International and Other Graduates

Pour de l’assistance ou des renseignements en français, veuillez contacter cmto@cmto.com

The requirements on this page apply to you if:

You graduated from a Canadian Massage Therapy program outside Ontario AND your program is not accredited by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA), OR
You were educated outside of Canada.

If you graduated from a Canadian Massage Therapy education program outside Ontario that is not accredited by the CMTCA, or you were educated outside of Canada, there are two ways for you to meet the education requirement for registration with CMTO:

You may request that CMTO assesses your education for its equivalence with an Ontario program by participating in the Massage Therapy Education and Credential Assessment (MTECA) process; or
You may apply for advanced standing at an Ontario Massage Therapy program to earn an Ontario diploma. Each program will have its own process for evaluating previous education and granting credit for courses already completed. They will then inform you of the number of additional courses/credits that must be completed before you can be granted a diploma from the Ontario school. Applicants should contact education programs directly for information about their advanced standing process and options.

The MTECA process has two components: a curriculum review which consists of an assessment of documentation related to the applicant’s Massage Therapy education and credentials and an interview with the applicant about their education, and a semi-structured interview focused on the Ontario Standards of Practice. The assessment of education and credentials is completed by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA) on behalf of CMTO. The semi-structured interview is completed by a CMTO Assessment Advisor.

If you choose to participate in CMTO’s MTECA process, detailed information is available in the Guide to the Massage Therapy Education and Credential Assessment (MTECA). The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Complete the MTECA application package

CMTO accepts MTECA applications throughout the year. Applicants must obtain documentation in their home jurisdiction and are encouraged to begin the MTECA application process before arriving in Ontario.

The MTECA application package includes a guide with detailed instructions. The guide and all required forms and fee information can be found below. If you have any questions, please contact registrationservices@cmto.com.

In addition, if you were educated outside Canada, you will need a report from an independent credential evaluation service to confirm if your Massage Therapy diploma is equivalent to diplomas that are issued in Canada. The requirements for this report and the credential agencies recognized by CMTO are available in the Guide to the Massage Therapy Education and Credential Assessment (MTECA).

Step 2: Complete CMTO’s Jurisprudence Program

If, after completing the MTECA assessment your education is deemed equivalent to a recognized Massage Therapy education program in Ontario, the next step is to successfully complete CMTO’s Jurisprudence Program, a four-hour online course designed to provide applicants with information on:

Legislation and Regulations;
Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Standards of Practice; and
Professionalism and Code of Ethics.

For access to the Jurisprudence Program, please email registrationservices@cmto.com.

Step 3: Register for and complete the Certification Examinations

Once Step 2 requirements are met, you must successfully complete the certification examinations administered by Prometric on behalf of CMTO. There are two required exams:

The computer-based Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ); and
The in-person Objectively Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE).

Learn more about the certification exams.

Step 4: Complete your registration

After receiving your successful examination results, it can take up to 10 business days for CMTO to send you an e-mail with information on the Initial Registration (IR) process. This e-mail will include information about application fees and a list of required documents that must be submitted with an application for registration. It will also include a link to complete an online application.

To complete your registration, you must:

Submit a Vulnerable Sector Check;
Submit your Transcript from your Massage Therapy education program;
Meet the requirements of CMTO’s Language Fluency Policy;
Demonstrate good character;
Provide proof of CPR certification in level A, B, C, HCP or BLS and First Aid in Emergency or Standard level;
Pay the registration fee;
Obtain professional liability insurance (PLI) as noted in CMTO’s By-Law No.10;
Submit a headshot (similar to a passport photo); and
Submit government-issued documentation confirming authority to practise in Canada.

Before logging in to complete the online application form, please gather the required documents listed on the Initial Registration Document Checklist. Submission of the application information and payment of the application fee is completed online. Detailed information about the Initial Registration process, required documents and fees can be found in the Initial Registration Application Guide.

Once your application is complete, it will be processed within 10 business days from the date it is received. If your application is incomplete or if more information is required, you will be contacted by e-mail within 10 business days. You may also check the status of your application through your online dashboard once you have completed the steps above and been provided access to CMTO’s Applicant Portal.

A note about fees

CMTO’s registration year runs from January 1 – December 31, and renewal takes place from October 1 – December 31 for the following year. If you become registered after October 1, you must pay the application fee, the prorated fee for the remainder of that year and the full fee for the following year. Please also note:

If your registration is granted at any time up to and including October 31: You must renew your registration by November 1. If you don’t renew by this deadline, you will be charged a $100.00 late fee. If you do not renew and pay all required fees by December 31, your registration may be suspended for non-payment of fees.
If your registration is granted after November 1: Although no late fee applies, you must renew your registration by December 31, or your registration may be suspended for non-payment of fees.

If you are planning to apply for registration later in the year and cannot pay the prorated annual fee and the renewal fee for the following year, you may wish to consider applying for registration after January 1.

If you have any questions about Initial Registration, please contact registrationservices@cmto.com.