I have an ITEC Holistic/Swedish Massage Therapy 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?

Cheers!

I have an IIHHT qualification too and have to find out if it is recognized but as of yet havent done it. I also have hairdressing qualifications which I have to resit exams to get my NS licence. When I move to Ontario in a couple of years, I have to resit the exam again and get my Ontario licence. Everytime I do this it is $125. I don't know for definate about your qualification but going by hairdressing (which is still classsed as beauty therapy) then you cant just go by a UK qualification.

Massage therapy (at least in BC and I'm pretty sure Ontario as well) is highly regulated. A friend of mine works as a registered massage therapist (RMT) in Vancouver and he had to complete three years of training and must adhere to standards set of by the 'registered massage therapist association of BC' (or whatever the actual organizational body is called). In BC, seeing a RMT is often covered by the MSP (the province's health care plan).

You can still offer massage-type work so long as you don't called it "massage therapy".

I hope that makes sense!

Thanks I really appreciate your help! I was wondering what you meant by I could practise but not call it Massage Therapy - any suggestions?? And do you know of anyone who does this and how successful they are? Do you know if this works and I guess the right word is legal!? It's just that I have been practising in the UK for sometime and I really am put off by studying for 3 years again!!! It's worrying me slightly as it is my career here and I fully expected to just be able to take it over there!

Also would I ever be able to set up a Clinic if I wasn't registered officially?

I'm not certain of all the legalities of what you want to do. I just know that in BC, massage therapy is highly regulated, registered massage therapists (RMTs) are plentiful and easy to access (at least in Victoria and Vancouver) and in many instances visits are covered by the medical plan.

I know in Victoria and Vancouver there are people that offer various types of "bodywork" that is not "massage therapy" (and not advertized as such), but they would not be in anyway linked up with the provincial medical plan or any health insurance company. I don't know anyone personally who does this so I'm not sure how successful it can be.

Hi
my husband is also a massage therapist over here . We have a clinic together as I am a physiotherapist . we were in Ontario this july and found out in Ontario it is a 18 month course and heavily regulated . However we were given the impression if he wanted to work in a health spa or a gym environment it would be ok . But he would not be covered in medical insurance and so it would be up to people to pay for themselves .I don't know what the canadian attitude to health and paying to take care of themselves is over here it is fairly varied .
I think my husband is looking for a career change anyway . But it would of been nice to fall back on !!!
Good luck with your research
Karen

I have been wondering the same thing about moving my ITEC (which is supposed to be International Therapies Exam Council - recognised in Canada according to their literature) Holistic Massage Diploma over to work in NOva Scotia. Looks like I may have to retrain entirely.

Any further advice or likeminded veggie eating, holistically minded, natural birth orientated "hippies" in Nova Scotia - would love to meet you as I'm nervous about leaving all my friends behind. I'm originally from South Africa, lived in London 10 years... moving to Nova Scotia in Sept 2006.

Hi,

Where in Nova Scotia are you relocating? I live in Halifax ( I also spent 7 years in London ) and there is the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy that you might want to contact for more information regarding qualifications etc... the phone number is (902) 832-3268.

There seems to be quite a few positions for RMT's at the moment and the future job projections are very good apparently. We have alot of spas, clinics etc in Halifax...

Hope this helps & let me know if you need anymore info..

Good Luck!!

It does help THANK YOU!

We are buying bit of land between Truro and Amherst. My partner lives near Shortts Lake about 30 mins from Truro at the moment (YES, he is there... I am in London UGH!!) BUT may move up to Cape Breton for a little while before settling on the land.

I'm currently doing ITEC Reflexology & Aromatherapy as well and after doing a bit of research realised to my horror that it may not be worth much when I get over there which was crummy.

Thanks for the tip. I'll ring them on monday.