Membership Requirement – Other Association Membership Policy

Purpose:

• To establish policy surrounding the Membership Requirement to belong to only one Association associated with each professional designation per CMMOTA Bylaw’s 3.5.1.1.8., 3.5.1.2.7., 3.5.1.3.7., 3.5.1.6.4., 3.5.1.7.7., and 3.5.1.11.4..

Definitions:

1. “College” – meaning either the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, or the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, or the College of Massage Therapists of Newfoundland and Labrador, or the College of Massage Therapists of New Brunswick, or the College of Massage Therapists of Prince Edward Island or the College of Osteopaths of New Brunswick.

2. “Manual Osteopathic Therapist Association” – means an association whose purpose it is to grant professional designation(s) for Manual Osteopathic Therapy, Osteopathic Manual Therapy, or Osteopathy, and who either provide insurance as part of their membership fees, or who assist in providing professional liability insurance coverage to their members, and/or who in unregulated provinces provide a membership number for provider verification purposes for health insurance companies.

3. “Massage Therapist Association” – means an association whose purpose it is to grant professional designation(s) for Massage Therapy, and who either provide insurance as part of their membership fees, or who assist in providing professional liability insurance coverage to their members, and/or who in unregulated provinces provide a membership number for provider verification purposes for health insurance companies.

Policy:

1. In addition to membership in the Canadian Massage and Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CMMOTA), a member may belong to a College, as defined above.

2. Student Massage Therapist members may belong to another Massage Therapist Association.

3. Student Manual Osteopathic Therapist members may belong to another Manual Osteopathic Therapist Association.

4. Inactive Massage Therapist members may be belong to another Massage Therapist Association.

5. Inactive Manual Osteopathic Therapist members may belong to another Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association.

6. In order to obtain membership with CMMOTA, an applicant for a Full Massage Therapist, Registered Massage Therapist, Associate Massage Therapist, or Spa Therapist membership shall not retain membership with another Massage Therapist Association as defined above.

6.1. If an applicant for one of these membership classes holds membership with another Massage Therapist Association at the time of their application, they provide CMMOTA with confirmation of a request to cancel their membership with that Association effective at least one day before their membership with CMMOTA comes into effect.

7. In order to obtain membership with CMMOTA, an applicant for a Full Manual Osteopathic Therapist or Regulated Manual Osteopathic Therapist membership shall not retain membership with another Manual Osteopathic Therapist Association as defined above.

7.1. If an applicant for this membership class holds membership with another Manual Osteopathic Therapist Association at the time of their application, they must provide CMMOTA with confirmation of a request to cancel their membership with that Association effective at least one day before membership with CMMOTA comes into effect.

8. In order to maintain membership with CMMOTA, a Full Massage Therapist, Registered Massage Therapist, Associate Massage Therapist, or Spa Therapist member shall not hold membership with another Massage Therapist Association, as defined above.

8.1. Membership with another Massage Therapist Association, which either provides insurance coverage as part of their membership fees, or who requires that insurance coverage be maintained through their insurance broker, shall be grounds for disciplinary action to be taken in accordance with CMMOTA’s Discipline for Non-Compliance Regarding Other Association Membership Policy.

8.2. Membership with another Manual Osteopathic Therapist Association is permitted if the member is not registered for that profession with CMMOTA.

9. In order to maintain membership with CMMOTA, a Full Manual Osteopathic Therapist or Regulated Manual Osteopathic Therapist member shall not hold membership with another Manual Osteopathic Therapist Association, as defined above.

9.1. Membership with another Manual Osteopathic Therapist Association, which either provides insurance coverage as part of their membership fees, or who requires that insurance coverage be maintained through their insurance broker, shall be grounds for disciplinary action to be taken in accordance with CMMOTA’s Discipline for Non-Compliance Regarding Other Association Membership Policy.

9.2. Membership with another Massage Therapist Association is permitted if the member is not registered for that profession with CMMOTA.

10. Membership in other professional Associations, which do not represent Massage Therapists or Manual Osteopathic Therapists is allowed.

11. Membership with another Manual Osteopathic Therapist Association or Massage Therapist Association in a membership category which does not require professional liability insurance coverage and does not provide a membership number for the purposes of recognition with health insurance companies is allowed.

12. Continued use of another association’s credentials beyond the date of the requested cancellation of other association membership referenced in items 6.1. and 7.1. is professional misconduct.

13. All membership with any professional association other than the Canadian Massage and Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association must be declared on the CMMOTA Annual Declaration Form.

Original Date of Policy Adoption: March 22, 2021

Date of Last Policy Revision: September 12, 2026