We are Washington’s gold standard Structural Integration school. The program provides 768 hours of training for a Certificate in Structural Integration and meets requirements for massage license testing in the States of Washington and Oregon. Our trainings are individualized and specialized to challenge and accelerate your growth. The student-teacher ratio is kept at a maximum 10:2 for clinic/hands-on learning and each student receives personalized attention for their development. This ensures that students graduate competent to effectively develop their own Soma career while also growing and healing their own bodymind.
Where do I start. . . (choose one below)
. . . I’m totally new to bodywork:
You are required to attend Soma Essentials and both the Winter/Spring Module (Soma Training) and Fall Module (Soma Principles)
(Modules are best taken in order. Exceptions made with permission.)
. . . I’m a currently licensed LMT:
You are required to attend Soma Essentials and Winter/Spring Module (Soma Training). You are considered a TRANSFER student as we will need to evaluate your massage school transcript against IASI requirements for the SI certificate. We may request that you attend portions of Fall Module (Soma Principles) if you need to complete hours to meet IASI requirements.
. . . I’m an ND, OT, PT, MD, LAc, etc.
I am a licensed healthcare provider, but I’m not a massage therapist:
You are considered a TRANSFER student. You are required to attend Soma Essentials and Winter/Spring Module (Soma Training) and likely portions of Fall Module (Soma Principles). We will need to evaluate your transcript(s) and conduct an interview to determine what portions of Fall Module (Soma Principles) you will need to fulfill. You may also be asked to take a test so we can assess your understanding of material we cover in Fall Module (Soma Principles)
Soma Certificate Course Descriptions
PREREQUISITE: Soma Essentials: Somassage® Certificate (32 hours) – The Soma Essentials workshop is a prerequisite course for the Soma Certificate Program. It was developed as a simple yet effective way to apply Structural Integration principles to an individual session. This technique can be used as an introduction to Soma, as a treatment protocol, or as a flexible foundation to address the varying situations that arise in a practitioner’s career. It is also offered as a Continuing Education workshop and holds its own trademark and certificate. It provides the basic information needed to begin studying Soma and work toward becoming a Soma Structural Integration practitioner. (Upon successful completion of this course, you will be given the opportunity to apply to the full Soma SI certificate.)
Once you have completed the Soma Essentials prerequisite you will be invited to apply to the Certificate Training Program. The Training consists of two Modules that are best taken in order, Principles then Training. Exceptions made with permission.
FALL MODULE: Soma Principles– Anatomy/Kinesiology/Physiology & test preparation for the national Massage Licensing exam (MBLEx) and Certification Exam for Structural Integration (CESI). There is an emphasis on fascia, kinesthetic awareness, and current and classic writings in the lineage of Ida P. Rolf. The curriculum includes all necessary science and learning to become a certified and licensed practitioner.
SPRING MODULE: Soma Training– Extensive hands-on and experiential learning of fascial manipulation and therapeutic approaches, Structural Analysis and treatment planning. Emphasis is on completing the 11 series with 5 models with faculty supervision and support, movement re-education, ethics, and business and client development. (This course is required for all Soma students.)
Together, the modules meet requirements set forth by the governing bodies for Structural Integration and Massage and allow graduates to become appropriately licensed for practice. Students with no license or bodywork education must complete all hours of the certificate program at the Soma Institute. The two modules may be taken in any order, with the permission of the faculty.
Students that have a current massage license, a license in another health care field, or relevant educational experience can apply for transfer credit against hours in the Soma Principles Module. There is a $180 transcript evaluation fee and applicable credits will be assessed on a case by case basis. Tuition and recommendations for Soma Principles classes will be arranged individually. All hours for the Soma Training Module must be attended and all assessments must be passed to complete the certificate.
Certificate & Licensing
Upon successful completion of both Modules you will be required to follow the laws in the state you plan to practice. In many states, including Washington and Oregon, you are required to pass the MBLEx, the national certification exam, before applying for your massage license. Once you receive your license…Yay! Now you can share your heart, skills and Soma with the world! If required, the Soma Institute will send information directly to the state body that governs the practice of bodywork.
The Soma Institute is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education provider under Category A. It is also an approved provider by the International Associate of Structural Integrators (IASI).
The Principles and Training modules, taken together constitute the full Soma Certificate program, and prepare students to take the Certification Exam for Structural Integration and the MBLEx Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination which is the universal massage licensing method in the United States.
International Students
We will consult with you to best fit your needs depending on your previous education, training, and license requirements within your country. We welcome your questions, please use the contact page.
