OVCMT has designed the Massage program to allow you to choose your own exit point. 

The full three-year massage therapy program meets the standards established in British Columbia and has been designed to prepare students to successfully meet the requirements set by the College of Massage Therapists of BC. Graduation from the three-year program can lead to a Bachelor of Health Science undergraduate degree. 

The Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy works closely with the College of Massage Therapists of BC to refine and implement the 3000-hour curriculum that was introduced in 1996. Minor adaptations may occur throughout the program. However the core content and the spirit of education described in this calendar remain constant.

We are committed to continual improvement of our learning environment to best facilitate the development of skills essential for massage therapists.

Why would you take a three-year course in Massage Therapy?
Click here to find out.

By completing only the first two years of the medical rehabilitation massage program you will meet the requirements set by most of the Canadian Provinces, with the exception of BC.  If exiting at this point, you will receive a 2000 hour diploma.

Upon completion of the first year you will be eligible for entry into the spa industry, as a certified Spa Practitioner . The graduate will have skill sets that match the spa industry's needs, and ones that are very much in demand. If at some time career aspirations change, spa practitioner graduates can return to the second year of the massage therapy program provided the required academic standards have been met.

As the spa profession progresses, new techniques will be presented and old ones refined. We will present these current trends as determined by the spa industry.

Some major themes applied during the three-year program include the following:

Integration:
At every opportunity, all course materials are integrated to make them understandable and functional from a practitioner perspective. Opportunities to work with the public are added to the daily classes as students' skill and knowledge levels develop.

Communication:
We recognize the communication challenges that can present themselves in a small college environment; within a professional client/practitioner relationship and in everyday life. Communication and Ethics classes begin the first week.The Communication Model we present is practiced from the beginning of the program to the final farewells.

Professionalism:
We feel that professionalism is a key element of comprehensive massage education. To reflect this there will be course content on professionalism each term. This is a pass/fail component and is unique in that all your instructors participate in the grading. The evaluation is based on your professionalism in all courses.

The criteria, which will be discussed in the first year Communication class, are:

• The ability and willingness to use the Communication Model;
• The ability and willingness to use effective communication skills and interact with those around you in a respectful manner;
• The ability and willingness to support the standards of conduct of the college.

Entrance Requirements:

• Grade 12 Graduation or equivalent - ABE (Adult Basic Education). (Effective September 2008 intake)
• The completion of Introductory Workshop designed for applicants to the Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy's Massage Therapy Program.
• For Level Three - Massage Therapy Diploma - Grade 12 English with a final grade of no less than 70%. This requirement may be fulfilled through ABE, or by achieving a Language Proficiency Index of 5.  ( www.lpi.ubc.ca for more information)
• For Level One - Spa Practitioner Certificate - Successful completion of Grade 12 English. This requirement  may be fulfilled through ABE, or by achieving a Language Proficiency Index of 4.  (www.lpi.ubc.ca for more information)
• Students who have an interest in pursuing the fourth year Bachelor of Health Science degree option are strongly encouraged to take a university English course at the 100 level or higher to get the additional three credits required for entrance to the TRU fourth year. We recommend (but do not require) that you take a suitable English course before you start the massage therapy program. Visit the BHSc page for more information.
• Because the Massage Therapy Program is heavily science-based OVCMT recommends that applicants take a course in Human Biology at the university level before beginning the program. Students who have been successful in a university Biology course or in Biology 11 and Biology 12 will be better equipped to begin their studies in anatomy and physiology and musculoskeletal anatomy.

The Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy's Introductory Workshops are two days in length held on a Saturday and Sunday. For more information regarding dates and cost, please contact the college.