Canada Massage Therapy Requirements

Canada does not have a national massage therapy board. Each province has individual rules and regulations regarding the practice of massage therapy. PLEASE NOTE: We provide the below information about your province as a courtesy but cannot guarantee its accuracy because laws are continually subject to change. If you have questions about the information we have provided below, please contact your licensing agency directly. Your governing board will hold you ultimately responsible for knowing the laws that apply to you. We do not deviate from our posted return and exchange policy if you later determine that a course you enrolled in is not valid for CEs in your jurisdiction.

For Canada massage therapists who also have a license to practice in the United States, please refer to our state laws page for details on US course approvals. Institute of Somatic Therapy is approved by the NCBTMB as a continuing education approved provider (#280672).

British Columbia:

The College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) was the regulatory body responsible for approving continuing education credits for Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs). Historically, RMTs were required to complete 24 continuing education credits every two years if they had been registered for 12 or more months, or 12 credits if registered for less than 12 months, with courses approved by the Quality Assurance Committee.

Important update: As of February 18, 2026, CMTBC’s existing Quality Assurance Program including credit‑based continuing education requirements has concluded with the transition to a new unified Quality Assurance Program under the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC). Under this new model, RMTs will engage in ongoing professional development activities aimed at maintaining clinical competence rather than completing a fixed number of continuing education credits.

RMTs are encouraged to continue engaging in professional development and learning activities to support their skills and practice, even though formal credit totals may no longer be required. For details about current Quality Assurance expectations and professional development guidance, contact the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC directly.

Former Regulatory Body (CMTBC)

College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia
304‑1212 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6H 3V1
Phone: 604‑736‑3404 or Toll‑free: 1‑877‑321‑3404
Website: https://www.cmtbc.ca/
Email: info@cmtbc.ca
(Under past requirements, a renewal cycle occurred each two years with continuing education credits; those specific CE credit reporting obligations ended as part of regulatory restructuring.)

Current Regulatory Authority (CCHPBC)

College of Complementary Health Professionals of British Columbia (CCHPBC)
Website: https://cchpbc.ca/
For registered massage therapist resources: https://cchpbc.ca/for‑professionals/registered‑massage‑therapists/resources/

Institute of Somatic Therapy status with the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia: 

Institute of Somatic Therapy status: At this time, Institute of Somatic Therapy is not an approved provider with the former CMTBC and its successor, and therefore courses cannot be submitted for formal CE requirements with the CCHPBC. However, courses may still be valuable for professional growth or for membership requirements with other associations.

* Note: Click Here to view a full listing of our Massage Therapist CE Courses. You may also click on the "courses" tab at the top of each page.