FastForward funding offered at DSLCC in Massage Therapy

FastForward Funding Offered for DSLCC Massage Therapy Program        

Massage Therapy will be offered this fall as a FastForward credential program through Dabney S. Lancaster Community College’s Workforce Solutions and Community Education, as announced by Gary Keener, Vice President of the DSLCC WSCE division

  DSLCC’s FastForward program can cover up to two-thirds of the cost of tuition, and additional tuition assistance may be available for eligible students through Workforce Credential Grant funding, says Brooke Shehan, DSLCC’s FastForward Career Coach.

Massage Therapy classes are anticipated to begin in mid-September in two locations: DSLCC’s Rockbridge Regional Center in Buena Vista and also at the Roanoke Higher Education Center in downtown Roanoke. Students can expect to complete their classes in as little as 10 months, and the tuition fee could be reduced to $1,900 and in some cases, as little as $190 for qualifying applicants that are eligible for FastForward financial assistance funding.  

“FastForward programs are of great benefit to our students and are designed for their success by providing accessible and affordable training for local, high-demand jobs,” says Shehan. FastForward allows students to get back to work quickly, start a new career, or expand skills by completing training and earning a credential in weeks or months.

After successfully completing the requirements of the massage therapy program through DSLCC, and passing the Massage and BodyWork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), students will receive the Licensed Massage Therapist credential issued by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

“This is an opportunity for students to receive the training and financial support they need, while also meeting the ever-increasing demand of massage therapy and other business partners within our region,” says Keener. These partnerships, he noted, help DSLCC to continue to build strong communities through a skilled workforce.

For more information on DSLCC’s Massage Therapy program, visit the website at www.dslcc.edu/workforce or contact Shehan at (540) 863-2848 or bshehan@dslcc.edu

–Submitted story and photo by Judy Clark, DSLCC public relations