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Registered Massage Therapists


RMT is a professional 'designation' used by a graduate Massage Therapist who has completed two years of education at a recognised school of massage therapy (see the Education Section of this site for background on schools of Massage Therapy), and who is a member of a 'Regulatory College' - or in some cases - an association of Massage Therapists, such as the MTAM. 
 
The term 'Registered Massage Therapist' is normally found in use by practicing professionals in legislated provinces (Ontario, British Columbia & Newfoundland & Labrador) who are permitted by their 'Regulatory Colleges' within the parameters of a "Massage Therapy Act" to use the designation. In Canada there are approximately 22,000 professional massage therapists of whom over 60% are legislated and permitted by law to use the professional designation of RMT. In addition the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario has protected the following nine marks as "official marks" under the provisions of Section 9 of the Trademarks Act of Canada.
  • Massage Therapist
  • Registered Massage Therapist
  • Massage Therapy
  • Therapeutic Massage
  • Massothérapeute
  • Massage Thérapeutique
  • Massothérapie
  • R.M.T
  • M.T

Members of the MTAM have used this designation in Manitoba for many years with the approval of the CMTO and with the understanding that the standards practiced by their members were similar to the Ontario experience.

Massage Therapist - National Occupational Classification (NOC) # 3236

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada identifies massage therapy as a distinct profession within the national occupational classification system (NOC #3236).  HRSDC defines "massage therapist" and outlines the main duties and employment requirements for massage therapists as follows:

Massage therapists assess soft tissues and joints of the body for treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders. Massage therapists work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and educational institutions.

Main Duties

Massage therapists perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Assess clients by conducting range of motion and muscle tests and propose treatment plans
  • Explain procedures, risks and benefits to clients
  • Administer massage techniques, treating soft tissues and joints of the body through soft tissue manipulation, relaxation techniques, hydrotherapy, trigger point therapy, joint pain and lower grade mobilizations, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs
  • Suggest home care instructions and provide information about techniques for further postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation and rehabilitative exercises
  • Maintain records of treatments given
  • May consult with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for clients.Massage therapists may be trained in various specialized massage techniques.

Employment requirements

    • Massage therapists usually require completion of an 18- to 24-month or 18- to 36-month program in massage therapy from an accredited school
      and
      a period of supervised practical training.
    • Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and British Columbia.
 
Example titles:
  • massage therapist (MT)
  • registered massage practitioner
  • registered massage therapist (RMT)
  • RMT (registered massage therapist)
  • MT (massage therapist)
  • masso kinesitherapist
  • massotherapist
  • myotherapist
  • orthotherapist
  • Thai massage therapist
  • therapist, massage

Please follow this link for more information about the Canadian National Occupational Classification system, and particularly its description of massage therapists:

NOC #3236 - Massage Therapists