Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to complete your programs, and how soon can I begin working as a therapist?
All of our programs may be pursued on a full-time. 3/4 – time, or part-time basis in either a daytime or evening/weekend format. Our Massage Therapy (MT) program typically requires four to five academic quarters (of approximately three months each) to complete as a full-time student, following the 120-hour “Essentials of Massage & Bodywork” course, which is generally offered in an eight or ten week format. The Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) certificate program and Associate of Science (A.S) in Holistic Health degree program each require an estimated two additional academic quarters for completion on a full-time basis. These time frames do not include the (optional) annual vacation quarter offered to program students.
The California Massage Therapy Council (www.camtc.org) also offers a 250-hour Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP) certification, as well as a 100-hour provisional certificate, which allows students to apply for positions as entry-level therapists throughout the state of California. Many students choose to pursue this employment option while completing their program of study, although others may prefer to wait until the end of their program before applying for massage therapy and/or holistic health practitioner licensing.
How do I apply?
All applicants to our Massage Therapy (MT), Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) or Associate of Science (AS) program are required to complete and submit an Application for Admission, along with an official or unofficial copy of a GED completion certificate, high school or college diploma. For those students not using Federal Financial Aid to fund their program, a $300 tuition deposit is required in addition to the standard application fee of $75. We also ask that all new students visit the college campus to meet with an Admissions Advisor as part of their application process, in addition to making appropriate payment arrangements for their chosen program.
New students who do not wish to enroll in a program but wish to take courses for Continuing Education purposes, are also required to complete and submit an Application for Admission. In addition, we ask that new continuing education students visit the college campus to meet with an Admissions Advisor, submit a $10 application fee and make appropriate payment arrangements for all courses they wish to register for.
When is the deadline to apply?
IPSB offers courses on a year-round basis, and all courses are open for registration until the business day prior to each course start date. In order to determine the start date for your program, please see the Essentials course listing on page 6 of our quarterly schedule of classes.
For students choosing to use Financial Aid to fund their MT, HHP, or AS program, the deadline is four business days prior to the start date. The FAFSA must be completed at least five business days prior to the start date.
Are you an accredited college, and do you offer Financial Aid?
IPSB’s Massage Therapist (MT) and Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) certificate programs, as well as our Associate of Science (AS) in Holistic Health degree program, are accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (www.comta.org). The college offers Federal Financial Aid for program students who qualify. FA students must complete a minimum of six academic credits/units per quarter, as well as maintain a 2.0 GPA or better, in order to remain eligible for program funding.
What other payment option do you offer?
IPSB offers no-interest payment plans on a monthly or quarterly basis for those students wishing to remit their tuition payments in installments. Payment plans using postdated checks are offered at no additional charge, while credit or debit card plans may incur finance fees.
Can I transfer/apply credit from my previous education to my program at IPSB?
Depending on the nature and amount of prior coursework completed, new students are eligible to transfer credit from programs at other accredited institutions of learning. Transfer credits may not exceed 50% of program credit-hour, and all transfers are subject to evaluation and other administrative fees. IPSB also offers “advanced standing” academic status to HHP certificate and A.S. degree program applicants that have completed comparable massage therapy training at another accredited institution. Eligibility will be determined after submission and review of official transcripts. New students not applying for “advanced standing” but wishing to transfer prior credit are asked to submit corresponding official transcripts before or during their first academic quarter of program enrollment.
Do I have to enroll in a full certificate and/or degree program in order to take classes at IPSB?
All classes at IPSB are eligible for enrollment on a non-degree-seeking (class-by-class) basis. For those students wishing to apply for the national certification exam without enrolling in a program, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.org) maintains a separate set of course requirements amounting to 500 hours of documented in-class training. For more information on this Portfolio Review process, please click here.
