ATI was founded in 2000 by the corporation, Acu-Health, Inc. and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education as a private vocational school. It is a small school located on the south shore in North Quincy dedicated to offering quality training in the ancient healing arts of Asian Bodywork Therapies:

National member of the Council for Schools and Programs (COSP) of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA).

Approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education provider under category A.

Professional Development Activities (PDAs) for NCCAOM recertification are available

The mission of the Acupressure Therapy Institute (ATI) is to provide a comprehensive education in Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT). We are dedicated to training professional practitioners with sensitivity, skill, knowledge and compassion so that they can provide health care to the public in complementary and alternative medicine. We encourage our students to self-discovery and to the development of their emerging selves as professional therapists.

Schedule and Tuition

Length of Program / Schedule:

730-hour program in ~16 months
One to two evenings a week (6:30-9:30pm) and one weekend a month (Sat. & Sun. 9:30-5:00pm).
Each course is approximately 10 weeks. A one to two week break is scheduled between courses.

Enrollment:

Enrollment for the certification program is twice a year in September and April.

Tuition:

$50 Application Fee
$7,900 Tuition for 730-hr. certification program (approximately $10/hr.)
~$1000 Anatomy & Physiology 100 hrs (required if not previously completed)
~ $642 Books and supplies
~ $100 Liability insurance required for clinic ($1,000,000 coverage through the AOBTA)
$200 Optional off-site internship at Mass. Hospital School Clinic

Elective hours are not included in the tuition. Part-time tuition plans are available. Flexible payment plans for quarterly or monthly payments are available with interest charges.

Please see our website for more information

The Acupressure Therapy Institute has a unique program and has many areas of special interest:

Only New England school teaching Acupressure Shiatsu style of ABT

Excellence of a well developed academic program

Founding director, Barbara Blanchard, has more than 25 yrs experience in creating curriculum and teaching ABT

Knowledgeable faculty

Three supervised student clinics: Acupressure Chair Clinic, Full Treatment Mat Clinic, Off-site internship with challenged adolescents at the Mass. Hospital School Pain Management Clinic

Small classes and individual attention

Flexible payment plans

Continuing education workshops

Alumni are welcome to sit in on classes for review, free of charge

Graduates have passed the NCCAOM exam and are successfully practicing

The Acupressure Therapy Institute offers a Student Clinic open to the public. Sessions are supervised by one of ATI's faculty. Your participation enables us to assist our students in advanced training in a clinical setting. Clinic sessions are individualized treatments based on assessment principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Treatment is given fully clothed either seated in a massage chair or on futon mats on the floor. We do not use oils or liniments. Acupressure is a gentle pressing type therapy along specific energy channels with an emphasis on Acupressure points for releasing blocks and balancing Qi (see What is Acupressure Shiatsu?). Students write up case studies and keep notes on each session. During clinic seminar, the students discuss individual cases with the faculty in a learning setting. All information is kept secure and confidential under HIPAA guidelines.

We offer two different student clinics: Chair Acupressure Seated Sessions and Acupressure Shiatsu Mat Treatments. Sessions are by appointment only. Plan ahead and call early because we tend to book quickly!

For details about the student clinic, please see our website

Continuing Education workshops are offered throughout the year. CEU hours are approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education provider under category A. Professional Development Activities (PDAs) for NCCAOM recertification are available Please check our website for more information.