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Massage therapy student working on a client

Application Process

  1. Credit students must apply for admission to AACC, identify Health and Human Services as their Field of Interest and select Massage Therapy (certificate) or Massage Therapy (A.A.S.) as the degree. The general college application process is further detailed on the credit application page.
  2. To apply to the program, you must submit a completed Massage Therapy program application, which can be found on the Health Sciences Applicants page. Program applications are accepted on a rolling admission throughout the year. The program begins every spring (January) and fall (August) term.
  3. You can apply to the program only after meeting all academic and admission criteria. Know your program's requirements and follow directions carefully (see Admission and Academic Requirements below).
  4. Once the contents of your application have been verified as qualified and complete, you will receive conditional acceptance for the next available seat.
  5. Incomplete applications are not considered and will not be processed. You will be notified by your AACC email if required information was not submitted. As long as your application is complete, you only need to apply once. A future seat will be reserved for you.
  6. Email your application to healthsciencesadmissions@aacc.edu. You may also mail your application to the college at:

    Anne Arundel Community College
    ATTN: School of Health Sciences Admissions, HLSB 174
    101 College Parkway
    Arnold, MD 21012

Advising

Before you meet with a Health Sciences academic advisor, apply to AACC and submit official transcripts from prior academic institutions.

If you plan to transfer general education requirements, have your official transcripts sent directly to the college's records and registration office. The official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education must be submitted.

Foreign Education and International Students

If you are an international student, there may be additional requirements for you. Visit our international student admissions page to learn more about visa status and for other valuable information.

Foreign Education Transcripts

Foreign educated students must have their college and high school transcripts evaluated by one of the following credential evaluators:

F-1 Visa Students Nonnative English Speaker TOEFL Requirement

International students who plan to obtain an F-1 visa and whose native language is not English must submit a satisfactory Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. Review AACC’s TOEFL Score Requirement webpage for information, including exemptions for the TOEFL requirement.

Social Security Number Requirement

If you do not have a Social Security number, you may not be permitted at some clinical rotation sites, and site availability could delay or inhibit your progression in the program. An international student admission specialist in AACC's Admissions and Enrollment Development office may be able to assist students with F-1 visa status to obtain a Social Security number through practical training. Call them at 410-777-2677.


Admission and Academic Requirements

Information Session

Attendance at an information session is highly recommended prior to submitting the Massage Therapy program application. Call 410-777-7310 for dates, times and locations, or view the schedule on AACC's online calendar.

  • There is no cost to attend.
  • We offer in-person and virtual information sessions.
  • Detailed information regarding program, profession, admission and academic requirements, and selection criteria will be discussed.

English

You must demonstrate eligibility for ENG-101/ENG-101A. There are a number of ways this can be done: 

  • Qualifying SAT/ACT scores
  • Appropriate score on the English placement test
  • Unweighted high school GPA (if you graduated in the last five years)
  • Successful completion of developmental courses, if applicable
  • Transfer of credits for ENG-101 equivalent (English Composition 1)
  • Appropriate score on an AP exam
  • Appropriate score on a CLEP® test
  • Appropriate score on GED® test

See an academic advisor for information or visit our Determine Placement page.

Mathematics (Degree seeking only)

You must demonstrate eligibility for general education mathematics. There are a number of ways this can be done:

  • Qualifying SAT/ACT scores
  • Appropriate score on the mathematics placement test
  • Unweighted high school GPA plus coursework (if you graduated in the last five years)
  • Successful completion of developmental courses, if applicable
  • Transfer of credits for a general education mathematics
  • Appropriate score on an AP exam
  • Appropriate score on a CLEP test

For information see an academic advisor or visit our Determine Placement page.

Prerequisites

Applicants must complete Introduction to Massage (MAS-100) with a grade of C or better or be currently registered for MAS-100 prior to submitting an application. If currently enrolled in MAS-100, students must complete course with a C or better before being able to register for MAS-110. Due to the selection process, the program cannot accept pass-fail as a replacement for letter grades in the required courses.

Satisfactory Academic Standing

You must have a minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 at this college to be considered for selection to the Massage Therapy program.

Schedule

Day: The day cohort starts in the fall term. An evening cohort will be added in the fall if the program receives enough qualified students. If not, evening students will have to wait until the spring term.

Evening: The evening cohort starts in the spring term.

The specific class schedule will be explained in more detail at the program information session.

College Credit Transfer

If you have taken program prerequisites or other general education courses at a nationally recognized institution other than AACC, you must submit official transcripts with your application for review.

Learn more about transfer credit.

Note: A transcript/equivalency certificate is considered official when enclosed in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically by the sending institution. It must also include a graduation/completion date, if applicable, and a school official’s signature. Your application will not be considered complete if the required documentation is not received prior to or at the time your application is submitted.


Required Courses

The required courses for this program can be found in the Loading.... All students must receive a minimum grade of C or better in each program course. 

Due to the selection process, the program cannot accept pass-fail as a replacement for letter grades in the required courses.

Fast track associate degree option for students who have a previous degree: General education, health, computing and information technology, and competency and diversity requirements are considered satisfied for those students who have earned an associate, baccalaureate or master’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university and whose program of study included at least 20 credit hours of general education courses (excluding physical education activity courses). Student must fulfill all program graduation requirements.


Selection Process

  • Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
  • You are eligible for selection if you have completed all the admissions and academic requirements by the date your application is submitted.
  • The applications will be reviewed and you will receive an email indicating that your application is complete.
  • Selections will be made according to the criteria listed in the Admission/Academic Requirements above.
  • Selected applicants will have their selection packet for acceptance emailed to their AACC email address.

Acceptance

Applicants who have met the academic and admission requirements and have been selected will receive a message in their AACC email offering acceptance into the program.

If you are granted acceptance, you must accept your seat in the program.

To meet additional program and clinical requirements, students must submit a completed health examination record and criminal background check by designated deadlines. Students who do not meet these deadlines will not be permitted in the program. Instructions on how to complete these items and the specific deadlines will be provided via email.

Qualified applicants not initially selected for acceptance will be placed on a waitlist in the order received and notified of selection when a seat becomes available. These applicants do not have to reapply.

Applicants who are offered a seat, but decline will have to reapply for a future seat. Seats will not be held.

Criminal Background Check

All health sciences students who are offered acceptance and/or clinical placement into the Massage Therapy program are required to satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and possible urine drug screening. For complete details see the Background Checks page.

Health Examination Record

Students accepted to this program must submit a health examination record completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant validating that the student meets the technical standard of good physical and mental health as established by the School of Health Sciences and verifying that the student is free of communicable diseases as evidenced by required immunizations/titers.

Learn more about the health examination record to include vaccinations and technical standards.

Anne Arundel Community College and/or the School of Health Sciences reserves the right to revise requirements for admission into the Health Sciences programs, the selection criteria and procedures, and the required courses for programs of study as deemed necessary without prior notification.