About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 3 Year Advanced Diploma
  • Campus: Welland
  • Code: 0268 P0268
  • Delivery Length: 24 Months (6 Consecutive Terms)
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Overview

Massage therapists provide therapeutic massage treatment to clients to optimize their overall health and well-being by caring for their muscular, nervous and circulatory systems.

Using massage therapy, graduates will support their clients in the development of physical function, and the relieving or preventing of physical dysfunction and pain and the effects of stress.

Highlights
  • Develop and utilize the knowledge, skills and aptitudes needed to provide safe, effective and ethical care.

  • Work with clients in supervised clinics on-campus and in community placement settings.

  • Conduct clinical assessments, formulate comprehensive clinical impressions, and create client-centered treatment plans.

  • Graduates may register with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) to complete certification examinations.

Go to CMTCA website

The ​Massage Therapy program at Niagara College is accredited with the Canadian Accreditation Council for Massage Therapy Programs.

Career Opportunities
  • Chiropractic and/or physiotherapy office
  • Fitness centre or health club
  • Hotel, resort or spa
  • Mobile practice
  • Multidisciplinary healthcare organization
  • Private practice
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Courses

Term one (2024 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
COMM1160 Communication in Healthcare I 3
RMAT1100 Anatomy and Physiology for Massage Therapy I 3
RMAT1101 Clinical Anatomy I 3
RMAT1102 Massage Theory I 3
RMAT1103 Clinical Techniques and Assessment I 6
RMAT1104 Professionalism in Massage Therapy I 3
Term two (2025 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
RMAT1200 Anatomy and Physiology for Massage Therapy II 3
RMAT1201 Clinical Anatomy II 3
RMAT1202 Massage Theory II 3
RMAT1203 Clinical Techniques and Assessment II 6
RMAT1204 Professionalism in Massage Therapy II 3
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Term three (2025 Spring)
Code Course Name Credits
HLTH1020 Introduction to Interprofessional Education and Practice 3
RMAT1300 Pathophysiology for RMT I 3
RMAT1301 Neuroanatomy 3
RMAT1302 Massage Theory III 3
RMAT1303 Clinical Techniques and Assessment III 6
RMAT1306 On-Campus Clinic Experience I 6
Term four (2025 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
RMAT1400 Pathophysiology for RMT II 3
RMAT1402 Massage Theory IV 3
RMAT1403 Clinical Techniques and Assessment IV 6
RMAT1406 On-Campus Clinic Experience II 6
PRAC1408 Clinical Outreach Experience I 3
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Term five (2026 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
RMAT1502 Massage Theory V 3
RMAT1503 Clinical Techniques and Assessment V 6
RMAT1505 Practice Management and Entrepreneurship I 3
RMAT1506 On-Campus Clinic Experience III 6
PRAC1508 Clinical Outreach Experience II 3
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Term six (2026 Spring)
Code Course Name Credits
RMAT1602 Massage Practice Consolidation 6
RMAT1605 Practice Management and Entrepreneurship II 3
RMAT1606 On-Campus Clinic Experience IV 6
RMAT1609 Research Project 3
PRAC1608 Clinical Oureach Experience III 3
Program Outcomes Term: 1244
  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.

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Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent including the following required course(s):
  • English – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
  • Mathematics – Grade 11 (C) or (U), or equivalent
  • Biology – Grade 11 (C) or (U) or Grade 12 (U)
  • Chemistry – Grade 11 (U) or Grade 12 (C) or (U) or
  • Physics – Grade 11 (U) or Grade 12 (C) or (U) or
  • Exercise Science – (PSE4U) or
  • Introductory Kinesiology – (PSK4U)
Selection and Ranking

Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements. When the applicant provides proof of meeting the requirements, an offer of admission can be issued, provided space is available in the program.

Learn more about admission decisions.

Program Requirements
Important

Specific due dates for the following requirements: Communicable Disease Surveillance, First Aid/CPR and Criminal Record Check (as outlined below) will be included in the documentation posted to MyNC under "My Documents". Some program requirements could take several weeks to complete. All documentation must be submitted and cleared by the specified due dates otherwise you risk losing your acceptance into the program.

Communicable Disease Surveillance
  • The confidential Communicable Disease Surveillance (CDS) Form must be completed and submitted to Student Health Services prior to the start of the program.
  • Please view the CDS Form and Checklist for health requirements at niagaracollege.ca/cdsform/.
  • If the CDS process is not completed your placement, clinic or co-op opportunity will be denied.
First Aid and CPR
  • Current Standard First Aid certification and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR/AED) Level BLS (Basic Life Support) / HCP (Health Care Provider) is required.
  • CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR/AED) Level BLS (Basic Life Support) / HCP (Health Care Provider) must be renewed annually.
  • All certifications must be met and remain current or placement/clinical will be denied and/or the student will be withdrawn from their current placement/clinical.
  • Students must provide copies of their certification for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at Level HCP (Health Care Provider), Adult/Child/Infant one and two rescuer CPR with AED and first aid for choking including artificial resuscitation using both pocket mask and bag-valve mask. (This program is designed for those with specific health care responsibilities).

Criminal Record Check
  • A Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (CRC-VSS) which is less than 6 months old is required by the start of the program.
  • Students are responsible for maintaining annual CRC-VSS documentation.
  • Many employers have instituted a CRC with vulnerable sector screening as a requirement for appropriate field placements.
  • Students will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) in order to be cleared for placement/clinical.
  • Students will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) in order to be cleared for placement/clinical. Please note, in order to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS), students must be 18 years of age or older. If a student is not 18 years of age or older at the start of this program, they will experience delays in progression through the program.

Mask Fit
  • Mask fit testing will be required for hospital clinical. The college will make arrangements for one mask fit test prior to clinical placement.
Student Dress Code
  • A student dress code is in effect for clinical courses.
Computer/Technology Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Microsoft Windows 10 based desktop or laptop system that meets or exceeds the following general personal computer technology requirements:

  • A desktop or laptop system running on an updated Microsoft Windows 10 operating system.
  • Minimum 256GB SSD storage and 8 GB memory.
  • An integrated or peripheral video camera, microphone and speaker system.
  • Reliable internet connectivity with Broadband capabilities (a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps) is recommended.

Niagara College will not be able to provide support for systems different than the above specifications. Any provided software may not operate properly. Academic software for your courses (supported under the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system) will be made available for download and remote use. Access will also be provided to remote high performance computer labs if software downloads are not feasible.

Note: There is no support for Chromebooks or Apple products for this program. (learn more)

Computer/technology requirements may be subject to change without notice.

All costs associated with program requirements are the responsibility of the student.

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Availability

Domestic Applicants Apply
Legendfor intake status table
Open

Accepting applications

Waitlisted

Eligible applications will be placed on a waiting list

Closed

Not accepting applications

Suspended

No longer offered this term

International Applicants

Sorry, international applications are not accepted for this program.

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Pathways

Explore your pathway options What are pathways? for the Massage Therapy program below.

Did you know?

Applicants with previous postsecondary education will be assessed for transfer credits upon receipt of an official transcript from their previous institution. There is no fee for this service.

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Tuition

The below is a tuition fees estimate ( what's this?) for the indicated start term. Tuition fees are set in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities fee guidelines.

Year: 2023-2024
Start Term: Fall

Expand each level below for a fee breakdown.

Year 1
Level one $2,642.44
Fee Breakdown for Level one
Fee Type Fee Cost
Tuition
$1,357.49
Ancillary Fees
$1,179.95
Material Fees
$105.00
Level one Total
$2,642.44
Level two $2,226.44
Fee Breakdown for Level two
Fee Type Fee Cost
Tuition
$1,357.49
Ancillary Fees
$756.95
Material Fees
$112.00
Level two Total
$2,226.44
Level three $2,299.44
Fee Breakdown for Level three
Fee Type Fee Cost
Tuition
$1,357.49
Ancillary Fees
$716.95
Material Fees
$225.00
Level three Total
$2,299.44
Year 1 Total: $7,168.32
Year 2
Level four $2,484.44
Fee Breakdown for Level four
Fee Type Fee Cost
Tuition
$1,357.49
Ancillary Fees
$1,111.95
Material Fees
$15.00
Level four Total
$2,484.44
Level five $2,089.44
Fee Breakdown for Level five
Fee Type Fee Cost
Tuition
$1,357.49
Ancillary Fees
$716.95
Material Fees
$15.00
Level five Total
$2,089.44
Level six $2,089.44
Fee Breakdown for Level six
Fee Type Fee Cost
Tuition
$1,357.49
Ancillary Fees
$716.95
Material Fees
$15.00
Level six Total
$2,089.44
Year 2 Total: $6,663.32
Estimated Program Total: $13,831.64
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Advanced Tuition Tool

The tuition amounts provided are an estimate only ( what's this? ).

To generate a detailed fees calculation, which includes tuition, ancillary, and material fees for this or a different start term, please access the Advanced Tuition Tool.

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Sorry, international applications are not accepted for this program.

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