Registered massage therapists provide a number of treatment services to the residents of British Columbia, including mitigation of chronic pain and medical conditions, sport and work-related injury therapy and stress-related muscle tension relief. Massage therapists in BC must be registered with the College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMT), a regulatory body that oversees the accreditation and professional development of massage therapists in the province. Registered massage therapists in BC can find employment opportunities in a number of different areas including hospitals, long-term care facilities, sports organizations or in private practice.
Instructions
1. Complete an accredited massage therapy program. Most massage therapy programs recognized by the CMT are three-year programs with 3,000 hours of training. As of 2010, only three schools in BC are accredited by the CMT, which are listed on the CMT website. If you have been trained elsewhere, or in an unaccredited massage therapy program, you can apply to the CMT for a prior learning assessment. If your prior education is deemed equivalent, you may be able to forgo the BC education requirement.
2. Apply to the CMT. Once you have completed your massage therapy program, you can apply to the CMT for membership. You must include your personal and education information in the application as well as sign a declaration about your criminal history. This declaration must be co-signed by a notary. You must also include three letters from people who know you and will vouch for your good character. Along with your application, you must enclose your registration and examination fees and annual dues, which, as of 2010, total CA $930. Send the application to the CMT.
College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia
103-1089 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H 1E5
604-736-3404
cmtc.bc.ca
3. Complete your examinations. Once your application has been approved, you may sit for your examinations. The examination has two parts: written and oral. Written exams are administered first and must be passed for you to qualify to take the oral exam. The written exam tests your clinical and scientific knowledge of massage, while the oral exam is a more practical, hands-on assessment of your skills. Once you have passed your exams, you are eligible to be registered as a massage therapist by the CMT.
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