A HISTORY OF REGULATION
CANADA
In 1919 massage therapy was regulated for the first time by The Ontario Board of Regents. In 1935 the Ontario Government, through the passing of the Drugless Practitioners Act, raised the level of regulation. After 72 years, in 1991, another Act was established to govern the profession, the Regulated Health Professions Act.
A new regulatory body known as the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, was established to govern the profession and replaced Board of Directors of Masseurs. The Massage Therapy Act, established in 1991, defines the massage as “the practice of massage therapy is the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain”. (1991, c. 27, s. 3).
The members can use the title RMT (registered massage therapist) and MT (massage therapist). The members are required to complete 2200 hours of education from one of recognized colleges or equivalent (Access to the massage therapy profession in Ontario).
There is A Mutual Recognition Agreement among The College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia, The Newfoundland and Labrador Massage Therapist Board and College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. The Agreement does not allow therapists to automatically become members of other body but it does regulate requirements needed to ensure smooth transition. In British Columbia at the moment massage therapist’s training consists of 3000 hours or three full time years.Other provinces are not part of the Agreement as the training and regulation differ.
Today, the OMTA is the professional voice of massage therapy. Established in 1936, the OMTA is a member driven, non-profit association that provides leadership for and advocates on behalf of the profession. The OMTA advances the profession of massage therapy by promoting a professional image to the public, educational institutions, the government, business and other health care professions.
In terms of research in Canada it is also important to mention a number of projects by Trish Dryden,M.Ed.,RMT, a registered massage therapist and Coordinator of the Centre for Applied Research at Centennial College in Toronto that initiated Research Literacy for Complementary Health Practitioners. Trish Dryden is one of the members of scientific review committee of the Holistic Research Foundation of Canada (HHRFC).
UNITED KINGDOM
Since 1894 when a group of women in UK formed "The Society of Trained Masseuses" until today, there have been numerous attempts to regulate the field of massage therapy.
Today there is no regulation in England like those that exist in Ontario or British Columbia, rather there are individual associations that govern members graduating from schools recognized within each massage therapy profession such as shiatsu, aromatherapy etc.
The Scottish Massage Therapists’ Organization (SMTO) is the best organized Massage Therapists’ organization in Scotland. formed in 1992 to promote natural health and the massage therapy field.
UNITED STATES
The oldest association in US is a Society of Physical Therapists in Chicago founded in 1918. An excellent history of massage therapy regulatory process in United States can be found at wonderful Julie Onofrio’s web site.
At the moment, National Certification Board for Massage and Bodywork (or NCBTMB) is a recognized certification body in 36 states and requires in examination process elements of both, eastern and western bodywork beside a formal, in class 500 hour training program.
The largest massage therapy association today in United States is AMTA, founded in 1943. with more then 54000 active members.
WORLD
The current state of medical massage (regulation) and alternative health practices, including natural supplements and herbs all over the world, is recorded and updated by Complementary and Alternative Medicine Assessment in the Cancer Field.
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