Continuing Education - FAQ
As stated in the MTAS Bylaws (11.2): “All MTAS members are required to maintain competency by collecting continuing education units (CEUs)”.The Continuing Education Committee believes that it is important to let members develop their own direction, but that it is also prudent that members keep public safety and their professional reputation as the primary concern. The Continuing Education Committee has designed the CEU program to be accessible to all members of the profession, regardless of physical location, financial restraints and/or time limitations. This handbook sets out the requirements and guidelines for members.Continuous self-assessment and enhancement of skills are essential responsibilities of each member. Evolving techniques, innovations in healthcare provision and increasing social awareness of the importance of healthcare emphasize the need for members to demonstrate their continued competence to provide high quality therapeutic massage services in Saskatchewan. To this end, the continuing education program serves to:
- Recognize that continuous member self-education is significant to the standard of care provided to clients;
- Give members the opportunity to communicate with other healthcare professionals; and
- Pursue professional excellence, as stated in the MTAS Code of Ethics (available on the "About MTAS" page of this website.)
Each member is expected to perform and operate their practice within the parameters of ethical and responsible means, as outlined in the Bylaws, Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The choice of courses taken and/or direction of professional development are the responsibility of the individual therapist. Therapists are encouraged to evaluate their choice of courses/workshops and related activities in terms of their benefit to the ongoing quality improvement of their practice.The Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan (MTAS) awards continuing education credits to courses that meet the submission criteria and that contain instruction that falls within the MTAS scope of practice. However, MTAS cannot attest to the qualityof the courses or instructors. It is the responsibility of the course registrant to select what is of value and what is within the MTAS scope of practice to be used within his/her practice.
A candidate for retiree membership shall not be required to maintain any con-ed credits.
These members are required to maintain 50% of the practicing member credit requirements.
Honorary Practicing Life Members: Currently these members are required to meet the same CEU responsibilities as practicing members, as directed in the Bylaws of the Association, Section 9.3(f)(iii).
Honorary Non-Practicing Life Members: These members are no longer practicing massage therapy and are therefore not required to maintain the current CEU requirements (Bylaws Section 11.2(a).
Any continuing education credits earned in another province may be transferable to the requirements for MTAS, providing that the course was completed during the current MTAS window. If these courses are not on the MTAS pre-approved list, the responsibility falls to the member to ensure that they are submitted to the MTAS Continuing Education Committee for a course evaluation. Please be advised that the MTAS course evaluation criteria may be different from that of other jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the member to contact the MTAS office in advance of the submission deadline to ensure appropriate course approval has been granted.
New members who have just graduated from a 2,200-hour massage program and have successfully completed the MTAS Qualifying Examination will have a grace period of two (2) years before being required to earn primary credits; however the minimum 7 business credits are mandatory.
This two-year period is interpreted as beginning the year after the year of graduation, (e.g. a 2017 graduate's grace period would be 2018 and 2019). New members will be permitted to carry forward up to and including a maximum of 40 credits earned during this time. No additional pro-rating will occur for new members who take non-practicing membership status.
The policy for these members has changed, effective November 1st, 2012. For each COMPLETE year of non-practicing membership, the 40-credit requirement is reduced by 13 credits.
NOTE: if a therapist upgrades from non-practicing to practicing status part-way through the membership year, the required credits revert to the practicing membership obligation of 13 credits for that year.
Examples:
- Year one – non-practicing = 0 credits
Year two – non-practicing = 0 credits
Year three – non-practicing = 0 credits
Total for the window = 0 credits - Year one – practicing = 13.333 credits
Year two – practicing = 13.333 credits
Year three – non-practicing = 0 credits
Total for the window = 27 credits
NOTE: Whilst non-practicing, members are not required to maintain current CPR/SFA; however the certification must be renewed before upgrading to practicing membership.
All established practicing members (those who are past the grace period for new members) must obtain a minimum of 40 credits within the specified 3-year window.
Credits must be acquired in the following categories:
- Primary Credits - Minimum 40 per window (includes 5 for CPR/SFA - once per window)
- Business Credits - Not mandatory, maximum 14 allowed
NOTE: if a therapist earns the maximum allowed 14 business credits, the primary credit requirement will be reduced to 21, plus the 5 credits for CPR/SFA, for a total of 40 credits.