Massage therapy is a regulated health profession in Ontario and as such, massage therapy should be performed by a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT). All RMTs are required to be registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO).
A Registered Massage Therapist is an individual who has:
Completed competency-based education at educational institutions recognized by the Government of Ontario;
Studied anatomy, physiology, pathology, physical assessment, neurology, treatments, ethics and other subjects;
Completed a minimum of 150 clinical hours;
Successfully completed examinations from and have been "registered" by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (the College) in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Massage Therapy Act;
Maintained their registration by participating in continuing education and a Quality Assurance Program that assists them in the maintenance of high professional standards and quality care of their clients.
Only members of the College are permitted to use the title, Massage Therapist or Registered Massage Therapist or the designation of RMT or MT. Anyone using those titles or designations without being registered with the College should be reported to the College. All members of the Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario must be registered with the College and are therefore licensed massage therapy practitioners.
The CMTO is the regulatory body for the profession of massage therapy in Ontario. Therefore, they set the policies and guidelines that must be followed by all RMTs in Ontario. many of these guidelines can be found on CMTO.com and concern issues including client records, receipts, consent, and all other regulations pertaining to RMTs.
WHAT IS MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues of the body including, muscles, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments and joints. Massage Therapy is a clinically-oriented healthcare option that helps alleviate the discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular over-use and many chronic pain conditions.
Massage therapy is an increasingly popular health care option across Canada. According to the 2015 Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey, massage therapy is the most utilized paramedical extended health benefit, behind only dental and vision care, with over 50% using it to treat a diagnosed condition or injury.
Massage therapy should be provided by a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT). An RMT is an individual who is registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Massage Therapy Act. Only registrants with the CMTO are permitted to use the title Massage Therapist (MT), Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) and the equivalents in other languages. To determine whether someone is an RMT, you can search for them on the CMTO website.
A Registered Massage Therapist is a primary healthcare provider in Ontario and anyone may visit an RMT of their choice. A referral or prescription is not required to visit an RMT, although some insurance companies may require this.
Massage Therapy can be used to treat both acute and chronic conditions. RMTs can work with a variety of patient populations in the treatment of illness, injury rehabilitation and disability . Massage therapy can be beneficial to a wide variety of conditions and is a great addition to your everyday healthcare.