Licensure is a government-mandated mechanism that governs practitioners. To practice massage therapy, a student who has graduated from a massage therapy college should obtain a license. In the end, you won’t be able to get paid for your job unless you have a permit.
These regulations are intended to protect the general public by forcing the profession to be accountable and unify the industry by creating a common regulatory framework, minimum competency for entry-level practitioners, and a common culture and language.
Massage therapy must have legal approval and clearly defined criteria to encourage the profession and protect the public’s health, protection, and welfare.
Massage therapy’s legal recognition in the form of licensing sets basic competency requirements for entry-level practitioners and defines who will represent themselves to the public as licensed massage therapists. Formal schooling, preparation, and assessment criteria are used to assess and implement competency.
Licensing is the most strict form of professional control, making it illegal for anyone to practise massage therapy without first obtaining a license.
The public is protected by licensure because it establishes a clear standard of practice enforced by a professional code of ethics. Licensing also provides a structured grievance procedure for clients, which helps to deter dishonest and non-compliant massage therapists from practicing.
Kanata Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Clinic has been serving Kanata, Stittsville, West Ottawa, Nepean and surrounding areas for over 15 years. To book an appointment with a Licensed Massage Therapist, or for specific questions about fees, please call us and request an appointment for Massage Therapy.