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Train for a Career in Registered Massage Therapy
Learn hands-on techniques to treat muscles and soft tissue for a wide range of client needs. Graduate ready to deliver professional massage therapy services.
HANDS-ON CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Gain 600 hours of hands-on practice treating clients in a supervised, real-world student clinic.
Scholarship
Up to $5,000* available for eligible students, until June 30, 2026. *Terms apply.
Campus Availability
Abbotsford, Burnaby
Increase Your Income Potential
Median wage for Registered Massage Therapists in BC is $23/hr. Jobbank.gc.ca. 2026
Program Overview
Registered Massage Therapy Diploma
Practical, industry-approved path to becoming an RMT
This full-time diploma program prepares you to deliver professional massage therapy services with confidence. You’ll develop the skills to assess clients, provide therapeutic treatment, and support recovery and overall wellness across a wide range of conditions.
Build a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology, then apply your knowledge through hands-on training in therapeutic techniques and supervised clinical practice.
This comprehensive program prepares you to treat clients safely and effectively while working toward professional registration as a Registered Massage Therapist in British Columbia.
Recognition
Training that meets industry and regulatory standards
Our programs are designed to meet established industry and provincial requirements, helping ensure your education is respected by employers and aligned with current workforce expectations. This commitment reflects our focus on quality training, accountability, and career-ready outcomes.
Recognized by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA)
Recognized by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC)
Program is approved by the Registrar of the Provincial Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU)
Program Requirements
Speak With Admissions
Admission & Requirements
Admissions advisors will guide you through each step
Proof of high school graduation or equivalent (General Education Development or BC Adult Basic Education OR At minimum, 1 year of post-secondary completion)*
OR
Mature student status (19 years of age upon starting classes)
• Proof of English Language proficiency
• Introduction to Massage Workshop course delivered by an accredited institution of massage therapy.[Offered by our college.]
• Successful completion of an interview with the Campus Director, Program Coordinator, or designate, designed to assess the applicant’s readiness for the RMT program **
*Transcripts from an institution outside of Canada must be verified by an international education credential evaluation service, such as WES or ICES.
** The interview assesses applicant’s motivation, understanding of the RMT profession, communication skills, and overall suitability.Responses are evaluated using a standardized rubric. A minimum score of 20/30 is required for admission.
Work Experience Placement Requirements
(Practicum, Clinical Placement or Preceptorship)
• Criminal record check (in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act)
• Up-to-date immunization report (form provided by college),including the following vaccinations:
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MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
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Tetanus & Diphtheria
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Varicella
Making Your Education Accessible
Financing your educational journey shouldn't hold you back. At Vancouver Career College, our dedicated team of Student Financial Planners is available to guide you through available financial option, depending on what you may qualify for.
Potential Funding Options
Government Student Loans: Government of BC-sponsored loan assistance for eligible students.
Student Lines of Credit: Offered through financial institutions, allowing you to borrow as needed.
Grants, Bursaries and Agency Funding: You may qualify through federal or provincial retraining programs, including WorkSafeBC and other government agencies.
Personalized Financial Support: Your Student Financial Planner will help you explore potential funding sources and identify options based on your situation.
Scholarships
We've awarded over $1 million in scholarships to students across all backgrounds. Talk to your campus Student Financial Planner to find out what you may qualify for.
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Successful completion of all program courses with a minimum 70% in each course of the program, as well as a minimum mark of 70% on all final practical and theory examinations
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Successful completion of all practical clinical requirements, including the minimum 330 hands-on hours of massage therapy provided to the public
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Successful performance of all specific competencies as listed in the CCHPBC Occupational Competency Profile
Career Paths for Registered Massage Therapy
Develop practical, job-ready skills to assess and treat clients across wellness, rehabilitation, and sports care. This program prepares you to work confidently in a variety of clinical and therapeutic environments as a Registered Massage Therapist.
- Private Clinics
- Rehabilitation Clincs
- Medical Clinics
- Wellness Centres
- Sports Medicine Clinics
- Hospitals
- Health Spas
- Fitness Centres
- Sports Teams
- Theatre and Dance groups
- Tourism Destinations and Cruise Ships
Find market-ready opportunities with guidance from Career Services.
What You'll Learn
Graduate With Practical Skills
Develop practical, job-ready skills to assess and treat clients across wellness, rehabilitation, and sports care. This program prepares you to work confidently in a variety of clinical and therapeutic environments as a Registered Massage Therapist.
Registered Massage Therapy - Program Courses
The purpose of the course is to build a body of knowledge of the bones and muscles of the upper body and the human trunk. Students are taught the names of the bone structures as well as the features of each bone. Of particular importance are the landmarks, a term used to describe how the bone is identifiable amongst others within the musculoskeletal system. This course includes the musculature of the upper body and trunk, the origin of the muscle tissue, its insertion, and the range of action that the muscle can undertake. Muscles respond to messages carried by the nervous system; therefore the student will study the nervous innervation of muscle in the upper body and trunk. The course includes instruction in the muscular actions, kinesiology, of the upper body and trunk, both primary and accessory actions. Myophysiology concerns itself with the operations of muscles; this course provides an introduction to that area of study.
This course runs in conjunction with Musculoskeletal Anatomy Upper Body. Once the concepts of bony and soft tissue anatomy are communicated in the other portion of this course, actual hands-on palpation is employed to identify anatomy. Utilizing plastic skeletal models and each other, students will be guided through safe identification through palpation of the anatomy of the upper body and trunk. Appropriate informed consent and depth of palpation will also be learned. Features located on specific bones will be palpated and used as landmarks to locate the origin and insertion of muscle. Each individual muscle will be palpated utilizing land marking, visualization and isometric contraction.
The purpose of the course is to continue where the introductory weekend left off. Students will gain confidence and proficiency in providing a general full body massage, limb handling, appropriate draping, and patient interaction. The course will also explore varied positioning such as side-lying, clothed and seated massage. Concepts of safe delivery of massage will be investigated. Students will perform the demonstrated techniques on each other. This will improve their palpatory skills. The information gleaned in Musculoskeletal Anatomy I will be employed and reinforced.
Professional development refers to a broad grouping of fundamental social dynamics that are core to professionalism in health care services. The course begins with an exploration of values and belief systems as these are carried forward from the personal life to the professional life. The dynamics of the person and how this is experienced by others is another focus of the course. Lastly, the course explores intra-personal and inter-personal skills and how these are managed in communities of diversity. The concept of personal space is an important one in the massage therapy profession and it needs to be well understood by those training for the profession. The nature of the therapeutic relationship includes concepts of boundaries and barriers and this will be demonstrated – especially as they affect gender and power differentials. Students are asked to contribute to the classroom learning by sharing their experiences in health care delivery and services.
In this course, the six primary focus areas are: the organization of the body, cytology, histology, tissues, organs and organ systems. The organization of the human body is approached in terms of spheres, planes and sections of the body. Organization is also determined by body quadrants, body cavities and membranes. Cytology is the study of the formation and structure and function of cells. Histology is the anatomical study of the microscopic structure of body tissues – otherwise described as the tissue structure of an organism. Tissue is the term used to refer to the layer or group of cells that collectively form a specific function: connective, epithelial, muscular, nervous system and lymphatic. The organs of the body are those tissues that serve a particular purpose in the body's functioning. Organ systems are generally divided into 10 groupings: cardiovascular, gastrointestinal (digestive), musculoskeletal, endocrine, integumentary (skin), nervous, respiratory, urinary, reproductive and blood.
Student Clinics
Gain real-world experience treating clients in a supervised clinical setting.
At our Burnaby and Abbotsford campus student clinics, you’ll work directly with real clients under the supervision of experienced instructors. This hands-on training helps you build confidence, refine your techniques, and develop the professional skills needed to succeed as a Registered Massage Therapist.
- Treat real clients under instructor supervision
- Build confidence through real-world clinical experience
- Apply classroom learning in a professional setting
- Prepare for employment or self-employment
Explore our Student Clinics or book an appointment:
👉 Book your appointment at our Burnaby Campus
5021 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4A5
👉 Book your appointment at our Abbotsford Campus
2121 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 4H6
Why Choose This Program
Why Students Choose Our Registered Massage Therapy Program
Built for outcomes, not just credentials
From your first class to your final clinic shift, the focus is on building real, hands-on skills. Learn from experienced instructors, treat real clients in a supervised clinical setting, and graduate prepared to pursue registration and begin your career as a Registered Massage Therapist.
- Program accredited by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA)
- Eligible to pursue registration with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC)
- 600 hours of hands-on clinical experience treating real clients
- On-site student clinics in Burnaby and Abbotsford
- Instructors with real-world industry and clinical experience
- Career and employment support available for up to six months post-graduation
Still have questions? Book a campus visit and talk with our Admissions team.
The Registered Massage Therapy program was an enriching experience with quite knowledgeable & skilful instructors who were once graduates themselves, making their guidance relatable and insightful. Administrative staff were incredibly caring, and support was always at hand.
The program provided a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical assessment, along with extensive hands-on training. Throughout my studies, I developed a solid understanding of musculoskeletal conditions and evidence-informed treatment approaches. The program emphasized critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and patient-centred care, which prepared me to assess and treat a wide range of conditions effectively.
The teachers are positive and helpful; the whole staff want to see and actively try to help the students to succeed. The labs are well-equipped and have everything you need to practice with.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
Pathway with Thompson Rivers University
Graduates of Vancouver Career College's Registered Massage Therapy program now have a direct pathway to Thompson Rivers University's (TRU) Bachelor of Health Science degree.
Through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), your Registered Massage Therapy Diploma (2751 hrs) can earn you a maximum of 69 transfer credits toward the degree (as outlined in Schedule C).
With only 51 credits left to complete, a Bachelor of Health Science from TRU is well within reach. You've already done the hard part - let us help you finish strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Registered Massage Therapy Program FAQs
Vancouver Career College is approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. For more information, visit the PTIRU site here.
Our campuses offer a variety of start dates, in some cases, every two weeks. To learn more about our upcoming start dates, please reach out to your campus of choice HERE
Our experienced Student Financial Planners can provide further details on program funding. Refer to the Financial Options webpage for more information.
Programs may be available in a variety of modalities. Please refer to the specific program page to learn more. If you have additional questions about learning online, please click HERE to learn more about admissions.
You can find our tuition listed HERE.
The length of this program is listed in the Program Overview section on this page. Have questions? Click here to connect with an Admissions Advisor.
Vancouver Career College Student Clinics for Massage Therapy (Burnaby & Abbotsford) and Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (Burnaby only), offer low-cost treatments performed by students under the supervision of a registered instructor.
Clients receive a 60-minute session (including assessment) while helping students gain real-world clinical experience and hands-on skills. One appointment per day; services vary by student level.
For more information or to book an appointment, see our Student Clinics page.
Start Your Career in Registered Massage Therapy
For over 30 years, Vancouver Career College has delivered trusted career training. Explore how our programs can support your goals. Connect with an advisor today.
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