Massage Therapy (Accelerated)
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Program Overview
Massage Therapy (Accelerated) is a three-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma program offered in an accelerated format over two years. Students will learn to maintain, rehabilitate, and augment physical function to relieve pain. Students will be able to master their skills within the student-run clinic. Graduates will feel confident entering the workforce by having a strong understanding of massage theory and practice.
Program Details
Program Code
MSG2
Credential:
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Duration
74 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 September
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 September
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Your Learning Experience
Learning the highly dynamic skills necessary to assist the body to repair is essential to any healthcare field. If you are excited by the opportunity to provide valuable massage therapy treatment to those in need, apply now. In just two short years this program will have you working as a massage therapist, upon completion of the provincial registration exams.
With a strong focus on medical knowledge, you’ll master your massage skills in the student-run clinic, where you’ll experiment with many hands-on techniques. You’ll also learn, first-hand, how to assess your clients and their needs, as well as how to maintain, rehabilitate, and augment physical function to relieve pain. You’ll also study massage theory and practice while experimenting with different types of massage techniques such as sport, clinical, therapeutic, and pregnancy
The Massage Therapy program at Fanshawe College is built around the guiding principles of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO). This particular program explores the curriculum beyond just the minimum required. With a strong focus on medical knowledge, students will be exposed to many learning opportunities.
The professional faculty will provide students with a high-calibre experience. Students will learn the "assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues of the body and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain," as according to The Massage Therapy Act of Ontario.
Theory and practice are integral to the program, and students will be exposed to directly learning the skills of a Massage Therapist in the first level. Many adjunct therapies to the Massage Therapist will be studied, including sports massage, clinical massage, pregnancy massage and more.
Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation
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The Massage Therapy program is accredited by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation. When you graduate, you’ll be recommended to the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) for their entrance exams to the profession. In order to be eligible for accreditation, students must successfully complete all courses in the Massage Therapy program as well as complete a minimum of 330 hours of care to the public (hours are accumulated in Clinical Practice and Outreach Practicum courses).
Career Information
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Massage Therapy (Accelerated) program will be prepared to complete the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario’s entry exams to the profession. Registered massage therapists are common place in a wide variety of settings including chiropractic clinics, physiotherapy clinics, naturopath clinics, spas, health and wellness centres, gyms, nursing homes, sport teams, dance troupes, cruise ships and hospitals. There is a growing trend towards self-employment and working under contract. Therapists can choose to specialize or focus on areas that suit their lifestyle or needs and the needs of their patients.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Massage Therapy (Accelerated) program:
Registered Massage Therapist
Join a clinic that offers chiropractic, massage therapy and acupuncture treatments.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
1. conduct a massage therapy practice* within a legal, professional* and ethical framework*.
2. apply business principles relevant to a massage therapy practice*.
3. communicate and collaborate effectively and professionally with clients, colleagues and members of the interprofessional team.
4. develop and maintain therapeutic relationships* to optimize clients’ health and wellness.
5. collect and assess clients’ information* to determine their state of health and the treatment goals.
6. develop a plan of care* according to the client’s condition and the treatment goals.
7. implement the plan of care* according to the client’s condition and the treatment goals.
8. evaluate the effectiveness of the plan of care*.
9. maintain documentation securely, accurately and in a timely manner.
10. develop and implement ongoing effective strategies for personal and professional development to ensure quality care.
Related Programs
Academic School
Program Coordinator:
Leah Warner, MPEd, HBA Kin, RMT
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or a mature applicant with the following courses:
- Grade 12 English (C or U) (minimum final grade required is 65)
- Grade 11 or 12 Math (C, M or U) (minimum final grade required is 65)
- Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U) (minimum final grade required is 70)
Students who do not meet the admission requirements are recommended for academic upgrading. A conditional offer may be possible with proof of enrolment. Alternatively, applicants may choose to do the one-year Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees preparatory program. Graduates of Pre-Health who meet the minimum averages in courses listed above will meet the admission requirements for this program.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 79 |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 60 with no score less than 50 in any of the four bands. score of 80 in listening |
| PTE Academic | 53 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 169 with no language skill less than 162 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 8, 75% in Level 9, or 70% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 105, with no score lower than 95 |
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
- Grade 12 Introductory Kinesiology (U)Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
- Admission to the Fanshawe College Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program does not guarantee admission in a subsequent year to the Massage Therapy (Accelerated) program. Successful completion of the Fanshawe College Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program, however, does enable the student to be given additional consideration when applying to the Massage Therapy (Accelerated) program. The Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program is the preferred designated preparatory program for admission to the Massage Therapy (Accelerated) program.
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
The following items are applicable to the program and are time sensitive. Please refer to www.fanshawec.ca/preplacement for important information about preparing for placement by the due date.
- Possession of a Standard First Aid course certificate (either St. John Ambulance or Canadian Red Cross or equivalent) and a Basic Rescuer course certificate - Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers (HCP) in accordance with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Canadian Guidelines for CPR
- Evidence of Good Health
- Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening, including a check of the Pardoned Sexual Offenders Database
- Mandatory Placement Assessment for WRIT Course
- Guide to Completing your Professional Practice Requirements
- Pre-Placement Process
- Year 1: Professional Practice Health Form
- Year 2: Professional Practice Health Form
- Placement Agreement
For all programs requiring the submission of pre-placement forms, please submit all supplemental forms (with the exception of transcripts) by email to regforms@fanshawec.ca.
The deadline for submission of these forms for the MSG2 program is February 1st (for both Year 1 and Year 2 students).
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| HLTH-1199 | Massage Theory & Techniques 1 | 4 | ||
| In this first semester study students will be introduced to the history of massage therapy, appropriate body mechanics, safety, universal health precautions, informed consent and the basic techniques that comprise massage therapy. Students will practice their skills with direct hands-on learning of key principles related to sequencing techniques, palpation, and muscle tone. | ||||
| ANAT-1031 | Anatomy 1 | 6 | ||
| This course will introduce students to the very core of massage therapy; the study of the human body. Students will be introduced to the language of anatomy: Location, direction, movement, and an in-depth analysis of body tissues, bones, joints, and movements. Students will re-enforce their learning through hands-on palpation labs. | ||||
| HLTH-1187 | Physiology 1 | 4 | ||
| Students will learn the function of various components and systems of the human body. Students will learn the chemical composition of the body, basic nutrition, cells and membrane transport, homeostasis, neuronal signalling and the functions of the brain and nervous system, as well as muscle contraction and control of body movements. Where possible, pathologies encountered by massage therapists will be incorporated. | ||||
| WRIT-1048 | Reason & Writing 1 for Health Sciences | 3 | ||
| This course will introduce health sciences students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
| HLTH-1291 | Ethics & Standards of Practice | 4 | ||
| Massage therapy is a self-governing profession under the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) which is directed by the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Massage Therapy Act. Students will learn their role in regards to these acts as well as how to incorporate the Standards of Practice into their own therapy. Topics of study will relate to jurisprudence, ethics, and the regulatory foundations of massage therapy in Ontario. There will be opportunity to interact with fellow classmates and develop critical thinking skills needed to succeed in massage therapy while working on various in-class projects. | ||||
| HLTH-1292 | Wellness & Fitness for Massage Therapy | 4 | ||
| This course will reinforce the importance of the massage therapy scope of practice and introduce the modalities and therapies considered within scope. As well discussing the concepts of wellness and holistic health for both practitioners and patients within the scope of practice of an RMT. The interrelationship between these two concepts and the role of the fitness and health practitioner in promoting specific wellness programs and behaviour change are emphasized. Legalities and ramifications of working outside the scope of practice will also be discussed. Students will learn the dynamics of 'client centred care'' and learn to initiate, cultivate and maintain their 'inter professional' relationships. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.