Daytime Massage Therapy Students Finish; Next Class Begins Aug. 9
The following students have completed the requirements of the massage therapy program at Robeson Community College:
- Kaliyah Bell
- Alicia Chavis
- Heather Chavis
- Anthony Corbett
- Billie Jo Corbitt Shampy
- Ariel Grooms
- Ventina Jacobs
- Tarisha N. Lee
- Mary Locklear
- Erguecie Lormantus
- Taji McLellan
The next massage therapy course at RCC will begin August 9 and end June 20, 2022. The class will meet from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursday at the RCC ComTech Campus in Pembroke. Seating is limited, so those who wish to enroll are encourage to start the process now by contacting Christy Locklear at 910-272-3609 or chlocklear@robeson.edu.
Completion of the massage therapy program at Robeson Community College allows students to take the licensure exam offered by the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.
“Our program is extremely affordable. We have state-of-the-art massage labs that provide hands-on training for our students,” said Christy Locklear, the health occupations coordinator at Robeson Community College. “We have excellent instructors who are highly sought after.”
Licensed massage therapist can gain employment with day spas, resorts and hotels, as well as healthcare facilities such as and doctor’s offices, hospitals, and chiropractors.
“Once a student gets licensed, they can decide what field of massage therapy to get specialized in – spa or medical,” said Beth Locklear, instructor for the program. “They can get certified in deep tissue, medical, or sports medicine.”
Beth says that the average starting pay for students who complete the program ranges from $15 – $17 per hour with the potential to earn more with experience and earning additional credentials for specializations.
“It just depends on which setting they go into, their experience, and what field they choose to focus on,” said Beth. “The more credentials they get under their belt the more they can earn.”
And, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS), employment of massage therapists is projected to rise by a staggering 21% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average rate of professions. Currently, there are approximately 166,700 massage therapists in the United States and the need is expected to grow by about 34,400 jobs over the next ten years.
“There is a demand for massage therapist,” said Christy. “Out of the 11 students who completed the massage therapy program in June, six students already had jobs lined up before they graduated.”
Christy adds, “Our students graduate prepared to enter the workforce and ready to go to work.”
