Glossary- Public Register Terms
GLOSSARY (in alphabetical order):
Acupuncture Authorized: Only RMTs authorized by CMTO can use acupuncture in their Massage Therapy practice. For RMTs authorized to perform acupuncture, the register will show, “Acupuncture Authorized: Yes”.
Authorized to Practise: Any registrant currently authorized to practise Massage Therapy in Ontario will show as ‘Yes’ under Authorized to Practise. Any registrant not currently authorized to practise (e.g., suspended, revoked, holding an Inactive Certificate of Registration) will show as ‘No’ under Authorized to Practise.
Bail Conditions: Information known to CMTO about existing conditions or restrictions relating to the custody or release of an RMT that have been imposed by a court or other lawful authority. Examples may include notifying police of any change in employment or not possessing weapons. In some cases, there may be a restriction that prevents the RMT from practising Massage Therapy.
Caution: A caution is a tool designed to assist an RMT in correcting specific area(s) of concern. The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) may issue a caution to an RMT following an investigation into their conduct. Cautions are issued when the ICRC is concerned that the RMT’s conduct poses a moderate risk of harm to the public if the RMT does not change their behaviour. Cautions may be provided in a written or oral format. The public register will include a summary of the contents of the caution and the date of the ICRC decision to issue the caution.
- Written Caution: The registrant will receive the caution in a letter from the ICRC.
- Oral Caution: The registrant must appear before the ICRC to receive the caution.
Commonly used name: An alternative first name (other than the legal name) the RMT may use in practice. For example, if an RMT named ‘Edward’ uses the name ‘Ned’ in practice, they must list ‘Ned’ as their commonly used name.
Criminal convictions: All Criminal Code, Health Insurance Act and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act convictions or findings of guilt that occurred on or after March 1, 2016, are included on the public register (if known to CMTO). The register will show a summary of the finding and penalty, and a notation if the case is under appeal. This information will be removed from the public register if an appeal is successful in overturning the conviction or finding of guilt, or if the RMT is pardoned.
Deceased: The date the RMT died, if known to CMTO.
Discipline History Outside of CMTO: The public register will note whether an RMT has been found guilty of professional misconduct, had a finding of incapacity or other similar findings by another regulatory body.
Electoral District: The electoral district is used for Board elections and is automatically assigned to an RMT based on the location of their business address.
Former legal name: All previous first and last names under which the RMT practised in Ontario. Any former names used by the RMT before they were registered with CMTO are not shown.
Gender: An RMT’s identification of “M” (generally associated with male), “F” (generally associated with female), or “X” (not directly associated with male or female, and may include Trans, Two-Spirit, Non-Binary, and/or Binary people [1]).
General Certificate: Only an individual with a General Certificate can practise as a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT/MT) in Ontario.
Inactive Certificate: An individual who holds an Inactive Certificate is not authorized to practise Massage Therapy in Ontario. Individuals who hold an Inactive Certificate can use the protected titles and their French equivalents, but they cannot practise the profession.
Initial Registration Date: The date the RMT first became registered with CMTO. Any gaps in registration since the initial registration date will show on the public register.
Languages of Care: All languages that an RMT speaks and can provide client care in.
Massage Therapy Education: The educational institution where the RMT completed their Massage Therapy program and their year of graduation.
Professional Corporation: A corporation that holds a certificate of authorization issued by CMTO. Only RMTs may own shares or be a director of a professional corporation.
Professional Negligence and Malpractice: Findings of professional negligence or malpractice made in a civil proceeding that occurred on or after June 1, 2009.
Public Register Alert: Important and relevant information about an RMT, including, but not limited to, current practice restrictions, public professional conduct outcomes, ongoing Discipline matters and findings of guilt by a criminal court.
Referral to the Ontario Massage Therapists Discipline Tribunal: After an investigation, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee may refer allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence to the Ontario Massage Therapists Discipline Tribunal for a hearing.
Referral to Fitness to Practise Committee: After conducting health inquiries, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee may refer an RMT to the Fitness to Practise Committee for a hearing to determine whether the RMT is suffering from a physical or mental condition or disorder that is affecting their ability to practise safely.
Registration History: Information about an RMT’s class of registration (i.e., General Certificate or Inactive Certificate), their status (Suspended, Resigned, Revoked), reasons for any status changes (i.e., suspended for non-payment of fees, etc.) and any corresponding dates.
Resigned: An individual who has voluntarily given up their registration and can no longer practise Massage Therapy or use the protected titles, such as Registered Massage Therapist (RMT/MT), in Ontario.
Revoked: The College has taken away the individual’s registration. Individuals who are revoked cannot practise Massage Therapy or use the protected titles, such as Registered Massage Therapist (RMT/MT), in Ontario.
- Discipline Revoked: The registration is revoked by a decision of the Ontario Massage Therapists Discipline Tribunal.
- Registrar Revoked: The individual failed to meet administrative requirements (such as the payment of fees), or/and has been revoked by the Registrar of the College after a two-year suspension.
Specified Continuing Education or Remediation Program (SCERP): After completing an investigation, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee can require an RMT to complete a Specified Continuing Education or Remediation Program (SCERP). A SCERP is required when an RMT’s knowledge, skill and/or judgment has been found to be unsatisfactory. SCERPs can include activities such as course work mentorship, written reflections/submissions, and others. RMTs must successfully complete the SCERP requirements within a specified time period. A summary of the content of a SCERP is permanently included in CMTO’s public register, including the status of the SCERP which includes:
- Complete: The SCERP has been successfully completed.
- Deceased: The registrant passed away before the SCERP had been successfully completed.
- Incomplete: The SCERP has not been successfully completed within the required time period. These matters may be brought to the attention of the ICRC for further review.
- Ongoing: The registrant has been notified by the ICRC of the SCERP requirements, the SCERP has not yet been completed, and the deadline to complete the SCERP has not expired.
- Resigned: The registrant resigned their certificate of registration before the SCERP had been successfully completed and the SCERP requirements are held in abeyance.
- Revoked: The registrant’s certificate of registration was revoked before the SCERP had been successfully completed and the SCERP requirements are held in abeyance.
- Under Appeal: The requirement to complete the SCERP has been placed on hold pending a review of the ICRC’s decision by the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board or by the divisional court.
Suspended: The RMT’s registration is temporarily on hold. An RMT who is suspended cannot practise Massage Therapy or use the protected titles, such as Registered Massage Therapist (RMT/MT), in Ontario.
Terms, Conditions and Limitations (TCLs): Restrictions or requirements that may be placed on an RMT’s Certificate of Registration to address concerns identified by CMTO. An RMT is required to comply with the TCLs to practise Massage Therapy in Ontario. This information remains on the public register as long as the TCLs are in effect.
Undertaking: A legal agreement that a registrant makes with the College in which the registrant promises to comply with certain terms.
[1] Please note that the list of terms is non-exhaustive. The College recognizes that there may be more terms that represent the diverse and unique living experiences of the LGBTQ2S community.
