Our Mission
To contribute to our community and enhance lives through training individuals in the science and art of massage therapy.
Since 1979 Aliesha Alexandar and her instructors have developed a convenient, affordable massage therapy training program. It is our passion to support individuals with active lives to become successful massage therapists. Our massage school program will provide you with the tools you need to successfully pass the FSMTB MBLEx exam and become a Licensed Massage Therapist.
On this page, we have some quick facts followed by an overview of our massage therapy school, information about our individual courses, and our school catalogue for more in-deapth information. If you would like to apply for massage therapy school after reviweing our information our application is downloadable and located next to our school catalogue near the end of our Course Descriptions.
“My time spent at Alexandar School was a wonderful time in my life. It is a nurturing environment to learn and grow in as a massage therapist and a person. The biggest value that I found was the instructors. They are all so knowledgeable and supportive. In each subject that was taught, I felt the years of experience backing it up. I appreciated my classmates as well. Everyone in my program was there to learn and grow as a professional. I think that’s the kind of people Alexandar School attracts. I especially loved the business class and time spent in clinic internship. I had such an easy time opening my own practice and dealing with all the aspects of it, from seeing clients to getting the appropriate licenses and insurance. I really can not imagine a better education experience than what I received from Alexandar School.”
A Career in Massage
Convenient - Make your own work schedule
Patients increasingly referred by physicians, chiropractors and other healthcare practitioners
Massage Therapy is included on many Insurance Plans, Auto Insurance Coverage and Labor and Industries policies
Diverse patient populations
Choose your work setting, doctors' offices, spas, your own office, travel industry
22% projected job-growth through 2028
Mean wage for Washington state $77,280.00 (full-time)
Washington state has the 4th-highest concentration of massage jobs nationwide
sources:
https://www.amtamassage.org/infocenter/economic_industry-fact-sheet.html
Our Massage Program
Woman-owned, locally-owned and directed
Many of our faculty and administration are Veterans
Convenient 650-clock-hour program, 11-month program
3-days per week, 4-hours each day + some weekends
AM and PM sessions to choose from
Structured for people with active lives outside of school
Over 42-years massage education experience
Experienced faculty
Professional clinical internship
High first-time pass rate for licensing exams and NCBTMB
Affordable financing available
G.I. Bill® accepted
Massage Therapy School Overview
Alexandar School of Natural Therapeutics is a massage therapy school, we are licensed by the WTECB and approved by the Washington State Board of Massage. The 650-Clock Hour Massage Program consists of courses such as Swedish Massage I or Anatomy & Kinesiology. Our massage program is a cohort program meaning there are no semesters or quarters, you attend and graduate school with the same group of people you began with, and you will attend school straight through with standard holiday breaks.
Each course consists of daily class(s). Classes are held from 9:00am to 1:00pm and the same class is repeated in the evening from 6:00pm to 10:00pm by the same instructor. While you may elect to attend primarily the day or evening sessions, you are welcome to attend either session if you have a scheduling conflict that prevents you from attending at your normal time. Weekend classes are scheduled well in advance and can be anything from one four-hour session on Saturday to eight hour sessions on Saturday or Sunday depending on the requirements of the course.
We start two programs each year, one in September and one in March. Each program holds class three days a week and some weekends. March classes are on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and some weekends. September Classes are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and some weekends.
The ASNT Massage Program consists of three phases. Phase One, focuses on the basics of massage and anatomy. Phase Two, is dedicated to applying basic massage skills to common illnesses, injuries, and conditions, as well as hydrotherapy, the start of spa, and clinical internship. Anatomy & Physiology will also begin near the end of this phase. In Phase Three, you will learn to apply your massage skills to chronic long-term injuries, geriatric patients, and learn about the business of massage, insurance billing, massage law, Eastern Medicine Theory, and Medical Records and Privacy laws.
Massage Program Phases
Why 11 months?
Over the past 42+ years, we have determined the amount of information needed to become a massage therapist coupled with clinical experience and physical conditioning can be obtained in 11 months. While you can achieve enough book-knowledge to pass an exam in less time, it is less likely you will have the physical and clinical experieince necessry to be successful, and injury-free. This is why we have developed a three-day-a-week massage school program to allow our students time between classes to study and gain clinical massage therapy experieince. Our schedule is also adapted to people who have jobs, families and other commitments outside of school. With our massage therapy program, you will find that even if you have other commitments, obtaining a career in the massage industry is achievable.
Course Descriptions
Alexandar School Orientation – ASNT Directors & Staff introduce you to your fellow new students, explain ASNT policies and procedures, discuss strategies for success, complete any missing administrative requirements, and familiarize the you with the school property.
Anatomy & Kinesiology – 76 Clock Hours – The study of the principle of mechanics and anatomy in relation to human movement. In this course, you learn the basics of anatomy and the muscles that move the body as they apply to massage therapy. Particular emphasis is placed on helping you acquire hands-on experience locating the structures and muscles discussed during class lecture time.
Anatomy & Physiology- 76 Clock Hours – Anatomy is the study of the body and its structures. Physiology is the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts. In this course, you learn the basics of anatomy and the body systems as they apply to massage therapy. Special emphasis is placed on the effect of massage on the different body systems.
Assessment & Pathology – 40 Clock Hours – You will learn how to assess a patient and develop a treatment plan in this course. This course will also cover pathologies commonly encountered by massage therapists that are not directly treatable by massage therapy. Treatment contraindications, precautions, and incorporating these into treatment a treatment strategy are also part of the curriculum.
Business Practices: Insurance Billing – 4 Clock Hours – In this course, you will learn about current insurance company practices, documentation of claims medical records privacy rules, HIPAA & how to bill insurance companies for massage services.
Business Practices: Practice Management – 24 Clock Hours – In this course, you will plan for and learn about the day-to-day operations of a massage practice in different settings. You will also learn about business ethics and Washington State and Federal laws relating to massage and the development of policies and procedures relevant to massage practice.
Chair Massage – 4 Clock Hours – Chair Massage is typically administered in a corporate or non-traditional massage setting. Clients are fully clothed and seated on a specially designed chair and performed in more open environments (corporate offices or public events). You will learn to adapt the techniques and treatment strategies from other courses to Chair Massage during this course.
Eastern Medicine Theory – 8 Clock Hours – You will learn about Eastern Medicine Theory. The course will give you a basic understanding of Meridians, the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, and Shiatsu Massage.
Ethics – 40 Clock Hours – Ethics is a cornerstone in the medical community and today’s massage practice. Ethics are a vital component to a safe, professional work environment and effective communications with clients and colleagues. At ASNT, we subscribe to the AMTA Code of Ethics. Our Ethics course is divided into three modules addressing the differing roles of ethics as a student working with students, students working on the general public and ethics as a massage professional, and managing a massage practice. You will also review state laws regarding patient privacy, Unprofessional Conduct, and Sexual Misconduct. Review of real-life scenarios and how ethical guidelines can assist massage therapists in navigating these scenarios.
Geriatric Massage – 8 Clock Hours – You will learn to apply massage techniques you have already learned to meet the specific needs of the senior population and those in hospice care. You will also review common age-related conditions and specific treatment strategies. An introduction to massage in hospice care and the current state of the hospice care massage field is also part of this course.
Hydrotherapy – 16 Clock Hours – Hydrotherapy is the superficial application of heat and cold to the body for therapeutic purposes. Hydrotherapy is a powerful treatment modality used in sports medicine, spas, physical therapy clinics, and many other medical practices. You will learn how to apply hydrotherapy techniques to small areas using hot packs or ice and to the whole body using cold water baths or steam rooms and saunas in this course. Hydrotherapy is taught as both a stand-alone treatment and with the integration of hydrotherapy into massage therapy. Hydrotherapy is also part of Internship: Clinical Practices, Swedish Massage II, and Spa Treatments.
Clinical Experience
Clinical Experience Business Practices & Practicum – 97.5 Clock Hours – In this course, you develop individual massage skills by practicing on real clients in a supervised setting in our public massage clinic. The time breaks down accordingly. 75 Hands-on-hours (Practicum), and 12.5 hours (Business Practices), account for the scheduled time between each massage allotted for room set-up/clean-up, completing medical documentation, and evaluating each massage given.
Clinical Experience Orientation – 14 Clock Hours – Internship Orientation will familiarize you with the laws, policies & procedures used in the public massage clinic during their Internship Program. You learn about State and Federal Medical Records Privacy Rules (a set of laws created to protect individually identifiable health information). Student Massage Therapists will learn how to observe these laws during the Internship Program. This course concludes with three student massage trades (6-hours). These trades will help you become acclimated to the pace and workflow of a public massage clinic before working with the general public.
Medical Documentation (SOAP) – 4 Clock Hours – Medical documentation is the main form of communication between medical providers and other professionals involved in patient care. In this course, you are introduced to the SOAP charting format and how to use an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system You will employ the SOAP method on an EHR for each patient visit during their Internship Program.
Prenatal Massage – 8 Clock Hours – In this course, you will learn how to apply massage techniques they have already learned to benefit patients during the different phases of pregnancy and fetal growth. An emphasis on contraindications, common pregnancy-related conditions, treatment planning, and strategy is also part of this course.
Spa Treatments – 36 Clock Hours – Spa Therapy is an established area of interest in the Health and Beauty Industry. In this series of classes, we will present the fundamentals of Spa Treatments. You will define and perform various spa treatments, including Aromatic Body Massage, Aromatherapy Facial Massage, Salt Glow Body Polish, Clay Wrap, Body Wrap, and Aromatic Back Treatments. You will learn how to incorporate various forms of bodywork and hydrotherapy modalities into these treatment routines.
State Board Prep – ASNT directors and administrative staff will review the process of applying for and taking exams and a brief review of successful study strategies. ASNT staff will also assist you in completing state licensure applications and how to study for and take the jurisprudence exam.
Swedish Massage I: Theory & Practice – 84 Clock Hours – Swedish Massage is a therapeutic massage and exercise system for the muscles and joints developed in Sweden in the 19th century. Also known as the classical form of massage, Swedish Massage is the foundation of holistic massage education. You will learn how to combine the five major massage movement categories to administer a professional Swedish Massage in this course. Covering elements of; professional communication with the client, anatomy, massage physiology, postural awareness/practitioner ergonomics, remedial gymnastics, safety, sanitary practices, and professional draping, this coursework is the foundation for all massage training at ASNT. You will use the Swedish Massage skills learned in class to develop their unique massage routine.
Swedish Massage II – Application of Swedish Massage to Pathologies – 72 Clock Hours – In this course, you learn to apply techniques learned in Swedish Massage I to conditions, illnesses, and injuries commonly encountered by Massage Therapists. You also learn about Pathophysiology (the study of the functional changes that accompany a particular syndrome or disease) and contraindications related to those conditions. You will also learn how to develop and execute a basic treatment plan.
Trigger Point Therapy & Myofascial Release – 55 Clock Hours – Trigger-point therapies treat and remove pain, stress, and energy blocks in muscles and connective tissue and establish a working relationship between the body, mind, and spirit. Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial Release are especially effective for treating long-term chronic pain, pain relief, and pain control. You will learn these techniques from Zentherapy® Certified Instructor ASNT Director Bill Thompson, LMT.
