Program > Three Year Diploma

A Three-Year Course in Massage Therapy
Why would you take it?

If you are interested in a career in the medical world where your primary focus is in rehabilitation, the three-year program immediately gives you credibility, prepares you for practice, and allows you to be registered and recognized in BC. It also potentially gives you access to a fourth year of education, resulting in a degree. This degree would give you access to a number of post-graduate options not available to two and three year diploma holders.

Twenty years ago, Massage Therapists in BC were part of the medical services plan and therefore treated clients referred by medical doctors. Massage therapists were given a similar authority and responsibility to that of nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, which included the preparation of medical reports. At that time in history, the educational requirement for massage therapy in BC was a one-year program. It soon became clear that the standard of education was inadequate for the medical and professional standards required in practice. As a result, in 1984, the standards increased to a 2200-hour (2 Year) program.

Due to the ongoing growth and development in manual therapy, and the increase in understanding of the complexity of these therapies, the standards were increased again in 1996 to a 3000 hr. (3 year) program.

Advanced studies in Spinal Orthopedics, connective tissue massage, neurological techniques, regional orthopedics, research, pharmacology as well as medical surgical trends, are now included in the undergraduate training. The profession believed that these skills and abilities were appropriate for the level of medical practice in BC.

The three-year program is by far the highest standard of massage education in North America. A graduate's credentials are recognized and in some cases revered.

 

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