Registered Massage Therapists – Applicants

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For Applicants

Applicants to become registered massage therapists in BC may begin practice as RMTs when they have met CCHPBC’s entry-to-practice requirements and followed the application process in the Applicant Portal.

There are different pathways to entry-level practice. See the respective pages for information about the pathways:

  • Applicants from recognized education programs
  • RMTS From Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and PEI
  • Other Applicants – Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Applicants From Recognized Education Programs

What is a recognized education program?

Massage therapy education programs recognized by CCHPBC are named in the College’s Bylaws. These are programs that meet entry-to-practice standards for the massage therapy profession in BC, and have been accredited either by the College directly, or by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA) at the three or five-year level.

Graduates of recognized massage therapy education programs are eligible to take the registration examination to become RMTs in BC. See the Registration Examination section for full details of the exams.

Eight steps to becoming an RMT in BC

Step 1: Apply to take the registration examination

Graduates of recognized massage therapy education programs can apply in the Applicant Portal to take the registration examination.

New applicants should create an account, log in to the portal, and follow the steps outlined in the portal.

Already have an account?

All existing applicants who created an account on the old message therapist Portal must activate their account on the current Applicant Portal. To activate your account, go to the Applicant Portal and click “Apply now!” Follow the prompts to access material you previously submitted.

Step 2: Upload documents

Applicants must upload the following documents before they can take the registration examination:

Graduation Diploma

Upload a copy of your graduation diploma from a recognized massage therapy education program via the Applicant Portal.

Passport Quality Photo

Upload a passport quality photo via the Applicant Portal.

Step 3: Pay examination fee

The examination fee is $1,600.

Pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Amex) in the Applicant Portal  cheque mailed to the College; or cheque paid in-person at the College office.

Step 4: Take the registration examination

The registration examination is held twice a year, winter and late summer.

See Exam Components Section for information about the registration examination.

See Exam Dates & Locations Section for dates/times/locations of the next registration examination, and the application deadline.

Step 5: Receive notification of examination results

Applicants receive official notification of results approximately six weeks after the final component of the examination is complete. You are asked to not phone the College requesting exam results. Results will not be given over the phone.

Step 6: Complete documentation for registration

After successful completion of all components of the registration examination, applicants must provide the following documents to complete registration:

Letters of reference

You must arrange for three character references. Character references must be from individuals who have known you for at least two years, and who are not family members, classmates, or friends.

Log in to the Applicant Portal and provide the required information for your referees, including an email address for each. Referees will then be emailed a link that allows them to provide a confidential reference in a secure area on the portal.

Proof of entitlement to work in Canada

Upload a copy of one of the following in the Applicant Portal:

  • Proof of Canadian Citizenship, such as: Canadian Passport (photo and signature page); Canadian Citizenship certificate or card (front and back); or Birth certificate from a Canadian province
  • Government-issued work permit or work visa
  • Permanent resident card (front and back)

First aid certificate

Upload a copy of your current first aid certificate in the Applicant Portal. You must have current certification in Standard First Aid/CPR-C from one of the five national providers named in the College’s Bylaws:

  • Canadian Red Cross
  • Canadian Ski Patrol
  • Heart and Stroke Foundation
  • Lifesaving Society
  • St. John Ambulance

Proof of liability insurance

Upload the pages of your liability insurance policy that show the amount of coverage and the dates for which you are covered. Ensure your name is on the pages you upload.

Step 7: Consent to a Criminal Record Check

Under Part 4 of the Criminal Records Review Act, all Registered Massage Therapists must complete a criminal record check when they first become registered with the College and every five years thereafter.

Fill out the Consent to Criminal Record Check(s) form in the Applicant Portal, download the form that requires a signature, and upload the signed form. The College will then communicate the required information to the Criminal Records Review Program to ensure that your check is carried out. Once you have provided the College with your signed consent form, all future checks will be conducted automatically.

Step 8: Pay registration fee and annual dues

The following fees are payable:

  • Application for registration fee: $200
  • Annual registration fee: $750*

    *The fee amount charged for initial registration is pro-rated on a monthly basis according to the number of full months remaining in the calendar year in which initial registration occurs.

Pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Amex) in the Applicant Portal; cheque mailed to the College; or cheque paid in person at the College office.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please email applications@cchpbc.ca.

RMTS From Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and PEI

Massage therapy is regulated in five Canadian provinces: BC, Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island (PEI).

In accordance with Chapter 7 (Labour Mobility) of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement(PDF), CCHPBC grants registration to Practising RMTs in good standing from Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and PEI provided they complete the College’s Law, Ethics and Professionalism online course and pass the online exam before being granted registration with the College.

This Labour Mobility application pathway is only available to RMTs from Canadian jurisdictions where massage therapy is regulated – Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and PEI. Massage providers from other Canadian jurisdictions may apply via the Prior Learning Assessment pathway.

Law, Ethics, and Professionalism (LEP) Course and Exam

The Law, Ethics and Professionalism (LEP) course and exam ensures that applicants from all streams of entry have an understanding of:

  • the general legal and regulatory framework governing health professionals in Canada
  • the regulatory requirements to become a registered massage therapist (RMT) in British Columbia
  • how to apply an RMT’s professional obligations in practice, with reference to the Bylaws, standards of practice, and Code of Ethics.

Seven steps to becoming an RMT in BC

Step 1: Submit application for registration

Submit the Application for Registration for RMTs from Ontario, Newfoundland/Labrador, New Brunswick, and PEI by logging in the Applicant Portal. Please note that all existing applicants who used the old message therapist Portal must reactivate their accounts in the new portal. To reactivate your account, go to the Applicant Portal and follow the instructions.

Step 2: Submit documentation for review

Applicants must ensure that the following documentation is submitted to the College:

Letter of Good Standing

A Practising RMT in good standing registered in Ontario, Newfoundland/Labrador, New Brunswick, or PEI must arrange for his/her college to provide a Letter of Good Standing directly to the College. The letter of good standing can be sent by mail, fax, or email (as a scanned PDF), but must be sent by the college, not by the applicant. Emailed letters should be sent to applicant@cchpbc.ca. In general, the College will only consider a Letter of Good Standing to be valid (1) in the calendar year in which it is received, unless the college sending the letter specifies a different validity period; and (2) as long as the applicant continues to hold active or practicing registration.

Passport Quality Photo

Applicants are required to submit a current passport quality photo in the Applicant Portal. A current photo is one that is taken no more than six months prior to the application date.

Step 3: Pay the fee for the Law, Ethics and Professionalism online course and exam

Pay the Law, Ethics and Professionalism course and exam fee of $350.

Pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Amex) in the Applicant Portal; cheque mailed to CCHPBC; or cheque paid in person at the College office.

Step 4: Complete the Law, Ethics and Professionalism online course and exam

Applicants who have submitted the required documentation and paid the fee will gain access to the College’s online course entitled Law, Ethics and Professionalism. Completing the course and passing the proctored online exam is a requirement for registration.

The LEP course will consist of seven (7) modules. At the end of each module, applicants must successfully pass an end-of-module quiz to progress to the next module. All materials and resources required to succeed are provided within each module. Successful completion of all seven (7) modules, with a score of 100% in each end-of-module quiz, is a pre-requisite to take the LEP exam.

Applicants are encouraged to take their time with the material, follow all the links, use the interactive tools, and reflect on their practice. The course enrolment period is six weeks; applicants are encouraged to begin the material as soon as they are enrolled to ensure they complete it within the stipulated period. When the completion period is over, the course will close online, and access will be denied.

After completing all 7 modules, applicants are required to take the online exam in a proctored environment. The College will arrange for an appropriate computer lab (e.g. in a community college) to administer the exam. The College will provide applicants with the scheduled dates for the exam. Applicants are required to complete the LEP exam on the mutually-agreed date and time as communicated by the college. . Shortly after completion of the exam, College staff will notify applicants of their results.

Applicants are eligible for registration within one (1) year of successful completion of the LEP course and exam. Applicant must maintain a practicing status with a governing body that regulates the practice of massage therapy in a Recognized Canadian Jurisdiction until completion of the initial registration with CCHPBC.

Step 5: Submit documentation to complete registration

After successful completion of the Law, Ethics and Professionalism exam, applicants must submit the following documentation to complete registration:

Letters of reference

All applicants must arrange for three character references. Character references must be from individuals who have known the applicant for at least two years, and are not family members, classmates or friends. Applicants are asked to log onto the Applicant Portal and provide the required information for their referees, including an email address for each. Referees will then be emailed a link that will allow them to provide a confidential reference in a secure area on the portal.

Proof of entitlement to work in Canada

Upload a copy of one of the following in the Applicant Portal:

  • Proof of Canadian Citizenship, such as: Canadian Passport (photo and signature page); Canadian Citizenship certificate or card (front and back); or Birth certificate from a Canadian province
  • Government-issued work permit or work visa
  • Permanent resident card (front and back)

First aid certificate

Submit a copy of a current first aid certificate (see below for submission instructions). You must have current certification in Standard First Aid/CPR-C from one of the five national providers named in the College’s Bylaws:

  • Canadian Red Cross
  • Canadian Ski Patrol
  • Heart and Stroke Foundation
  • Lifesaving Society
  • St. John Ambulance

Proof of liability insurance

Submit the pages of your liability insurance policy that show the amount of coverage and the dates for which you are covered (see below for submission instructions). Ensure your name is on the pages you send.

Instructions for submitting proof of eligibility to work in Canada, first aid certificate, and proof of liability insurance

Submit these documents by uploading them in the Applicant Portal.

Step 6: Apply for Criminal Record Check

Under Part 4 of the Criminal Records Review Act, all Registered Massage Therapists must complete a criminal record check when they first become registered with the College and every five years thereafter.

Log in to the Applicant Portal to fill out the Consent to Criminal Record Check(s) form, download the form that requires a physical signature, and upload the signed form. The College will then communicate the required information to the Criminal Records Review Program to ensure that your check is carried out. Once you have provided the College with your signed consent form, all future checks will be conducted automatically.

Step 7: Pay registration fee and annual dues

The following fees are payable:

  • Application for registration fee: $200
  • Annual registration fee: $750*

    *The fee amount charged for initial registration is pro-rated on a monthly basis according to the number of full months remaining in the calendar year in which initial registration occurs.

Pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Amex) in the Applicant Portal; cheque mailed to the College; or cheque paid in person at the College office.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please email applications@cchpbc.ca.

Other Applicants – Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Introduction to Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

If you would like to become an RMT in BC and you are not:

  • a graduate of a massage therapy education program recognized by the College, or
  • an RMT registered in at least one of Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, or PEI,

you may be able to apply for CCHPBC’s registration examination after completing a prior learning assessment (PLA). The PLA determines if your knowledge, skills, and abilities are substantially equivalent to those of an applicant in one of the two categories listed above.

Seven steps of the PLA pathway

Step 1: Create an application on the Applicant Portal 

Applicants can apply for the PLA pathway on the Applicant Portal.

You’ll be prompted in the portal to pay for the PLA application and the Online Self-Assessment Test. The two fees total $150. Pay the invoice on the Applicant Portal with a credit card and then you’ll be asked to upload an ID and education credential documents.

Step 2: Take the Online Self-Assessment Test

The Online Self-Assessment Test (OSAT) will give you feedback on whether or not your foundational knowledge is adequate to support RMT practice in BC. The OSAT is a multiple-choice online exam that will take up to four hours to complete and must be completed in one sitting. You may only take the OSAT one time. We recommend that you use the OSAT to assess your current foundational knowledge. Dedicate the four hours it takes when you know you’ll be able to focus without interruption. Take it seriously; it’s an important step.

At the end of the OSAT, you will immediately receive your results. It is at this time that we ask you to pause and meaningfully reflect on your results. Did you do as well as you expected? On the questions you answered correctly, ask yourself, did I guess, or did I truly know those answers? There is no passing grade here. The OSAT is a true self-assessment, which means whether you proceed to the next step is entirely up to you.

If you feel confident in your results, please proceed. If not, or if you’re unsure, stop here and re-assess your goal of becoming an RMT in BC. If you are committed to the goal and your foundational knowledge is not adequate to proceed, look into one of the accredited and recognized massage therapy education programs for instruction.

Step 3: Submit documents for review

Upload a passport photo, relevant education credentials, and any other supporting documents relevant to your application.

Step 4: Pay and complete the Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA) – Theory

The Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA) is a two-step assessment process that consists of a theory component and a practical component.

The CCA theory component costs $550. Pay the invoice on the Applicant Portal with a credit card and then schedule your assessment.

The theory component is a three-hour multiple-choice exam, including 150 questions about foundational health sciences and massage therapy practice. The written component is based on CCHPBC’s entry-level requirements outlined in two documents:

You must pass the theory component to be eligible to attempt the practical component of the CCA.

Step 5: Pay and complete the Clinical Competence Assessment – Practical

The CCA practical component costs $1,050. Pay the invoice on the Applicant Portal with a credit card and then schedule your assessment.

The practical component is hands-on and in-person. It takes place in a clinical setting, much like what an RMT would use in clinical practice. You’ll be required to palpate muscle anatomy and perform manual muscle testing, and you will palpate anatomical structures on the human body. You will conduct clinical interviews and assessments based on case interviews, and you will perform an appropriate massage treatment for one of the case scenarios selected based on your findings during the clinical interview and physical assessment. Your assessors will be RMTs skilled at determining entry-level competence. Study thoroughly to prepare for the CCA by reviewing your prior learning and the College’s recommended resources for entry-level requirements.

Step 6: Receive notification of examination results

You will receive official notification of results approximately three weeks after the assessment. There are two possible results:

  • Not substantially equivalent. Your PLA application on the Applicant Portal is closed. Please enroll at an accredited and recognized massage therapy education program if you wish to pursue your goal of becoming an RMT in BC.
  • Substantially equivalent/Passed. The PLA is complete and you’re now eligible to apply for the College’s registration examination.

Step 7: Apply for the College’s registration examination

The College’s registration examination is generally held twice a year: once in late winter/spring and once in late summer/fall. For more information, see Registration Examination.

Registration Examination

Entry-level registered massage therapists are prepared as generalists to enter practice safely, competently, and ethically:

  • in situations of health and illness,
  • with people of all genders across the lifespan, and
  • in diverse practice settings.

The following two types of applicants must complete all three Exam Components defined in the Exam Componenets section of CCHPBC’s registration examination in order to be eligible to register with the College:

  • Applicants from Recognized Education Programs
  • Other Applicants who have been deemed eligible through the College’s Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process.

RMTs from Regulated Provinces – Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island (PEI) – complete one of the three components of CCHPBC’s registration examination. These applicants will be enrolled in the College’s online Law, Ethics and Professionalism (LEP) course, and must successfully complete a proctored online exam based on the course material. For more information, see RMTs From Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and PEI.

After successfully completing the registration examination and meeting all other entry-to-practice requirements, individuals may register with CCHPBC and become registered massage therapists (RMTs) in British Columbia.

For more information on how to apply for application examinations, Application for registration examination

The registration examination for entry-level practice has three components:

  • Clinical Knowledge and Theory exam,
  • Law, Ethics and Professionalism course and exam, and a
  • Performance-based assessment.

More information about these three components can be found here.

Entry-level practice requirements for RMTs in BC are outlined in two documents:

Recommended Resources & Entry-Level Requirements

Recommended resources

CCHPBC’s registration examination assesses entry-level readiness for practice.

Candidates should review the College’s list of Recommended Resources For Examinations(PDF). Graduates of recognized education programs are expected to have the depth and breadth of knowledge represented by resources named in this list.

The College understands that massage therapy theory, evidence, and education are in flux, and that educators offer resources that support their curriculum choices and desired learning outcomes.

Registration examination candidates are advised that the College’s standardized examination relies on the resources listed in Recommended Resources For Examinations(PDF).

As in all fields, there is no single authority, and on occasion there is variation in how knowledge and skills are presented in the resources included in this list. Exam material is selected in a manner that minimizes variation.

Entry-level requirements

Entry-level requirements for beginning RMTs in BC are outlined in two documents:

To learn more about Inter-Jurisdictional Practice Competencies and Performance Indicators for Massage Therapists at Entry-to-Practice (PCs-PIs)

If you have any questions regarding the above, please email applications@cchpbc.ca.