Alberta government reviewing application to regulate massage therapists

Massage therapy regulation Calls for massage therapists to be regulated are being renewed after recent sexual assault charges. Nicole Weisberg reports.

Massage therapy associations in Alberta are working with the province to try and get the profession regulated.

Massage therapy is regulated in B.C., Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Similar to physicians, those provinces have colleges that enforce professional standards and practices, manage registrations and handle complaints.

"When you look at massage therapy education across the country and in regulated provinces, their whole goal is to make massage therapists that are safe and effective," said Sarah Ward-Bakken, the executive director of Vicars School of Massage Therapy.

In Alberta, there are a number of massage therapy associations that manage members, but no standardized regulations.

"There is no set standard in either education or a set standard with continuing education or competency that is required to say that this is what meets the standard to become a massage therapist in Alberta," Ward-Bakken said.

"So the competency of massage therapists around the province is very varied."

One of the benefits of having the profession regulated is creating "an even playing field" for basic knowledge, while leaving room for further specialization, according to Linda McGeachy, the director of curriculum at Vicars.

"With regulation, there would be one standardized curriculum that every school would have to follow and so even though there could be differences amongst the schools, and each one would have their own flavor, everyone would meet a minimum standard," McGeachy said.

"Then there would be an independent exam for everyone who graduated from any school that they would have to be successful in in order to obtain that title of registered massage therapist."

In October 2024, the Alberta Working Group for the Regulation of Massage Therapy submitted an application for regulation to the health minister.

"The Ministry is carefully reviewing this application as part of a thorough evaluation process," according to a statement from Minister Adriana LaGrange.

"Regulating a profession is a significant decision that can impact healthcare professionals, businesses, and the broader health system and it is not a decision we take lightly."

Protecting clients

Several massage therapists have been charged with sexual assault in Edmonton over the last year.

"Even in a regulated health profession, incidents like this may still occur, absolutely, but hopefully the rate of the incidents would decrease," Ward-Bakken said.

"I also believe it would raise a lot more awareness for the public and understanding the scope of practice of a massage therapist."

"Does it feel professional? Do you clearly understand that you can alter consent and change consent and provide consent at any point during the massage?" Ward-Bakken added.

"Are you covered the entire time, except for the areas that you're being worked on, and have the opportunity to adjust and, ultimately, do you feel that it was client-centered and that the therapist is really working for you and not the other way around?"

If clients have concerns about treatments they had and have a billing number, they can follow up with their therapist's association, according to Ward-Bakken.

Insurance companies can help get billing numbers.

With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nicole Weisberg