The following are reserved titles protected by law in British Columbia:

• “Registered Massage Therapist”
• “Massage Therapist”
• “Registered Massage Practitioner”
• “Massage Practitioner”

Only CMTBC registrants can legally use these titles or the abbreviations “RMT”, “MT”, “RMP”, and “MP” in British Columbia. In addition, anyone who is not a CMTBC registrant is prohibited not only from using the titles themselves, but also from using them even as part of a different or longer title to describe themselves or their work.

CMTBC registrants are health professionals who have met rigorous registration requirements, including post-secondary education in sciences and in clinical applications of massage therapy.  They have also passed a multi-component registration (entry to practice) examination administered by the College.

CMTBC registrants are regulated under the Health Professions Act, the Massage Therapists Regulation, and the College’s Bylaws. They are required to abide by standards of practice and standards of professional ethics, and to meet the College’s continuing competence requirements.  These and other requirements are designed to ensure that BC RMTs provide safe, ethical and effective health care to the public.

The terms “massage specialist”, “bodyworker”, “spa therapist”, and “Raynor therapist” are not reserved by law in BC. Any individual with an interest in massage, no matter his/her level of education, may use these terms. These unregulated individuals do not necessarily carry liability insurance and there is no recourse to the College should they practice unsafely, ineffectively, or unethically.