Massage Therapy Schools in Canada provide the best preparation for a career as a massage therapist.
Attending a massage therapy school in Canada opens up various career opportunities.
The knowledge you’ll gain at one of Canada’s massage therapy schools will help you in various areas, including your career.
Massage therapy schools typically give students the knowledge and training they need to succeed in massage therapy.
This article will look at the best massage therapy schools in Canada and all you need to know about them.
Keep reading!
See Also: Top Massage Therapy Schools in Massachusetts
Table of Contents
Are there Massage Therapy Schools in Canada?
There are a good number of massage therapy schools in Canada. These are the massage therapy schools in Canada:
- Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy
- Humber College
- Academy Canada Career College
- ABM College
- Fanshawe College
- Mohawk College
- Niagara College Canada
- Centennial College
- Alberta College of Massage Therapy
- Conestoga Massage Therapy School
- Robertson College
- Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy
- Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy
- Kikkawa College & Teaching Clinic
- The Toronto School of Thai Massage
How Does One Become a Massage Therapist in Canada?
Registered massage therapists, or RMTs, are in high demand and have a rewarding work environment.
Working as an RMT allows you to help people reduce physical and mental stress, making it a very rewarding career choice. How do you become a Registered Massage Therapist in Canada?
Here are the steps required to become an RMT in Canada:
1. Acquire a Massage Therapy Diploma
Enrolling in a massage therapy diploma program is the first step to becoming an RMT.
Your chosen school must be approved by your province’s Ministry of Education and other certification boards, such as The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO).
2. Complete any Required Hands-on Training.
Hands-on experience is required as part of your diploma education from an approved massage therapy program before you can take your RMT exam.
This experience is an excellent opportunity to use your knowledge of massage therapy modalities that you learned in school.
3. Obtain CMTO Registration and pass a Third-Party Licensing Exam.
You must pass certification exams to be registered. The Objectively Structured Clinical Evaluation, or OSCE, and the Multiple-Choice Question, or MCQ, are two of these exams. Both tests must be passed with a score of 70 or higher.
However, as a regulated health practitioner, job opportunities will come to you.
You can begin applying for jobs at hospice centers, nursing homes, pain management centers, health and wellness centers, physical therapy clinics, med spas, and other facilities now that you have the necessary credentials and experience.
Also, you could even work as a self-employed RMT.
This guide will serve as a road map for working as an RMT in Canada.
What are the Best Massage Therapy Schools in Canada?
Below are the best massage therapy schools in Canada:
1. Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy
The Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy was founded on the principles of educational excellence and upholding the highest standards in Massage Therapy.
The Massage Therapy Program is an 18-month program based on the CMTO Interjurisdictional competency and includes class lectures and practical experience.
Furthermore, they offer program start dates for day and evening classes three times a year. The winter session is in January, the spring session is in May, and the fall session is in September.
During Term 1 and Term 2, the emphasis is on learning the fundamentals of the human body. The emphasis in Term 3 and Term 4 will be on application, knowledge, and clinical skill refinement.
Additionally, students will learn important information that will help them excel in communication, professionalism, organization, and time management skills, all of which are required for graduation.
Field trips to medical labs, cadaver labs, hospitals, office functions, rehabilitation clinics, and sporting events will also be.
2. Humber College
The advanced diploma program in Massage Therapy at Humber College provides you with the in-depth academic preparation and hands-on practical experience needed to become a valuable healthcare team member.
Working in cutting-edge facilities, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to conduct a patient assessment, develop treatment plans, deliver safe and effective care, and evaluate outcomes.
You’ll also learn how to run a successful business, preparing you to become an entrepreneur or own your private practice.
Massage therapists are regulated healthcare professionals overseen by the College of Massage Therapists of Canada by the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Massage Therapy Act.
In addition, the mission is to train massage therapy students to be knowledgeable, compassionate, and respectful leaders, influential practitioners, and valuable members of their communities.
Read Also: Top Massage Therapy Schools in Ghana
3. Academy Canada Career College
The Massage Therapy program at Medix School in Ontario will prepare graduates to work in one of Canada’s fastest-growing health professions.
As a result of a healthcare system that promotes individual well-being, this field has been rapidly expanding.
Furthermore, practitioners increasingly see massage therapy as an important rehabilitation tool for clients.
This training is spread over eight blocks, with plenty of hands-on practice under faculty supervision.
Massage therapy is a licensed profession in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. To work as a Massage Therapist in the province, you must first pass the College of Massage Therapists of Newfoundland and Labrador (CMTNL) certification exam.
Massage Therapy diploma program graduates are eligible to take the CMTNL certification examination.
Massage Therapy graduates can also benefit from Academy Canada’s Articulation Agreement with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops, BC, which grants them advanced standing for 69 credits toward TRU’s Bachelor of Health Science degree.
Those who take advantage of this opportunity can finish the rest of their degree online in less than two years.
4. ABM College
The dynamic, intensive, and high-quality Massage Therapy Diploma Program at ABM College lasts two years (112 weeks). It provides students with the in-demand health sciences skills and knowledge required to become Registered Massage Therapists upon completing the program.
The knowledgeable instructors provide students with didactic and practical training to enhance their educational experience.
Students gain hands-on massage therapy experience at the in-house massage student clinic, where they complete a practicum.
Also, students apply the techniques learned in the advanced massage therapy course for assessing clients and providing effective healing treatment.
This blended learning prepares students to pursue careers in various office settings, such as massage therapy clinics, spa/yoga/fitness centers, physiotherapy clinics, chiropractic clinics, community health services, and more.
Read Also: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Utah
5. Fanshawe College
Massage Therapy (Accelerated) is a three-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma program offered at Fanshawe College in an accelerated format over two years.
Students will learn how to maintain, rehab, and augment physical function to alleviate pain.
Within the student-run clinic, students will be able to hone their skills. With a strong understanding of massage theory and practice, graduates will feel confident entering the workforce.
Learning the highly dynamic skills required to assist the body in healing is critical in any healthcare field.
Apply now if you are excited about the opportunity to provide valuable massage therapy treatment to those in need.
After passing the provincial registration exams, you will work as a massage therapist in two years.
You’ll hone your massage skills in the student-run clinic, where you’ll experiment with various hands-on techniques with a strong emphasis on medical knowledge.
You’ll also learn how to assess your client’s needs and how to maintain, rehabilitate, and augment physical function to relieve pain firsthand.
Lastly, you’ll also learn about massage theory and practice while experimenting with various massage techniques such as sport, clinical, therapeutic, and pregnancy massage.
6. Mohawk College
The Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation has granted Mohawk College’s Massage Therapy Program Accreditation for three years (2021-2024). (CMTCA).
What you’ll learn in this school are:
- You will gain the knowledge and practical skills needed to pass the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) certification exams and become a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT).
- You will study an evidence-based curriculum that promotes an inter-professional approach to health care to improve patient outcomes.
- You will learn about human anatomy, physiology, and common pathologies.
- You will learn to think critically to prepare and implement safe and effective treatment plans.
- You will use alternative health care methods.
- You will learn the ethical and professional skills and behaviors required to become a Regulated Health Care Professional.
Read Also: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Washington
7. Niagara College Canada
Massage therapists offer therapeutic massage to clients to improve their overall health and well-being by caring for their muscular, nervous, and circulatory systems.
Graduates will use massage therapy to assist their clients in developing physical function, as well as the relief or prevention of physical dysfunction, pain, and the effects of stress.
However, in this school, you will learn to:
- Learn and apply the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to provide safe, effective, and ethical care.
- Work with clients in on-campus supervised clinics and community placement settings.
- Conduct clinical assessments, develop thorough clinical impressions, and develop client-centered treatment plans.
Also, graduates may apply to the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) to take certification exams.
8. Centennial College
Centennial College’s Massage Therapy program will teach you the fundamental and advanced massage therapy skills needed to become a successful massage therapist.
This advanced diploma health program will place a premium on professionalism and teach an evidence-based approach to assessment, treatment planning, and implementation.
Additionally, this college health program, recognized as a distinct and rigorous offering within the School of Community and Health Studies, will balance theory and practical application through in-class lectures, lab experience, an onsite public clinic, and off-site outreach placements.
Also, you’ll learn how to use assessment tools and techniques to treat a wide range of conditions involving the body’s lymph, muscle, nerve, fascia, and joints, as well as a wellness focus that promotes physical health, function, and mobility.
Read Also: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Ontario
9. Alberta College of Massage Therapy
Alberta College of Massage Therapy provides an inspiring, flexible program that allows you to train for a career as a Registered Massage Therapist while still living your life.
This progressive learning method combines home study, in-class tutorials, and clinic practice time.
ACMT’s online Learning Management System allows students to study from home. ACMT instructors are always available to answer questions via email. Hands-on learning is emphasized in class.
Students learn the fundamentals of relaxation massage and various Swedish Massage techniques during their first year.
Furthermore, anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and hydrotherapy are all introduced to students. Students practice on real clients in our student clinics after the fourth module.
Spa Massage Practitioner program graduates receive a certificate and can work in spas or on cruise ships.
Also, students learn deep tissue massage, fascia release, facilitated exercises, history taking, orthopedic assessments, and treatment of pathologies affecting the entire muscular-skeletal system in the second year.
Throughout the program, students practice in ACMT’s Student Clinic. When graduates join an association, they become Registered Massage Therapists.
10. Conestoga Massage Therapy School
Massage therapists are valuable members of the interprofessional healthcare team, as they work with a diverse range of patients.
Massage therapy primarily involves hands-on manipulation of the body’s soft tissues, specifically the muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, and joints, to optimize health by engaging the musculoskeletal neurological, and circulatory systems.
The Massage Therapy program is designed for people interested in health care and helping others, who have a knack for science and problem-solving and enjoy the direct hands-on application of skills.
This three-year advanced diploma is designed to meet the educational requirements for certification as a Registered Massage Therapist by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario through examination.
Also, this program covers the fundamental biological sciences, such as anatomy and physiology, massage therapy-specific knowledge and skills, clinical reasoning, and therapeutic decision-making.
11. Robertson College
Robertson’s Massage Therapy diploma program uses an immersive and hands-on approach to prepare students for an exciting and rewarding career in the healthcare sector.
Instructors with industry experience guide students through the 120-week hybrid program, which gives students more control over their time while still providing in-person instruction and mentorship opportunities with their instructors.
The 120-week program is divided into three equal sections.
Section 1 gives students a foundational understanding of the massage therapy field as well as the basic theory behind the profession
In Section 2, These themes are expanded upon, and students begin hands-on learning on campus.
Students begin to adopt and practice various massage therapy techniques while developing muscle strength and memory under the supervision of industry experts.
Finally, in Section 3, Students learn more advanced techniques and begin working at the on-site massage therapy clinic.
Clinical hours are gradually increased throughout the program to give students time to adjust to the demands of the profession, both physically and mentally.
In addition, clinical practice time allows students to gain real-world experience working with actual clients in a clinical setting. A practicing RMT oversees all clinical sessions.
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Read Also: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in Florida
12. Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy
Since 1946, CCMH has provided first-rate massage therapy education. The 12,000-square-foot campus is located in midtown Halifax, adjacent to the Halifax Shopping Center, and has excellent access to transit, free parking, coffee shops, and restaurants.
It is home to approximately 100 students and over 20 faculty members. Aside from academic and practical education, the campus has a thriving public Student Intern Clinic that is open 5-6 days a week.
The massage therapy diploma program graduates are qualified to practice massage therapy in all non-regulated Canadian provinces. They are prepared to confidently sit for and pass certification exams in all regulated Canadian provinces (NL, NB, PEI, ON, SK, and BC) for entry to practice as a Registered Massage Therapist.
13. Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy
OV has been a Registered Massage Therapy education leader for over 25 years. We are Canada’s first Nationally Accredited Massage Therapy program and have been designated by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills, and Training’s Private Institutions Branch.
The College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia has recognized them. Following graduation, the graduates are eligible to take the CMTBC registration examinations.
When you choose the experience, passion, and exemplary program offered by OV College of Massage Therapy, you choose excellence in Massage Therapy education.
Top industry professionals expose students to cutting-edge technology and learning principles. Visit them as a “student for a day” and experience the difference passion can make.
14. Kikkawa College & Teaching Clinic
Kikkawa Shiatsu School Inc.’s ICT Institutions own and manage private career colleges in Toronto and Halifax, providing massage therapy instruction to students in other schools across Canada and the United States.
Moving on, Shirley D. Desborough and the late Mitsuki Kikkawa founded Kikkawa College in 1977 in Toronto, Ontario. All ICT Kikkawa College applications must include a $75.00 application fee plus HST.
ICT Kikkawa College’s total application fee, including sales tax, is $84.25 USD.
This cost is not deducted from the tuition. Payment of the registration fee and a tuition deposit is required for acceptance into the Massage Therapy Diploma Program.
The remaining tuition is divided into two installments, due during the first and second years of study. There are no interest payment plans available.
Depending on enrollment, different versions of the program will be run. Suppose a program option is canceled due to insufficient enrollment at one of the best massage therapy schools in Toronto. In that case, student fees may be transferred to another version or refunded in full.
Read Also: 15 Best Massage Therapy Schools in North Carolina
15. The Toronto School of Thai Massage
Deanna Villa, a pioneer and industry leader, founded TMT in 1998.
Through hands-on practice, teachings, live demonstrations, media coverage, workshops, and participation in trade shows and conferences, it has played a critical role in mainstreaming this ancient type of massage.
However, TMT was Toronto’s first brick-and-mortar Thai Massage School and Massage Center and one of the first in North America and is regarded as one of the best massage therapy schools in Toronto.
It is a CEU: Continuing Education Approved Provider with 21 years of experience in North America, with locations in Toronto and Mississauga and online.
How Long are Massage Therapy Schools in Canada?
Prospective massage therapists must complete a massage therapy degree program at an accredited college or university, which can last anywhere from 18 months to 36 months, as part of their education and training.
You must be registered with a regulatory organization in Newfoundland, Labrador, Ontario, and British Columbia.
How Much are Massage Therapy Schools in Canada?
Being a Massage Therapist is a rewarding and versatile profession.
However, there are numerous factors to consider when selecting a Massage school.
Do you prefer a small college or a large university? What are the application procedures? And – perhaps most importantly – how much does it cost to become a Massage Therapist?
Most Massage Therapy programs in Canada are 2200 hours long, with tuition ranging from $15,000 to $35,000 (excluding books and supplies).
There are breakdowns of various massage school tuitions available online, but some schools do not list their pricing without a meeting or commitment.
How Much Do Massage Therapists Make in Canada?
According to Indeed.com, the average hourly wage for a massage therapist in Canada is $58.43.
Salaries in the sector can vary greatly depending on the position and number of years of experience.
However, an entry-level position typically pays $43,000, with significant room for advancement.
Independent or on-site massage therapists may earn a salary depending on the number of clients and the standard service cost.
Conclusion
According to data, Canada’s massage and spa industry has grown rapidly over the last decade, with job opportunities expected to grow by an additional 18% to 26% between 2021 and 2025.
The increasing acceptance of massage as a medicinal tool in society contributes to the increase in demand for massage therapists.
I hope this article will be of help to you.
FAQs
Is Going to Massage Therapy School in Canada Worth it?
Overall, massage therapists report high job satisfaction with their work. Massage therapy was ranked among the best career paths in the 2021 U.S. News 100 Best Jobs survey.
Are Massage Therapists in High Demand in Canada?
Massage therapists in Canada are in high demand! We recommend you begin your job search in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, as these provinces have identified massage therapists as critical occupations to fill by 2023.
Can You Give Massages Without a License in Canada?
Many provinces permit unlicensed individuals to provide relaxation massages but not therapy. In this case, he or she would be referred to as a masseuse/masseur rather than a massage therapist.
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