1. If I want to move to another province (non-legislated) and work as a therapist, what do I need to do?
Check with the respective provincial Association regarding their individual requirements for membership.  The links to each provincial body are listed below.  Most will accept you as a member upon completion of their membership paperwork and a Letter of Good Standing from MTAS.

Alberta
Manitoba
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories 

 

2. How do I transfer to one of the legislated provinces?

ONTARIO   www.cmto.com

To practice massage therapy in Ontario, you must obtain a Certificate of Registration from the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (the College). The College under the Massage Therapy Act and the Regulated Health Professions Act sets all registration requirements. You cannot practice as a massage therapist unless you are registered with the College. Only the College of Massage Therapists, the provincial regulatory body, can register Massage Therapists.

The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (the College), requires Credential and Prior Learning Assessment (CPLA) to determine if you have knowledge and skills equivalent to those acquired through education in Ontario which are required to pass the College's Certification Examinations and to practise in Ontario.

Following the CPLA process applicants will be referred to one of three steps towards obtaining Registration to practise massage therapy in Ontario.

1. Direct Access to the College’s Certification Examinations
   Applicants whose knowledge and skills are assessed as equivalent to the standards required for entry to practice in Ontario will be referred directly to the College’s Certification examinations.  Applicants registered in British Columbia or Newfoundland and Labrador will be eligible for Registration according to the terms of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).

2. "Bridging to Massage Therapy in Ontario" Programme
   Applicants whose knowledge and skills are assessed as not equivalent to the educational standards in Ontario and the assessment indicates they require minimal to moderate Ontario-specific upgrading, will be referred to a bridging programme.

BRITISH COLUMBIA   www.cmtbc.bc.ca

To practice massage therapy in British Columbia you must be a registrant of the College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMTBC). The CMTBC is the regulatory body responsible for the profession of massage in this province. The duty of the CMT is to serve and protect the public and to exercise its powers and discharge its responsibilities under all enactments in the public interest. The objects of the CMT are to govern Registrants, to establish, monitor and enforce standards of education, practice and continuing competency, to prevent professional misconduct and to establish, monitor and enforce standards of professional ethics.

Registration under the CMT means that you are entitled to practice massage therapy in British Columbia. Admission under the CMT is granted only after successful completion of the Registration Examinations (aka Board Exams). The current minimum core curriculum guideline requirement is 3,000 hours. This course of study takes approximately three years to complete.

Application for Credential and Prior Learning Assessment
Applicants that have not graduated from a BC accredited institution or are not transferable to BC as Conditional Registrants must prove to the satisfaction of the Registration Committee that they have educational and clinical qualifications that are substantially equivalent to those of a graduate from an Accredited Education Program. The CMTBC requires Credential and Prior Learning Assessment (CPLA) to determine if you have knowledge and skills equivalent to those acquired through education in BC. The CPLA fee is $160.00, payable upon remittance of the application. Note that the Candidate Application for CPLA is a two-page form that you fill in and submit to the CMTBC. The Request for Educational Documentation, consisting of a covering letter and a transcript request form (3 pages) should be submitted to your training institution and they are to fill it in and return it to the CMTBC.

Following the CPLA process applicants will be referred to one of three steps towards obtaining Registration to practice massage therapy in BC.

1. Direct Access to the College's Registration Examinations
   Applicants whose knowledge, skills and clinical qualifications are assessed as equivalent to the standards required for entry to practice in BC will be referred directly to the CMTBC's Registration examinations.

2. Further Training to Meet Educational Standards for Entry to Practice
   Applicants whose knowledge, skills and clinical qualifications are assessed as NOT equivalent to the standards required for entry to practice in BC, and the assessment indicates they require minimal to moderate BC specific upgrading, will be required to undertake further training or clinical practice. A list of providers of required courses (within the BC curriculum) will be made available to those applicants needing to undertake upgrading. Upon successful completion of the upgrading courses the applicant is then referred to the CMTBC's Registration examinations.

3. Further Training and Diagnostic Assessment
   Applicants whose knowledge, skills and clinical qualifications are assessed as NOT equivalent to the standards required for entry to practice in BC, and the assessment indicates they require moderate to extensive BC specific upgrading, will be required to undertake a Diagnostic Assessment. The Diagnostic Assessment is a both a written and a practical evaluation of your knowledge, hands-on, critical thinking, and clinical application skills. The Diagnostic Assessment fee is $1100.00. Once an applicant has completed the diagnostic assessment, a comprehensive report will be created with an overview of the assessment results, with notification of any additional study, further training or clinical practice to be completed before you can take the Registration examinations.

The Diagnostic Assessment consists of two components:

• Health Studies Written Examination
  This examination will include topics such as Anatomy and Physiology, Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Pathology, Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, Nutrition, Pathology, Orthopedic Pathology, Pharmacology, Research and Kinesiology.

•  Oral Practical Examination
  This examination will consist of a two-hour objectively structured clinical examination consisting of practical evaluation of skills such as health history taking, palpation or structure identification, patient handling, assessment, application of techniques, prescription of remedial exercise and hydrotherapy.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR www.cmtnl.ca  

NEW BRUNSWICK  www.cmtnb

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND  www.cmtpei.ca

 

3. What is the process if I want to come back to Saskatchewan and re-join MTAS once I have moved away?

The policy is as follows for returning members:

For those who have not been a member for 5 years or less, a re-application fee of $215.00 + GST will apply, in addition to the full membership fee for the current year, which is $430.00 for a practicing member, or $215.00 for non-practicing.
For those who have not been a member for more than 5 years, re-writing and passing the Member Qualifying Examination is required.  This is also the policy applicable to current members who have maintained a non-practicing membership for 5 years.

Please include a copy of your current CPR/SFA certificate and any continuing education certificates you have earned.  Our members' liability insurance policy is through Dusyk & Barlow in Regina - contact Jim MacKenzie to re-apply for coverage.  Tel: 800-305-6737. 

4. Moving to the U.S.:
Massage Therapy Schools in the United States (http://www.massagetherapyschoolsinformation.com/)
State-by-state information varies on requirements for massage school, certification and licensure, continuing education and starting a massage business.