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Massage therapy school in North Carolina

10 massage therapy programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

9 schools offer these massage therapy programs, and North Carolina has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Massage therapists press and work the body's soft tissues and joints to treat their clients. A diploma or certificate takes several months or more, and most states require a license or certification, usually an approved massage therapy program and a passed exam.1 In 46 of the 49 places that regulate massage, DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands among them, the licensing exam is the MBLEx from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.2

In North Carolina, 1 of the 10 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 9 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 10 programs here are massage therapy certificate or diploma (6 programs), massage class (one part of a full program, 3 programs) and massage therapy (associate degree, 1 program).

See the 10 programs

How much does massage therapy school cost in North Carolina?

$217 to $934 is what most massage therapy programs in North Carolina cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 10 programs with a price. All of them: $180 to $5,403

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
28 to 45 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in North Carolina may also offer massage therapy school. How these figures are made

Is there free massage therapy school in North Carolina?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 10 massage therapy programs in North Carolina approved for WIOA funding

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Kind of program
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10 programs

  • Massage therapy certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Massage Therapy

    Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

    Hudson

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, HudsonMassage therapy certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$26,200
    Price if you pay yourself$203

    5 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Massage Therapy at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
    More details about Massage Therapy at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
    Finished
    69%
    Working at 6 months
    71%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,554
    Length
    36 weeks, 18 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,263
    Students counted
    36
    Earned a year, estimated
    $26,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $203
    students trained with WIOA funding
    5
    Program website, Massage Therapy at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

  • Massage class (one part of a full program)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Continuing Education-Massage I and Massage II

    Johnston Community College

    Smithfield

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Johnston Community College, SmithfieldMassage class (one part of a full program) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$48,200
    Price if you pay yourself$408
    School website, Continuing Education-Massage I and Massage II at Johnston Community College
    More details about Continuing Education-Massage I and Massage II at Johnston Community College
    Finished
    91%
    Working at 6 months
    67%
    Earned in a quarter
    $12,038
    Length
    16 weeks, 27 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,048
    Students counted
    33
    Earned a year, estimated
    $48,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $408
    School website, Continuing Education-Massage I and Massage II at Johnston Community College

  • Massage class (one part of a full program)In personNo diploma needed

    Therapeutic Massage I (Massage Therapy I)

    Central Carolina Community College

    Sanford

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Central Carolina Community College, SanfordMassage class (one part of a full program) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$180
    Program website, Therapeutic Massage I (Massage Therapy I) at Central Carolina Community College
    More details about Therapeutic Massage I (Massage Therapy I) at Central Carolina Community College
    Finished
    86%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    26 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $12
    Students counted
    22
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $180
    Program website, Therapeutic Massage I (Massage Therapy I) at Central Carolina Community College

  • Massage therapy (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Therapeutic Massage AAS (AAS)

    Davidson-Davie Community College

    Thomasville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Davidson-Davie Community College, ThomasvilleMassage therapy (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$8,900
    Price if you pay yourself$5,403
    Program website, Therapeutic Massage AAS (AAS) at Davidson-Davie Community College
    More details about Therapeutic Massage AAS (AAS) at Davidson-Davie Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    80%
    Earned in a quarter
    $2,235
    Length
    72 weeks, 22 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,300
    Students counted
    17
    Earned a year, estimated
    $8,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,403
    Program website, Therapeutic Massage AAS (AAS) at Davidson-Davie Community College

  • Massage therapy certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Massage Therapy

    Randolph Community College

    Asheboro

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Randolph Community College, AsheboroMassage therapy certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$181
    Program website, Massage Therapy at Randolph Community College
    More details about Massage Therapy at Randolph Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    74 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,176
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $181
    Program website, Massage Therapy at Randolph Community College

  • Massage class (one part of a full program)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Massage Therapy II

    Central Carolina Community College

    Sanford

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Central Carolina Community College, SanfordMassage class (one part of a full program) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$260
    Program website, Massage Therapy II at Central Carolina Community College
    More details about Massage Therapy II at Central Carolina Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    26 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $260
    Program website, Massage Therapy II at Central Carolina Community College

  • Massage therapy certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Massage Therapy

    Brunswick Community College

    Supply

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Brunswick Community College, SupplyMassage therapy certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$365
    Program website, Massage Therapy at Brunswick Community College
    More details about Massage Therapy at Brunswick Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    36 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $945
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $365
    Program website, Massage Therapy at Brunswick Community College

  • Massage therapy certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Massage Therapy

    Central Piedmont Community College

    Charlotte

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Central Piedmont Community College, CharlotteMassage therapy certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$677
    School website, Massage Therapy at Central Piedmont Community College
    More details about Massage Therapy at Central Piedmont Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    45 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,075
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $677
    School website, Massage Therapy at Central Piedmont Community College

  • Massage therapy certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Massage Therapy

    Durham Technical Community College

    Durham

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Durham Technical Community College, DurhamMassage therapy certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,020
    Program website, Massage Therapy at Durham Technical Community College
    More details about Massage Therapy at Durham Technical Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    45 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,020
    Program website, Massage Therapy at Durham Technical Community College

  • Massage therapy certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Therapeutic Massage Diploma

    Southwestern Community College

    Sylva

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southwestern Community College, SylvaMassage therapy certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,320
    School website, Therapeutic Massage Diploma at Southwestern Community College
    More details about Therapeutic Massage Diploma at Southwestern Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $3,283
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,320
    School website, Therapeutic Massage Diploma at Southwestern Community College

How to pay for massage therapy school in North Carolina

WIOA funding can pay for massage therapy school in North Carolina

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for massage therapy school

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78

GI Bill for massage therapy school

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Massage therapy school in North Carolina

programs with a price cost under $1,000
7 of 10
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
1st of 22
massage therapy programs here, against the typical state's 5
10 vs 5

State comparisons use the same figures as the massage therapy school by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Massage therapy school in Sanford, Hickory, Raleigh and other North Carolina cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 more programs are in 2 other areas, 1 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in North Carolina

How massage therapy school compares with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in North Carolina

Where the North Carolina massage therapy program numbers come from

Which North Carolina massage therapy programs are on this list?

These are the massage therapy programs North Carolina approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what North Carolina offers.

How the prices and results of North Carolina massage therapy programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about massage therapy school in North Carolina

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Massage Therapists
  2. Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards: Examination (MBLEx)
  3. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  4. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  5. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  6. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List