Massage Therapy Schools in Canada in 2023

Are you based in Canada and are looking to work as a massage therapist? If yes, then, one of the first things you need to do is find out the various massage therapy schools in Canada and enroll for one of them. While attending a massage therapy school in Canada is not all that there is to becoming a massage therapist, doing so will equip you with what you need to function as a successful massage therapist. That’s not all. Even if you already have the technical skills needed to function as massage therapist, you will be exposed to several opportunities if you attend  massage therapy school.

While there is a lot that massage therapy school can do for you, it basically equips you with the things that you need to become a successful massage therapist in Canada.

Contained in this article are the top 10 massage therapy schools in Canada, what they have to offer, and important details about them.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Canada

Knowing about the existence of various massage therapy schools in Canada is definitely great. However, there is more to becoming a massage therapist in Canada than just knowing about the best massage therapy schools in Canada.

There is a lot of demand for registered massage therapists in Canada. In as much as there is a moderate financial reward associated with being a massage therapist in Canada, if you are not interested in helping people going through mental and physical stress, you just might have no business attending a massage therapy school in Canada.

How do you become a Registered Massage Therapist in Canada?

Below is a simple procedure that anyone looking to become a massage therapist in Canada has to follow;

Get a Diploma in Massage Therapy

When looking to work as a registered massage therapist in Canada, the first thing you have to do is get registered to earn a massage therapy diploma. You should not be in a haste to just select any school. It is important that you select a school that has the approval of the Ministry of Education in your province. Additionally, it has to be approved by key certifications boards. The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) is one of them.

Go Through an Approved Hands-on Training

When going through your diploma education, you will need a hands-on experience from a massage therapy program that is approved. If you fail to do this, you will be unable to sit for an RMT exam.

This experience might not seem important to lots of people. However, it gives you the freedom to experiment with all that you think you know about massage therapy.

Get Your CMTO Registration and Go through a Third-Party Licensing Exam

If you must be registered, you will have to sit for certification exams and pass them. The Multiple-Choice Question and the Objectively Structured Clinical Evaluation are a couple of these exams. Beyond merely sitting for these exams, you have to score at least 70 marks.

What is the Cost of Attending a Massage Therapy School in Canada

There are lots of pros associated with working as a massage therapist. Nonetheless, if you have any plans of working as one, there are several factors you have to consider. Chief among these factors is the cost of attending a massage therapy school.

To attend a massage therapy school in Canada, you will need to budget between $15,000 and $35,000. This does not include funds spent on supplies and books.

How Long Does a Message Therapy Program Last?

Anyone looking to attend a massage therapy school in Canada will have to be willing to spend between 18 -36 months studying.

Best Massage Therapy Schools in Canada

Mohawk College

Mohawk College is not just any school where one can learn to become a massage therapist. It is a school that has its program accredited from 2021-2024. This accreditation is from the Canadian Massage Therapy Council.

When you attend this school, there is lot you will learn. Firstly, you will know what it takes to sit for certification exams put together by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and pass. You will also learn about different pathologies, human physiology, and anatomy

Niagra College Canada

Students that attend this college are taught how to help clients enjoy improved health. This is possible because they learn to care for the circulatory nervous and muscular systems of patients. After being trained as massage therapist in this school, graduates will not struggle to help patients feel relief from pain, stress, and physical dysfunction.

Centennial College

Students that learn the art of massage therapy in this school are imparted with the basics that they need to function as massage therapists. That’s not all. They also learn advanced skills. Beyond merely being good at what they do, students that finish from this school are very professional as professionalism is a major priority in this school.

Albert College of Massage Therapy

If you have a very busy schedule but still want to train to become a massage therapist in Canada, you might want to consider getting enrolled in this school. The reason for this is it has a very flexible program.

When you get trained in this school, you will become a registered massage therapist after going through a blend of clinic practice, in-class tutorials, and home study.

Conestoga Massage Therapy School

This school offers an advanced diploma that was designed to last three years. It has a curriculum that will help students pass the test set by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario before they become registered massage therapists.

Robertson College

This school has a program that was designed to last 120 weeks. It is a hybrid program and helps students get all the knowledge that they need to become registered massage therapists while still being in charge of their time.

In addition to getting trained at a time that is convenient for them, students that get trained in this school get lots of mentorship opportunities from their trainers.

Fanshawe College

This school offers students the opportunity to go through an Advanced Diploma Program for two years. There is a lot that the average student will learn when they attend this school. However, some of the basics are the rehabilitation and augmentation of physical function to help patients feel less pain.

Students in this college are free to test their knowledge in a clinic in this school that is operated by students. Attending this school can almost be said to be a guarantee that students will master massage therapy and will also get the opportunity to try out all that they have learnt. With this, they will not feel intimidated when they get into the workforce

Humber College

At Humber College, you can get an advanced diploma in Massage Therapy. The time spent going through this course will equip you with detailed practical experience and the right academic preparation that qualifies you to become an important part of any healthcare team.

Learning to become a massage therapist in this school gives you the privilege of working in top-notch facilities. Furthermore, you will get all the skills and knowledge you need to come up with treatment plans, carryout patient assessment, and ensure that patients get the right care.

There is more. Beyond merely getting equipped with the skills you need to be an effective massage therapist, you will also learn the process of running a business. This way, when you decide to go into private practice, you will not struggle.

Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy

This school of massage therapy is focused on ensuring that very high standards are upheld in massage therapy. It is a program that was designed to last for 18 months and is a blend of practical experience and class lectures.

This school has three start dates annually. So, you are free to select the date that best suits your schedule. The winter session is slated for January, the fall session is in September, and the spring session takes place in May.

ABM College

When you attend ABM College, you will be getting top-quality, intensive, and dynamic lessons that will mold you into a reliable massage therapist. A massage therapy course in this school runs for two years. On completing this program, you can get a job as a Registered Massage Therapist.

The instructors at this school are really knowledgeable and ensure that students get practical training that will help them have the best experience while in school.

FAQs

Will I Get Value for My Money when I Attend a Massage Therapy school in Canada?

There is a very healthy level of job satisfaction associated with being a massage therapist in Canada. The implication of this is if you spend some funds learning to become one, you should get good value for your money.

What is the Demand for Massage Therapists in Canada?

There is a lot of demand for massage therapists in Canada. In as much as every part of Canada is open to massage therapists, if you are looking for a job as a massage therapist in Canada, you should focus your search on Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta.

Do You Need a License TO Give People Massages?

In several provinces in Canada, you are free to give clients relaxation massages even if you do not have a license. However, to give a therapy, you need to be licensed. Without a license, one can only work as a masseur.

Levels of Massage Therapy Education

In Canada, massage therapy education is in three levels. These levels are:

Diploma and Certificate Programs

To get the basic skills that you need to function as massage therapist in Canada, you will need to attend a Diploma and Certificate Program.

Students that attend this program learn the various massage techniques. They also learn anatomy and physiology. That’s not al. They undergo a couple of business courses that help them get acquainted with the administrative aspect of massage therapy.

Associated Degree

When getting an associated degree with an aim to become a massage therapy, you will undergo course that every massage theorist needs to undergo. Additionally, you will have to learn courses that are not peculiar to massage therapy.

Various Massage Training Techniques

• Swedish massage
• Shiatsu Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage 
• Sports Massage
• Massaging Pregnant Women
• Massage For People With Injuries 
• Seated Massage 
• Energy Massage