Registered Massage Therapy
Transferability
Why should I choose Langara to become an RMT?
Langara College is the first public post-secondary institute in British Columbia offering training in RMT. Langara reports directly to the Ministry of Education and is publicly accountable to the Province of BC.
Benefits of attending a public post-secondary institute include access to multiple resources such as the: student Library, Medical Clinic, Counseling, Accessability Services, Financial Aid, and International Education.
RMT students are part of the Langara Student Union. With the yearly fee you receive an unlimited Compass Card, and extended-medical, and dental benefits.
The Langara RMT Program is fully accredited by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation.
Is Langara recognized by the College of Complementary Health Care Professionals of British Columbia?
Yes, Langara is fully recognized by the College of Complementary Health Care Professionals of BC (CCHPBC) as an RMT Program. Please see the CCHPBC website.
Do Langara RMT students get an unlimited Compass Card and extended-medical, and dental benefits?
Yes. Langara RMT students have additional health and dental benefits and an unlimited U-pass.
RMT students can add children or a partner to the their Medical and Dental coverage for an additional fee.
Note: some students may already have coverage. If you meet the criteria, you can apply for a refund of the extended-medical, and/or dental coverage fee.
The cost for all of these benefits is approximately $1400.00 per year (3 semesters). Link to Langara Student Union page, and services for more information: http://www.lsu.ca/
What type of credential will I graduate with?
Upon successful completion of the program you will graduate with a Langara Diploma in Registered Massage Therapy.
What are the requirements for graduation?
All students must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for graduation:
- Successful completion of all courses in the Registered Massage Therapy program.
- Successful completion of required clinical hours.
- Tuition paid in full, with no outstanding fees at the time of application for graduation.
Is graduation from a RMT Program the only thing I need to practice as an RMT?
To practice as an RMT you must first successfully graduate from a massage therapy program accredited by either the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA) or the College of Complementary Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CCHPBC).
Once you have graduated, you apply to the CCHPBC to write the BC Provincial registration examinations. We strongly encourage prospective students to familiarize themselves with the CCHPBC exam processes.
When you have successfully passed your CCHPBC registration exams and finished the registration process with the CCHPBC you will be able to use the designation Registered Massage Therapist. RMTs must renew their registration on a yearly basis.
The Langara program is longer than others I've seen, why should I choose a longer program?
Our comprehensive program includes subjects such as Clinic Preparation, Massage Therapy for Athletics, Introduction to the following additional content: Cranial Sacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Muscle Energy Technique, & Visceral Manipulation.
Our practical courses in Semesters 3-6 equip students with the expanded skill set that the current massage industry demands. Additionally, our fifth and sixth semesters include over 330 hours of review in preparation for the CCHPBC Board examinations.
What is the structure of the program?
There are three college terms per year: Jan-Apr; May-Aug; and Sep-Dec. The RMT program is offered over six consecutive college terms including the summer months.
The RMT program is intense! Classes run during the day from Monday through Friday (except for Stat Holidays). Starting in the third semester evening clinics are held and there are some Saturday clinics in Semester 3 and Semester 5. Students have a two-week break between terms.
What clinical opportunities will be provided?
In addition to the Broadway on-site student clinic with private treatment rooms, there are many outreach opportunities. Langara College has partnership agreements in place with Vancouver Coastal Health, and other provincial health agencies that create opportunities for our student interns. Langara also dovetails Clinical opportunity with specific classroom content so that students put theory into practice. Students work with health care personnel, well-Seniors, athletes, pregnant women, clients with spinal cord injuries, and palliative care facilities.
Is there any preparation offered for the BC Provincial registration examinations?
A valuable feature of the comprehensive Langara program is the CCHPBC Registration Exam preparation, which has been built directly into the curriculum. It is covered by your program tuition, and you do not have to register into an additional course or pay extra.
We want you to succeed in becoming an RMT and have created a curriculum that gives you the best chance for a satisfying career. At the end of the sixth term, theoretical and practical topics from the beginning of the program will be reviewed. This leads up to written exams, and "mock" oral practical exams.
Langara is a public college - why is the tuition comparable to private schools?
Public post-secondary institutions in BC usually have both "Regular" and "Continuing" Studies components.
Regular Studies programming receives funding from the BC Ministry of Advanced Education. There are policies and criteria in place for government subsidy for this stream of programming.
Langara's Continuing Studies programs run on a cost-recovery basis and do not qualify to receive funding from the Government of BC. The CS Diploma in Registered Massage Therapy is offered through Continuing Studies, and student tuition covers the costs of the RMT program.
The CS Diploma in Registered Massage Therapy meets the criteria for BC Student Loans if you plan to finance this training for your new career.
How do I apply for Student Loans?
If you are a domestic student and a BC resident, you need to apply for student loans through the BC government through Student Aid BC page: https://studentaidbc.ca/apply
The BC government determines student loan awards based on your financial situation. If you have applied for a student loan and sent in your printed signature page, you can contact Langara Financial Aid to see if your application is in process. Link: http://langara.ca/student-services/financial-aid/
If I need to withdraw from a semester in the RMT program, do I need to begin again from semester 1?
Students can resume the RMT program in the same semester from which they withdrew from providing that it is within one calendar year from the time they withdrew, and providing there is space in the cohort.
Transfer Credit
Moving on to a Bachelor’s degree after the Langara RMT Program:
Here is a link to the Thompson Rivers University site, and the Partner Institution Transfer Agreement. Enter Langara into the Search bar for information on the Registered Massage Therapy Diploma: Transfer Credit Pathways: Transfer Opportunities: Thompson Rivers University (tru.ca)
To receive a Bachelors degree students have to complete 120 course credits at a Bachelor degree level. Graduates of the Langara RMT Program receive 78 course credits towards this degree. They need to complete another 42 course credits to complete a Bachelor of Health Science degree.
Prior Learning Assessment:
Prior learning credits may be granted to students who have completed studies related to Massage Therapy such as a Bachelor Science in Kinesiology. The Prior Learning Assessment process requires a detailed assessment between similar courses and can take up to 2 months to complete. All courses must be completed within the previous 5 years from the start of the semester with a minimum grade of 75% (B letter grade).
Students must complete a minimum of 50% of the Langara RMT Program to receive a Langara CS Diploma. At minimum, students need to complete the second year of the Langara RMT Program to meet this 50% requirement.
Prior Learning Credits (exemptions) are allocated once hard copy documentation of successfully completed courses is received. Detailed course outlines must include the following: learning objectives, core competencies and the semester schedule of topics covered.
The Prior Learning Assessment process includes assembling the following documents:
- The RMT Program Application documents required for acceptance into the Langara Program including the $100 Application fee
- The course outline/syllabus with textbook information for successfully completed courses to be assessed
- An original transcript from the previous school with final grades of 75% and higher
- Completion of the Prior Learning Assessment form listing each course for requested assessment
The Prior Learning Assessment fee of $350
Transferring from an RMT School or out of Province:
Currently the Langara RMT Program is full, and is not accepting transfer students from other BC Massage Therapy programs, or graduates of programs outside of BC.
If you attended another program and are applying to Langara to begin in Semester-1, an official transcript from the previous program is required. Students must give consent for Langara to contact the previous institution to confirm there were no academic/non-academic conduct issues.
