Refresher Course Policy

Background

The Registration Regulation (O. Reg. 30/24) under the Massage Therapy Act, 1991 and CMTO policies state when an applicant or registrant must complete a Refresher Course.

Applicants

Applicants must be able to demonstrate up-to-date education both at the time the Certification Examinations are completed (as required by the  Education Requirement for Exam Eligibility and Initial Registration policy) and at the time they submit an application for registration (as required by the Registration Regulation).   An applicant who graduated more than three years prior to their exam date, or more than three years prior to applying for registration, must complete a Refresher Course.

Registrants

The Registration Regulation under the Massage Therapy Act, 1991 states that registrants shall only practise the profession if they have:

1. Been a registrant for less than three years (giving new registrants some time to gain experience), or
2. Practise a minimum of 500 hours within the scope of practice of Massage Therapy within the previous three years (clarified by CMTO’s Practice Hours Requirement Policy);  or
3. Within the previous 15 months, successfully completed a refresher program set or approved by the Registration Committee.

In addition, the Registration Regulation states that a registrant who holds an Inactive Certificate may be issued a General Certificate only if they have:

1. Been inactive for less than three years, or
2. Completed a Refresher Course within the previous 15 months that has been approved by the Registration Committee and successfully completed any other upgrading or assessments as may be required by the Registration Committee, or
3. During the previous three years, practised Massage Therapy for at least 500 hours in a regulated jurisdiction with an equivalent scope of practice and competency profile as approved by the Board.

Policy

Refresher Course participants fall into one of three categories based on whether they are an applicant or, if they are a registrant, how long they have been away from practice:

• Category 1:
  • Current General Certificate holders who have not practised the minimum of 500 hours within the scope of practice of Massage Therapy within the previous three years, or
  • Inactive registrants and former registrants who have not held a General Certificate for up to three years and who cannot meet the 500 hours within the scope of practice of Massage Therapy within the previous three years requirement.
• Category 2:
  • Current and former registrants who have not held a General Certificate for more than three years and up to 15 years, or
  • New applicants for registration (i.e., someone who has never been registered with CMTO).
• Category 3:
  • Current and former registrants who have not held a General Certificate for more than 15 years.

The Refresher Course consists of two components:

• The CMTO Jurisprudence Program
• Tutoring with a CMTO-approved tutor

Jurisprudence Program

All Refresher Course participants in Categories 1 and 2 must complete CMTO’s online Jurisprudence Program before they proceed with tutoring.

The Jurisprudence Program must be completed within three months after passing the first evaluative test within the Program.

Tutoring

The tutoring component of the Refresher Course must be completed within six months of completing the Jurisprudence Program.

Category 1:

• Current General Certificate holders who cannot meet the 500 hours within the scope of practice of Massage Therapy within the previous three years requirement or
• Inactive registrants and former registrants who have not held a General Certificate for up to three years and who cannot meet the 500 hours within the scope of practice of Massage Therapy within the previous three years.

Category 1 participants must complete a tutoring program with a CMTO-approved tutor that consists of at least five (5) and no more than eight (8) hours of tutoring.

The tutoring program is based on CMTO’s Standards of Practice and may be completed remotely.

For a tutoring program of more than five (5) hours, the tutor may modify the program at the mid-point if, after working with the participant, they believe fewer hours are needed than originally planned. A minimum of five hours of tutoring must still be provided.

Category 2:

• Current and former registrants who have not held a General Certificate for more than three years and up to 15 years
• New applicants for registration

Category 2 participants must complete a tutoring program with a CMTO-approved tutor that consists of at least 10 and no more than 15 hours of tutoring, including a minimum of three (3) hours of in-person instruction. The remaining hours may be completed remotely.

The tutoring program is based on the Inter-jurisdictional Practice Competencies and Performance Indicators for Massage Therapists at Entry to Practice.

For a tutoring program of more than 10 hours, the tutor may modify the program at the mid-point if, after working with the participant, they believe fewer hours are needed than originally planned. A minimum of 10 hours of tutoring must still be provided.

Category 3:

• Current and former registrants who have not held a General Certificate for more than 15 years

Category 3 participants must contact Registration Services at registrationservices@cmto.com for information about making a submission to the Registration Committee about the Refresher Course requirements they must complete to be eligible for a General Certificate. The Registration Committee may determine that a new Massage Therapy diploma must be completed. If that is the case, the current or former registrant cannot earn the new diploma from an institution that has already issued them a Massage Therapy diploma.

Adopted: September 20, 2004
Updated approved by Council: September 19, 2022, for implementation Jan. 1, 2023
Updated to reflect wording and numbering of amended Registration Regulation: July 1, 2024
Updated: September 23, 2024