Interprovincial Upgrade

Alberta RMTs

There is a history of massage therapists trained in Alberta upgrading to gain registration in BC. Here are some options.

For those graduating from a 1000 hour (or equivalent) program:

Your education will be credited directly towards the three-year program. You can enter year two of the three-year program. See admissions/ transfer.

For those graduating from a 2200 hour (or equivalent) program:

Your education will be credited directly towards the three-year program. You can enter year three of the three-year program. See admissions/ transfer.

Upon graduation from the three-year program you are eligible to write the BC board exams and upon successful completion of the boards, receive registration as a massage therapist. You will also be eligible for up to 90 credits towards a Bachelor of Health Science Degree at Thompson Rivers/Open Learning University. 120 credits are needed to obtain the degree.

Other provinces (except Ontario and Newfoundland/Labrador)

For those graduating from a 2200 hour (or equivalent) program:

Your education will be credited directly towards the three-year program. You can enter year three of the three-year program. See admissions/ transfer.

Upon graduation from the three-year program you are eligible to write the BC board exams and upon successful completion of the boards, receive registration as a massage therapist. You will also be eligible for up to 90 credits towards a Bachelor of Health Science Degree at Thompson Rivers/Open Learning University. 120 credits are needed to obtain the degree.

Ontario and Newfoundland/Labrador

If you are registered in one of these provinces you are eligible to gain BC registration through the process outlined in the Agreement for Internal Trade.

The AIT acknowledges the education and registration exams that you have taken. Therefore you will not have to be examined on those subject areas again. These provinces have mutually designated additional knowledge areas.

Connective Tissue Motility and Mobilization
Muscle energy
Sensory Stimulus techniques
Actino Therapy
Advanced spinal orthopedics
Research

These upgrade courses can be taken at the accredited colleges in BC. Upon completion you can challenge the AIT board exam (examines only these specialized areas). Once this exam has been successfully completed you will receive full BC registration.

Note an AIT applicant can receive a CONDITIONAL registration for 18 months while completing the upgrade courses.

To gain conditional registration one must have completed the jurisprudence criteria AND the 550 hour practicum requirement, as stipulated by the College of Massage Therapists of BC.

See www.cmtbc.bc.ca

Completion of the AIT upgrade course does not meet the criterion for receiving full credits towards the Bachelor of Health Science. The full Year Three course load is needed to receive full credit recognition.