Policy: STRiVE – the Quality Assurance Program Policy on Registrants’ Code of Conduct, Requirements and Requests

1. Code of Conduct

Registrants must:

1. Demonstrate integrity;
2. Communicate respectfully;
3. Meaningfully participate in the program by appropriately responding to the outcomes of evaluations or assessments in accordance with STRiVE expectations;
4. Commit to self-improvement for identified gaps; and
5. Avoid conduct discrediting the profession or breaching public trust.

2. Non-compliance with the Quality Assurance Program

1. Non-Compliance with the Quality Assurance Program is:
   1. A Registered Massage Therapist’s/Massage Therapist’s (RMT’s/MT’s) failure to comply with any of the Quality Assurance Program’s requirements (i.e., failure to complete the annual STRiVE requirements such as Be the Best You Can Be, Practice Profile, and/or Practice Assessment).
2. Reminder and Overdue Notice Requirements:
   1. Reminders and overdue notices are scheduled throughout STRiVE.
   2. CMTO will provide RMTs/MTs with a minimum of one written Overdue Notice, giving a 30-day overdue period to complete the relevant outstanding parts of STRiVE.*
   3. For 2025 Practice Profile and Be the Best You Can Be registrants who remain non-compliant, the Quality Assurance Committee will direct the registrant to participate in a Practice Assessment at their own expense. Adequate notice will be provided.
3. Final Overdue Notices and Potential Outcomes:
   1. Following continued non-compliance, the following actions maybe taken:
      1. Suspension (Registration Regulation/Registrar authority): Notice indicates that the RMTs/MTs Certificate of Registration will be suspended due to non-payment of the second administrative fee.
      2. Referral (Quality Assurance Committee decision): Notice indicates that failure to complete the identified part of STRiVE by the deadline may result in a referral to the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC).
4. Quality Assurance Committee Review:
   1. Following final notice of a registrant’s non-compliance, the Quality Assurance Committee will be provided with the relevant information.
   2. Upon review of the information, the Committee may wish to take the outlined action immediately, as relevant to a registrant’s non-compliance, or may request additional information, as relevant (e.g., due to previously unknown extenuating circumstance), or take any other action and/or steps in accordance with the regulations and/or the Health Professions Procedural Code (the Code).

3. Fees for Non-Compliance

1. 1. Based on By-Law No. 7, fees will apply to the following situations:
      1. Due to an RMT’s/MT’s failure to comply with the QA Program (i.e., failure to complete annual STRiVE requirements including Be the Best You Can Be, Practice Profile, and/or Practice Assessment).
      2. Follow-up Administrative Fee for non-compliance with the QA Program.
      3. Rescheduling a Practice Assessment less than one (1) week from the date of assessment.

4. Requests for Deferrals, Extensions, or Waivers

CMTO acknowledges that there may be extenuating circumstances that prevent an RMT/MT from participating in the QA Program. These circumstances could include, but are not limited to:

• a significant health issue;
• the death or significant illness of a partner or close relative;
• being in a country that is blocking access to CMTO’s website.

RMTs/MTs who need a deferral, extension, or waiver should contact STRiVE – the QA Program within 30 days of receiving a notification. In situations where an RMT/MT is engaged in the assessment process and encounters an unanticipated extenuating circumstance, the RMT/MT should contact STRiVE –the QA Program immediately.

Procedures

1. The RMT/MT emails a Request for Deferral, Extension or Waiver Form to STRiVE – the QA Program, outlining the reason for their request for deferral, extension, or waiver.
2. Staff review the request to determine next steps. CMTO may request additional documentation to verify the reason(s) for the request.
3. Staff will contact the RMT/MT to advise whether the request has been granted or declined.

5. Requests for Accommodations

CMTO supports the provision of reasonable accommodations for RMTs/MTs with documented disabilities, as defined in the Human Rights Code below.

“Disability” means,

(a) any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device, (b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability, (c) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language, (d) a mental disorder, or (e) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997; Human Rights Code, Part 11, 10(1)

RMTs/MTs with a documented disability who require an accommodation to fully participate in the Quality Assurance program are encouraged to contact STRiVE – the QA Program within 30 days of receiving a notification. Any health information shared with CMTO remains confidential.

For assessments, only details about the accommodation are provided to the Assessment Advisor. Accommodation will be provided up to the point of undue hardship. Methods of accommodation that would substantially alter the core elements of the assessment process will not be granted. CMTO has an obligation under the RHPA to review accommodation requests that may raise concerns about an RMT’s ability to practise safely.

Procedures

1. The RMT/MT emails STRiVE – the QA Program a completed Accommodations Request Form, outlining the documented disability or disabilities, and the accommodation being requested. CMTO Staff can assist with completing the form.
2. Staff review the request to determine whether additional information may be necessary, or what accommodations may be implemented to assist the RMT/MT.
3. Staff will contact the RMT/MT and/or their Assessment Advisor to facilitate and provide any assistance necessary within the accommodations granted.

Further information

• By-Law No 7, Schedule A
• Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991
• Health Professions Procedural Code
• General Regulation
• Human Rights Code
• Accommodations Request Form

* The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario’s (CMTO’s) Quality Assurance Program is supported by RMT’s/MT’s annual registration fees.  Additional costs are borne to the CMTO when an RMT/MT is non-compliant with the program.

CMTO By-Law No. 7, Section 18 states: After the first notice, a registrant shall pay an administrative fee, set out in the Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, for each subsequent notice sent by the Registrar to a registrant for failure of the registrant to provide information or a form to CMTO or a statutory committee of CMTO within 30 days of being requested or required to do so. The fee is due within 30 days of the subsequent notice being sent.