Hello, it's me. I have searched on this but only found one thread which is over 2 years old. So time for another one

My wife has an ITEC Reflexology and Massage Certificate - does anyone know if this is recognised etc in Ontario (or any other Province for that matter!) for Insurance and for self employment and possibly Clinic work?

Know nuffink m8, don't exist over here, they (sniff) was avin yoo on (sniff). Want your money see (sniff).
My view, not the wife's.

You never know, someone might answer (sniff)...

I can only speak for Alberta. It is not covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, and no company that I've worked for in Calgary has covered it as part of its group benefits plan.

There are, however, practitioners in Calgary. When people consult them, they pay out of their own pockets. I have no idea what they charge and how large a client base a practitioner can expect to build up.

If you look at the website of Spiritual Directions, you can find out what a Calgary organization charges for that type of thing, maybe not reflexology specifically, but at least related services.

But that's Calgary. I don't know how it compares with Ontario.

Thanks Judy, it's something to be going on. I keep telling her you've got to start again! But you know what women are like..

Hi Steve

Probably won't be recognised in Ontario - Ontario is one of the strictest provinces re regulating healthcare of any type. Your wife will need to be a Registered Massage Therapist before she can get insurance to practice and legally call herself a massage therapist. she should look up the following link for more info: http://www.omta.com/


Trish

Thanks Trish, will pass this info on.

Try Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
Spas, hotels,alternative health centers are hiring
alternative health practitioners.
I do not think reflexologists are regulated ,
however massage therapists are regulated here in BC.
An ex co worker of mine took a 1 yr.course in reflexology
and now she has private clients of her own.
I do not think it is that difficult to get registered here,since
your wife is already certified in UK. Just the hassle of filling
forms,sending documents and fees.
Yoong

i did the itec mainly because they told me it was "internationally recognised " which really is a load of b s as i have found out anyway , no doubt your wife will have to re sit the exams etc... i know i will

Ok Thanks, it was leading to this...She's not too happy because they told her it was 'international', felt it's been a waste of money. She's sent ITEC an email asking for information on the subject (3 days ago) but no reply so far.
Thanks for the feedback.

Hi Steve,
If your wife is going to practise in BC , below are the 2 links
which she could write and ask them about her training.
Hope that helps.

http://www.massagetherapy.bc.ca/
http://www.reflexologybc.com/
Yoong

I might send one too as I also did ITEC because it was (as I was told) supposed to be "internationally recognised. Here in BC, as Yoong says, you have to be a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), which takes about 3 years and includes thousands of hours looking at the courses here - seems a bit excessive but still, their rules I guess. We spoke to someone here just last week who is currently training, and still has another 1000 hours' practice to get...and she was getting fed up with the time it was taking. This particular practicioner didn't do anything in her treatment beyond what ITEC diploma in Holistic Massage teaches...so I'm with you completely, ITEC should be recognised internationally as an equivalent, especially as they sell it in the UK as such, but Provincial regulations overule.

I gather you may be able to practice massage here with ITEC, but you are not allowed to call it anything that would infer you are an RMT (ie avoid the words Registered, Massage, or Therapist)!

That said, I haven't yet looked into whether the BC regulatory bodies will accept ITEC as some sort of full or partial equivalent.