Admission Costs & Materials
Students must be a minimum of 18 years of age with a high school degree or equivalent; no other age limits or age discrimination. Students must receive a professional massage before acceptance to the program . Students should be in good physical and mental health and be of high moral character. Students are accepted according to available space, without regard to gender, color, creed, race, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.
We welcome prospective students to make an appointment to visit the school. It is strongly suggested that each individual interested in the school attend one of DSM ’s Personal Tours. During that time, students will meet some of the staff, tour the facility, perhaps view classes in session, and discuss entrance into the program. For more information about scheduling a Personal Tour, please call the school Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM. Recorded messages received after hours will be answered in a timely manner. To apply, click here for our full catalog and application and mail to DSM with:
| Non-refundable application fee | $ 50.00 |
|---|---|
| Registration | 100.00 |
| TOTAL | $150.00 |
After receiving the completed application and fees, the Director of Admissions will contact the applicant for an interview. The interview/visit is an important time for the Director of Admissions and the applicant to question each other for pertinent information. Upon acceptance, students will receive notification and an enrollment contract for the desired program. The remaining balance, depending on the desired program, is due according to the terms of the student’s financial contract. There is a $10-per-month interest charge and a one-time, non-refundable $20 Credit Application Fee for monthly payment plans. Interest fees will be prorated for monthly plans, should the student pay off early.
| Tuition and Costs | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,270.00 |
| Registration | 100.00 |
| Application Fee | 50.00 |
| TOTAL | $12,420.00 |
The following items are estimated costs to be incurred during the school year, unless otherwise noted. These costs are in addition to tuition and are not part of the DSM Refund Policy. Students are required to buy their own books, table, supplies, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, linens, and office supplies. Most required books are available through the school, as are lotions and oils. There are many innovative tables on the market today; DSM distributes information and arranges sales through leading table companies.
| * Books and Manuals (Purchased at 1st class) | $ 350.00 |
|---|---|
| Four Professional Massages (outside class hrs.) | $ 260.00 |
| Massage Table & Accessories (approx.) | $ 300.00-1000.00 |
| Lotion & Oil, 2 gallons each (for entire program) | $ 150.00 |
| Linen (estimate 6 sets) | $ 120.00 |
| Table Accessories (optional) | $70.00-150.00 |
| BP Cuff | $ 30.00 |
| Stethoscope | $ 15.00 |
| **AMTA Student Membership | $ 0.00 |
| ***Graduation Fee | $ 50.00 |
| FA/CPR | $ 50.00 |
Miscellaneous Fees
- Deposit. Students for whom a payment-plan has been approved, except those applicants who chose to pay in full or in two equal installments, are required to put down a $500.00 deposit. Deposits are required to be paid in full upon completion of the interview process.
- Payment Plan. In-house financing is available. Interest fees are included in monthly payment plans. Payment plans are established during the admissions process.
- Credit Application Fee. In addition to interest, there is a $25 additional fee for initiating a payment plan.
- Payment Plan Interest. Interest fees are included in monthly payment-plan installments for those students for whom that option has been approved.
- Transfer of Credit Fee. The minimum fee for transfer of course credit is $50.00. A portfolio review incurs a fee of $30 an hour. There is a non-refundable fee for each exam(s) necessary to determine whether or not credit will be granted for all or part of any request. This fee is $25 for a written exam and $50 for a practical exam/evaluation. A fee of $30 per hour may also be necessary for the time it takes the instructor to create a comprehensive exam or modify an existing exam. A charge of $1 is also incurred for each hour of credit awarded.
- Transfer Schedule Fee. Students are charged a $100 fee for changing schedules. If the transfer results in a change of graduation date, a Delayed Graduation Fee also applies.
- Delayed Graduation Fee. Students are charged a minimum fee of $100 for a delayed graduation, if all graduation requirements are not met by the scheduled graduation date. If any coursework remains incomplete one month after graduation, a fee of $100 per month is charged for each additional month that graduation is delayed. (This situation does not apply if graduation is delayed because a course is being retaken.) NOTE: All coursework for any course-except short courses-must be complete within 150% of the original time frame of that course in order to pass the course.
- Leave of Absence Fee. A fee of $100 is charged for an approved leave of absence. Please note that a leave of absence may not extend past 6 months. An additional $50 fee for a practical evaluation may be required upon reenrollment.
Class size depends on the time of year a student starts and which schedule is chosen. The January program, representing one massage class, has a 30-student limit. September massage classes vary from very small night classes to the more popular day classes with a maximum of 30 students each. September lecture classes represent two massage classes plus two-year students and often comprise more than 40 students. The larger the massage class, the more instructors and assistants, with a ratio of working students to instructors of at least 10:1.
Credit for prior learning is granted only when it can be determined that the course work taken at another institution is substantially equivalent to the course(s) in our program for which the applicant or student seeks credit, and when the prior learning was achieved at a recognized school, as defined below. Each request for credit for prior learning is considered on an individual basis. The Director is responsible for determining the amount of credit that will be granted, according to the following guidelines:
If a student has attended a vocational school accredited by COMTA, ACCSCT, ACCET, or NACCAS, a state-approved massage therapy school; an accredited community college, or a 4-year college or university within 3 years previous to the acceptance into the DSM program, he/she may apply for credit for prior learning. The number of contact hours of the transfer course must meet or exceed the number of hours of the course offered by DSM. The student must arrange for DSM to receive an official transcript from the institution where the course was taken, and in some cases the institution will also be asked for a detailed description of the course content. Depending on the topics and the courses included in the student’s request for credit, he/she will be required to take a practical and/or written exam for each course. The instructor of a course under consideration will design the exam. Based on the results of the exam(s), the Director will determine whether credit will be granted for all or part of the request. All other courses must be taken in their entirety.
Any transfer of credit must be completed prior to the start of the course. No one is allowed to test out once the course has started. No refunds are given for transfer credit. See the DSM Student Handbook for further details.
Students are prohibited from using, abusing, possessing, exchanging, selling and/or distributing controlled substances (illicit drugs), and/or unlawful use of alcohol, while on school premises or while engaged in any school-sponsored activity. Students are also prohibited from attending classes or class-related activities while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. DSM requires students using any medication to inform the school of the medication and its reasons and notify the school at termination of such usage.
Graduates need only submit a completed application to the State of Maine in order to obtain a Maine license to practice massage therapy as an LMT. Requirements may vary in other states. Specific information is in the DSM Student Handbook.