Our objective is to graduate well-trained, highly-skilled, marketable massage therapists that are prepared for a successful future. We focus our curriculum, our staff and instructors, and our learning environment on this objective. ASHA graduates are Certified Massage Therapists, and are prepared for and eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination. A 6-hour workshop to prepare for the National Certification Exam is included in the course curriculum.
Note: The National Certification Exam is administered in various locations in and around Atlanta. Once you graduate and are ready to take the exam, you will fill out the necessary paperwork and send it in. You will then be notified in writing where and when to appear to take your test. It is a computerized, multiple choice test only, and does not involve practical exercises.
ASHA has multiple meanings. ASHA is the acronym for the Academy of Somatic Healing Arts. Each word has an important meaning for our school, our students, and our philosophy of education. ASHA also means "hope for the future" and "all that is good" in other languages.
Academy An Academy is usually a private secondary school that provides instruction in science and/or arts.
Somatic In the English dictionary, somatic means pertaining to the physical body. However, somatic comes from the Greek root word soma, which means the body, mind, and spirit as a unit. The flavor of the original Greek meaning more closely matches the holistic perspective, spirit, and philosophy of ASHA. In short, when you receive massage therapy, you are impacted on all levels.
Healing Healing means to restore health or wholeness. In a true medical sense, because of our strong clinical focus, ASHA-trained massage therapists have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to help restore health and wholeness. Furthermore, you will be healthier from the massages you receive, from the personal growth classes you attend, and from the relationships you form.
Art Art means any system of rules and principles that facilitates skilled human accomplishment. That fits ASHA perfectly because it is a school that prepares massage therapists to artfully heal bodies. While you are taught individual techniques, each of us is a potential artist, and your individual expression will be encouraged. And because of the interdependence of body, mind, and spirit, healing bodies inevitably has a healing effect on the mind and spirit as well.
ASHA was founded in 1991 with a vision and mission focused on adding Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) to massage training. That commitment continues today, and has been expanded dramatically under the leadership of Dr. Stan Dawson.
Our Vision
We are committed to developing a world of compassionate, healthy people working together towards self-actualization to enhance the health and consciousness of the world community.
Our Mission
- To provide a comprehensive, integrated curriculum based on both Eastern and Western philosophies that cultivates excellence in massage therapy.
- To create a nurturing environment conducive to learning, healing, wellness, and personal growth.
- To shift the world's view of healthcare from treating illness to creating wellness.
ASHA's Accreditation
ASHA is a state authorized school and is an institution accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). ASHA is the only institution accredited by COMTA in the state of Georgia. COMTA was originally created by the American Massage Therapy Association. It is the only agency that only accredits massage schools instead of agencies that accredit massage schools, beauty schools, medical technicians and various other trade schools.
Our Credentials
ASHA is:
- An institution accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA).
- A state-authorized school, regulated by the Non-Public Postsecondary Education Commission of the State of Georgia (NPEC).
- A Georgia Massage Board recognized massage therapy educational program.
- Recognized by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). (Our curriculum exceeds their requirements.)
- Approved for VA education benefits.
- Approved by the Department of Labor for students who qualify for educational benefits.
- Approved by the Department of Labor for students who qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation.
- Qualified ASHA students have been reimbursed by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Rehabilitative Services; the Georgia Department of Labor; the South Carolina Commission for the Blind; the AT&T Retraining Program; and the Private Industry Council.
- A member of the American Massage Therapy Association Council of Schools (AMTA-COS).
- A member of the Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP).
