Registered Massage Therapy Diploma

Scholarships of up to $5,000 or more are available for our new Registered Massage Therapy Diploma program

The Registered Massage Therapy program has been approved by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA).

APPLY TO RECEIVE THIS SCHOLARSHIP HERE 

The Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) Program at Rhodes Wellness College offers a comprehensive and immersive journey, blending scientific rigor with the artistry of therapeutic touch. Our program is designed to provide a solid theoretical foundation alongside extensive hands-on practice, ensuring our students graduate as well-prepared and confident therapists.

Fundamental to our approach is a client-centered philosophy, informed by trauma-sensitive practices and a biopsychosocial perspective that integrates wellness and healing. From the outset of the program, students cultivate essential skills such as presence, empathy, and client-centered care, which form the foundation of their education. These skills are continuously reinforced throughout the program, emphasizing evidence-based care and critical thinking in both theoretical studies and practical applications.

Rhodes’ RMT program is structured to maximize learning through a blended format. Students engage in synchronous online sessions that foster collaboration and depth of understanding, complemented by in-person classes focused on simulated and clinical hands-on practice. This approach ensures students are well-prepared for their final board exams and for real-world practice.

This RMT program is designed to provide a solid theoretical foundation alongside extensive hands-on practice that meets the requirements as set out by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA), the College of Massage Therapist of British Columbia (CMTBC) (amalgamated under the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC – CCHPBC), and the Inter-Jurisdictional Practice Competencies and Performance Indicators set by the Federation of Massage Therapy Regulatory Authorities of Canada. Meeting the above requirements ensures students graduate as well-prepared and competent practitioners. The curriculum seamlessly integrates anatomy, physiology, pathology, and systemic treatments, guiding students from academic understanding to practical application in a way that deepens their knowledge and enhances their effectiveness as therapists.

At Rhodes, we recognize the importance of holistic health for both clients and practitioners. Emphasized throughout the program is a mindful approach to learning and practice promoting self-care techniques that students can apply, not only in their future careers, but also in their personal lives. Our goal is to graduate healthy, compassionate, and skilled therapists who understand the profound impact of human connection in healing.

RMT Faculty

Our Registered Massage Therapy program is led by Stephania Johnson and Taylor James Laviolette (TJ), dedicated instructors with over 36 years of combined RMT experience. Their passion for teaching and commitment to excellence shine through in every class as they guide students toward becoming confident, skilled Registered Massage Therapists. To learn more about their professional backgrounds, experience, and training, please visit their bio page here.

The Process to Achieve RMT Status Includes:

• Successful completion of a CMTCA-accredited massage therapy program.
• Submission of an application to the CCHPBC.
• Passing the BC Provincial Registration Examinations.
• Fulfilling additional CCHPBC requirements, including undergoing a criminal record check and obtaining current First Aid and CPR certifications.

Rhodes Wellness College is committed to providing comprehensive support to students throughout their educational journey, ensuring they are well-prepared to meet all necessary criteria for professional practice.

Program Outline

Explore the comprehensive details of the Registered Massage Therapy program by downloading the program outline. This document provides an in-depth look at the curriculum, course descriptions, requirements, and essential information to help you plan your academic journey. 

Information Package

The package includes detailed information and requirements for the full-time Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) program, delivered in a hybrid model, to help you decide if this program is right for you. In this guide, you will learn about our program structure and all the requirements for program completion.

To receive an information package, please complete the request information form, and an advisor will provide you with the necessary materials.

Program Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to practice and employ the following skills and abilities:

• • Perform massage therapy at an entry-to-practice level in a manner that is safe, effective, and ethical.

• • Conduct an appropriate and customized interview and assessment resulting in a treatment plan for massage therapy and prescribed homecare appropriate to the presenting condition and agreed upon treatment goals of the patient.

• • Communicate to patients in a way that is simple, accessible, and empowering.

• • Utilize appropriate medical terminology when collaborating with other health care practitioners for the benefit of a patient.

• • Empower patients by navigating explicit and ongoing consent in all aspects of delivering massage therapy so as to avoid sexualization of the therapeutic space and avoid any actual or imagined sexual misconduct.

• • Understand the nuanced reality of pain, chronic pain, and the need to customize case management.

• • Comprehend musculoskeletal anatomy, physiology, pathology, orthopedic conditions, medications, and nutrition.

• • Recognize typical presentations and significance of common pain ailments and their related injuries and orthopedic conditions, along with realistic treatment goals.

• • Demonstrate an understanding of the benefits, strengths, and limitations of massage therapy.

• • Display the value and importance of evidence-based health care and the ability to critically examine claims and evidence encountered with patients.

Graduate Outcomes

Upon successful completion, graduates can pursue rewarding careers as Registered Massage Therapists, and RMT College Teacher Assistants.

Ready to Apply?

Are you interested in becoming a student at Rhodes Wellness College? Click on the Apply Online link below to get started! Here you’ll find all the admission requirements and all the important links for starting your application.

*For a complete breakdown of each cost category, please see the dropdown menu below.

Admissions Requirements for the Registered Massage Therapy program

Rhodes Wellness College is committed to enrolling students who meet program admission criteria and who are capable of achieving their education and career goals. For admission to Rhodes Wellness College’s Professional Registered Massage Therapy Diploma program, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Grade 12 (or equivalent) graduate in an English-based school system or reach the age of majority (19 years old in British Columbia).
• Submit a Personal Statement on why the applicant desires to pursue a Massage Therapy Diploma at Rhodes Wellness College.
• Submit two letters of reference (personal and professional).
• Submit a criminal record check.
• Successfully complete an Admissions interview.
• If an applicant has had an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a minimum of 12 months prior sobriety is required to be verified during the interview. The College may require the applicant to provide a letter from a counselor, confirming the applicant’s sobriety.
• Meet the program’s Language Proficiency requirement.

Rhodes Wellness College reserves the right to deny any candidate admission into this program if Admissions does not believe the applicant will be a potential fit or adequately benefit from taking the program.

All students, whether they be Canadian or International students, must prove sufficient English proficiency through one of the following methods:

1. Evidence that 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8-12), or 2 years if the Grades are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages. This may be demonstrated by providing a high school transcript, completion of a BC Adult Graduation program or providing international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, or IQAS.
2. Two years of full-time post-secondary education* have been completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS).*Language development courses (i.e., ELL courses) cannot be included in this
3. Successful completion of one of the following English proficiency exams, achieving the minimum required score indicated below:
   a. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: Minimum overall score of 5.5
   b. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT: Minimum overall score of 46
   c. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): Minimum overall score of 40
   d. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5
   e. Duolingo English Test (DET): Minimum overall score of 95
   f. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Minimum overall score of 43
   g. Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE): Minimum overall score of 160 or “C” (Institutions may include other Cambridge Qualifications at a higher level, e.g., C2 Proficiency (CPE))
   h. Cambridge Linguaskill: Minimum overall B2 level
   i. LANGUAGECERT Academic: Minimum overall B2 level
   j. The Michigan English Test (MET): Minimum overall B2 level
   k. iTEP Academic: Minimum overall score of 5
   l. EIKEN: Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1

4. Where the applicant is 19 years of age or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and the applicant cannot access their educational records or cannot provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education through one of the other stipulated methods in the College’s Language Proficiency Policy, they may satisfy language proficiency requirements through the Accuplacer English Assessment process as follows:
   1. Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English in a country where the English is one of the principal languages*, and
   2. Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores:
      i. Reading: 230, and
      ii. Writing: 230, and
      iii. WritePlacer: 4

*Language development courses (i.e., ELL courses) cannot be included in this calculation. Accuplacer may not be used to demonstrate that a student meets an admission requirement other than Language Proficiency.

*English-speaking countries include the following:

Graduation Completion Requirements

To successfully graduate from the Registered Massage Therapy Program at Rhodes Wellness College, students must:

• Students must fulfill the college’s Assignment Completion Policy to complete this program.
• Students must fulfill specific course outline assignment expectations. 
• Students must meet the college’s Attendance Policy to complete this program.
• Students must fulfill the following graduation requirements:
  • Completion of all courses with a minimum grade of 70%. 
  • A minimum grade of 70% in all academic and practical final exams for MTPR 509 Professional Considerations, MTPR 610 Integrated Sciences Review, and MTPR 611 Applied Health Sciences Review. 
  • Completion of a minimum of 330 direct clinic hours as defined by the CMTCA. 

Students who place a hold on their studies and are unable to complete their program within the two-year duration have up to a maximum of six years to complete the program requirements, provided space in the program is available. After this time, a student will have to re-apply and be readmitted to the program.

Assessment Attendance & Completion Policy

At Rhodes Wellness College, fair and consistent assessment practices are essential to
academic success and professional development. As a regulated health-profession program,
the Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) Program requires students to demonstrate
responsibility, preparedness, and professionalism in all assessment settings. Please visit the link below to review the Assessment Attendance & Completion Policy:

• Assessment Attendance & Completion Policy

We also provide Bodywork Therapy programs in collaboration with our partner, Vancouver School of Healing Arts, right here.