; WTC’s COA is based on estimated costs over a 10-month period and includes average tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses.

Employment. Employees in this field must be capable of lifting 30 lbs. due to transporting and setting up massage tables. Employees must have the physical ability to perform three to four massages in a row, work a flexible schedule that includes weekends, and pass a Level 2 background screening to sit for the licensure exam.

Licensure. It is expected that students will take the appropriate state or national board examinations to practice massage therapy in Florida. To become a licensed massage therapist an individual must be at least 18 years of age or have received a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma; complete a background screening; complete a course of study at a board approved massage school consisting of 500 or more clock hours; apply, pay fees, and pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Additional requirements may apply.

Occupations. The program’s cost sheet lists Standard Occupational Classification code(s) 31-9099, 31-9011.

Learn more. The program information sheets point students to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics to learn more about the career field.

Helpful information.

• Must be willing to work directly with people in a one-on-one setting with physical touch
• Must maintain a high standard of personal hygiene
• Ability to lift 30+ pounds
• Must be able to work positively with people regardless of their hygiene
• Must be able to interact/speak with clients and patients using professional language and medical terminology

Work-based learning. Opportunities to participate in work-based learning include customer work.

Basic skills. Students are required to meet basic skills levels to exit the program as a full program completer. The required scores to exit this program are Computation (Mathematics) 9 and Communications (Reading or Language Arts) 10.

Certificate. To earn a Certificate of Program Completion from WTC a student must pass all courses and OCPs in the program, settle all school debt, and meet Florida Basic Skills requirements for the program; licensing programs have more rigorous attendance and grade requirements.

Safety and insurance. Participating in any lab or clinical setting can be dangerous in nature and involves many risks of injury, so it is important to follow teacher instructions and safety rules and wear proper safety attire. WTC strongly encourages students to purchase some type of accident insurance; the Citrus County School District has arranged for low-cost accident insurance to be available to students.

Activities. Students are encouraged to participate in student organizations such as SkillsUSA, which promotes career development and leadership skills; WTC has an active chapter of the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) and a Trailblazers group for students in programs nontraditional to their gender.

Campus. Withlacoochee Technical College is located on State Road 44 in Inverness, approximately 75 miles north of Tampa; the campus consists of several buildings located on forty acres near the center of town. WTC is a public institution authorized by the State of Florida and operated by the Citrus County School District, and has an authorized assessment center on campus for ability tests, certification or licensure exams, and GED® exams.