Continuing Education Requirements
The goal of Continuing Education is to promote involvement in our association as well as the development of skills and personal growth of our members.
Mandatory Items:
Full Massage Therapist Members: All Full members of the CMMOTA are required to:
- attend at least one Annual General Meeting (AGM) every 3-year cycle: 3 credits per meeting per profession
- failure to attend one AGM every 3-year cycle will result in lieu AGM attendance fee. Please see below for more information.
- maintain certification in Standard First Aid and Level C CPR. Online courses are not acceptable
- complete 25 Continuing Education Credits per 3-year cycle
- submit a Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check upon expiry every 3 years. Online checks are not acceptable
- Nova Scotia Members are required to submit an updated Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check annually
Failure to meet each of these 4 requirements will result in automatic cancellation of membership.
Full Manual Osteopathic Therapist Members: All Full MOT members of the CMMOTA are required to:
- attend at least one Annual General Meeting (AGM) every 3-year cycle: 3 credits per meeting per profession
- failure to attend one AGM every 3-year cycle will result lieu AGM attendance fee. Please see below for more information.
- maintain certification in Standard First Aid and Level C CPR. Online courses are not acceptable
- complete 25 Continuing Education Credits per 3-year cycle
- submit a Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check upon expiry every 3 years. Online checks are not acceptable
- Nova Scotia Members are required to submit an updated Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check annually
Failure to meet each of these 4 requirements will result in automatic cancellation of membership.
Submission Cycle:
The current 3-year period is from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. This period is the same for all members. Submission deadline for this cycle is January 15, 2022. All members are responsible for maintaining credits in good standing and for submitting proof of same within the required timeline.
Any credits accumulated in the current term in excess of the 25 required may be carried forward into the next term to a maximum of 12 credits each, per profession.
The CMMOTA requires a basic level of training in massage of 2200 hours or more from an approved school as a prerequisite for membership, as an RMT, this training or part thereof cannot be used for CE credits.
The required CE credits are prorated depending on your effective date for becoming a Full member:
Modality List Updated March 2020
| Membership Effective Date | Credits Required | Attend at least 1 AGM |
|---|---|---|
| Prior to January 1, 2019 | 25 | Required/fee in-lieu AGM Attendance |
| January 1/19- December 31/19 | 25 | Required/fee in-lieu AGM Attendance |
| January 1/20- December 31/20 | 17 | Required/fee in-lieu AGM Attendance |
| January 1/21- March 31/21 | 9 | Not Required |
| April 1/21- December 31/21 | 6 | Not Required |
The CMMOTA requires a basic level of training in Manual Osteopathic Therapy of 1000 hours or more from an approved school as a prerequisite for membership, as a Manual Osteopathic Therapist.
The required CE credits are prorated depending on your effective date for becoming a Full member:
| Membership Effective Date | Credits Required | Attend at least 1 AGM |
|---|---|---|
| Prior to January 1, 2019 | 25 | Required/fee in-lieu AGM Attendance |
| January 1/19- December 31/19 | 25 | Required/fee in-lieu AGM Attendance |
| January 1/20- December 31/20 | 17 | Required/fee in-lieu AGM Attendance |
| January 1/21- March 31/21 | 9 | Not Required |
| April 1/21- December 31/21 | 6 | Not Required |
Credit Guidelines
Primary Continuing Education Credits: Approved course in a recognized massage modality with a hands-on client approach. This training must be taken in person.
- 1 credit per hour for the first day to a max of 8 CEC. 1 credit per hour to a max of 4 CEC for each following day to a max of 24 CEC per course
Secondary Continuing Education Credits: Approved course in a recognized massage modality related to self-care, client-care and/or professional development that does not have a hands-on client approach. This
training must be taken in person.
- 1 credit per 2 hours to a maximum of 6 credits per course
Online/ Distance Learning Continuing Education Credits: Approved course in massage taken via distance learning, online or home studies. Any primary related modalities will require prior hands on/ in class training before being added as a recognized modality.
- 1 credit per 2 hours to a maximum of 3 credits per course to a MAXIMUM of 6 credits per CEC 3 year cycle
Given the current COVID-19 situation, our board has decided to grant a temporary exception to online (webinar) courses. This exception is only temporary and will remain in place until September 1, 2020. The following credit guidelines will apply:
Online (webinar) courses will now fall under Secondary Continuing Education Credits: Approved course in a recognized massage modality related to self-care, client-care and/or professional development that does not have a hands-on client approach as it is provided online. This training must be taken in person (except for this temporary exception).
- 1 credit per 2 hours to a maximum of 6 credits per course and a maximum of 12 credits for this cycle.
Personal Interest Training Credits: A course that enhances overall health and balance to the massage therapist and clients.
- 1 credit per course regardless of hours to a maximum of 3 credits per 3 year cycle
Standard First Aid and Level C CPR Training Mandatory- Online courses are NOT acceptable.
- 6 credits for certification and subsequent renewals.
Other available CE credits:
- CMMOTA Board or Committee participation: 6 credits per year of participation
- Volunteering on behalf of CMMOTA: 3 credits per event (minimum of 6 hours)
- Volunteering to promote the industry (providing massages): 3 credits per event (min 6 hours; max 6 credits per 3 year cycle)
- Annual General Meeting Attendance: 3 credits per member (does not apply to board/committee members)
- AGM Attendance and Fee-in-lieu of AGM Attendance
a. All Full members shall be required to attend at least one (1) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in a three-year period running co-current with the CEC Cycle OR to pay a fee in-lieu of AGM attendance, in accordance with the Canadian Massage & Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association Fee Schedule (IN-LIEU AGM ABSENCE FEE). This fee shall be charged to all Full members who do not attend as outlined above, by the Association, following the final AGM in the three-year cycle. The fee shall be due the final Dec 31 of the three-year cycle. The cost of this fee shall be set by the board at the beginning of each three-year CEC cycle and shall be listed in the Canadian Massage & Manual Therapists Associations Fee Schedule.
- AGM Attendance and Fee-in-lieu of AGM Attendance
- Teaching and Teaching Assistant – Credits Vary
- Workshop Assistant: Credits Vary
- Research_Protocol: Maximum 15 credits per 3 year cycle
Submission Guidelines
In order to process your credits quickly and efficiently, please ensure that you have included the following information with your certificate submission:
- Course/ workshop name is clearly visible
- Dates of the course/ workshop are listed
- Length of course/ workshop in hours is clearly stated
- Name/ contact information of the instructor is provided
- Your name and CMMOTA membership number
In order to be approved all courses must have a certificate of attendance or completion. Courses may be taken in person, distance learning, online or correspondence. Full contact information must be provided for all courses.
All submissions, course outlines, certificates, etc. must be in English or translated into English for the committee to review. All unrecognized courses are subject to review by the education committee. If found to be unacceptable, no credits will be awarded. The Education Committee may, at its discretion, confirm the authenticity of any submission.
Failure to Comply
Failure to comply with the CE credit requirements will result in the following:
- An email will be sent to the Member’s last known address.
- The member will have 30 days from the time the email is sent to resolve the situation to the satisfaction of the Education Committee.
- Failure to do so will result in cancellation of membership. Memberships cannot be reinstated. A new membership application will be required.