Program Description

The East-West Healing Arts Institute offers a 800-hour program to be completed in 10 months. (An Extended-time program is also available.)

What do you get?

After you graduate,

• You'll be awarded with a diploma that certifies you as an East-West Holistic Practitioner™.
• You'll be qualified to apply for state certification as a massage therapist in most states.
• You'll be qualified to apply for the top national certifications in both Eastern and Western bodywork: Asian Bodywork Therapist (Dipl. A.B.T.) with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and Nationally Certified in Massage Therapy and Bodywork (NCMTB) with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).

What will you learn?

You'll gain a wide range of knowledge including traditional Eastern theory and modern Western science.

Eastern theory classes include Oriental medical theory and classic Chinese assessment techniques. Eastern practice includes an extensive course in TuiNa, or Chinese medical massage, and classes in Thai massage, reflexology, polarity, JinShinDo^®, and more.

Western science classes include pathology and anatomy & physiology. Western massage methods taught include deep tissue, soft tissue techniques, CranioSacral Therapy (Upledger Institute style), sports massage, prenatal massage, and more

Our courses in professional ethics, business practices, and CPR/First Aid meet or exceed state guidelines for these topics. Before you work with clients, you will have already studied the range of ethical issues that massage therapists face. By the time you graduate from our program, you will have learned about the nuts and bolts of finding employment as a massage therapist and setting up your own practice.

For a detailed description of classes, see Curriculum.

You will also gain a great deal of hands-on experience through working at the Student Clinic, in your individual internship, and through community service events.

How does it work?

10-month program

The program is divided into 5 terms. Each term is 8 weeks long.

Students attend class sixteen hours per week. All 10-month students attend one 8-hour weekend day. Day students also attend one 8-hour day session during the week. Evening students also attend two 4-hour evening sessions during the week.

The program breaks conveniently into an Eastern and a Western track. Eastern theory and practice is taught on the weekend, and Western science and practice is taught during the week.

Several massage practitioners with years of established practice have enrolled in our Eastern-only track, a modified program based on attending the Eastern classes on the weekends. For more information, see Eastern-only program.

There are several breaks over the course of the 10 months, including breaks for Thanksgiving and other customary occasions. See Academic Calendar for specific dates.

Extended-time program

Qualified individuals may apply for this program. For busy people who can't fit our demanding 16-hour-per-week class schedule into their schedules, we offer the opportunity to take the Western portion of our program first, followed by the Eastern portion. Complete the entire East-West curriculum in 18-22 months.

Western classes are held on weekdays, and Eastern classes are held on weekends. Extended-time students start by attending Western classes, and then join the Eastern weekend classes when the next group of students starts several months later.

We do not offer the option to take the Eastern program first.

If you'd like more details on the Extended-time program, please call us at 608-240-1600 or send e-mail to info@acupressureschool.com. We will be glad to discuss your situation and find a way that our program will work for you.