What Is a Registered Massage Therapist?

You may know someone who will give you a quick massage when you’re feeling stiff and sore. So, what makes a registered massage therapist so different? Why see an RMT, anyway? Here’s what sets RMTs apart.

 Well-Educated

Before someone can be a Registered Massage Therapist in BC, they have to go through a rigorous training program at an accredited college. They study and train in many different subjects, including:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Pathology
• Kinesiology
• Neuroanatomy
• Manual skills
• Orthopedics
• Managing chronic conditions
• Treating injuries
• Managing stress
• Patient communications
• Ethics

While future RMTs may spend a lot of time reading books and listening to lectures, they also get hands-on practice by performing massage treatments on other students and patients while under the supervision of an RMT. Then, after their initial training is complete, they participate in continuing education throughout their career as an RMT.

Registered

Being registered as an RMT is more than getting your name on a list. Applicants must also take lengthy and difficult exams. In BC, this exam has two parts:

• Clinical Science – This 125-question test assesses the student’s knowledge of the theories, techniques, and treatments they will use, as well as the conditions they will treat.
• Knowledge and Theory of Sciences – Students answer 200 questions to test their knowledge related to health care, including physical, biological, social, and behavioural sciences.

They also must pass an exam on Law, Ethics, and Professionalism. Finally, they take a performance-based test that assesses their ability to perform massage therapy techniques properly and provide appropriate treatments. When they have passed all their tests, they can become registered.

A Health Care Professional

A Registered Massage Therapist is more than someone who rubs your aching muscles. They’re a bona fide health care professional. They use well-established treatments for medical conditions. They hold themselves to the highest BC Registered Massage Therapy standards. Because they are health care professionals, they work with insurance to provide the treatments you need.

Registered Massage Therapists at Davie Village RMT meet and exceed all these requirements. So, while it may be tempting to just let your friend give you a quick massage, that usually isn’t the right solution. When you see an RMT instead, you know you are getting a safe and effective treatment for your condition.