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Massage Therapy Course Descriptions

1100-Hour Massage Therapy Certificate

To receive a 1100-hour Massage Therapy Certificate, you must complete the 19 courses listed below:

Massage Concepts & Terminology (20 hours)
Be introduced to medical terminology and cover learning styles and strategies, directional and movement terminology, body systems and basic massage concepts. Gain an understanding of the importance of medical terminology for the massage therapist.

Fundamentals of Charting (15 hours)
Examine and demonstrate the importance of thorough charting for massage therapists. Learn how to use SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment and plan) notes, how to document treatments and design treatment plans.

Ethics & Communication I (48 hours)
Learn various ways to communicate, both verbally and non-verbally. Components such as ethics, morals and self-examination are studied in relationship to professionalism in the massage therapy industry.

Human Anatomy (48 hour lecture, 48 hour lab)
This course provides a systematic survey of the structure of the human body. Topics include anatomy of the integumentary, skeletal, articular, muscular, immune, digestive, respiratory, urinary, reproductive, circulatory, nervous and endocrine systems. Labs are designed to provide practical demonstrations that parallel the material discussed in the lectures.

Human Physiology (48 hour lecture, 48 hour lab)
This course provides a systematic survey of the physiology of the human body. Topics include physiology of the muscular, nervous, respiratory, urinary, reproductive, circulatory and endocrine systems. Learn about the changes that can affect each system and link each of the systems to determine the overall effects of a physiological change. Labs are designed to provide practical demonstrations that parallel the material discussed in the lectures.

Musculoskeletal Anatomy (80 hours)
Acquire detailed knowledge of the musculoskeletal system. Learn anatomical components, functional characteristics, and range of motion and actions of individual muscles and how to palpate them.

Relaxation Massage Techniques (100 hours)
This practical course explains and demonstrates the strokes and techniques that are the foundation of massage therapy. Emphasis is placed on proper body mechanics. Perform a full body relaxation massage and use formal charting skills. Major bony landmarks and muscle groups are identified and palpated throughout the course.

Clinical Practicum I (20 hours)
Apply your massage skills in a safe, supervised environment. This practical course introduces the day-to-day practice of the massage profession through performing effective relaxation massages for public clients and accurately charting treatments.
Prerequisite: Relaxation Massage Techniques

Advanced Massage Techniques (100 hours)
Learn advanced massage techniques to deliver an effective and efficient therapeutic massage. Understand the importance of developing tactile awareness by exploring individual muscles during a massage treatment. Utilizing the best body position to gain access to specific muscles in their entirety is also explored. Continue to develop charting skills.
Prerequisites: Relaxation Massage Techniques; Musculoskeletal Anatomy

Therapeutic Exercise I (50 hours)
Explore the mechanics of motion with respect to human anatomy and how it relates to musculoskeletal functions and dysfunctions. This enables you to identify inefficient motion and apply the correct therapeutic approach. Learn simple remedial exercise and stretching techniques to use in massage therapy and for client home care exercises and the maintenance of good posture.
Prerequisites: Relaxation Massage Techniques; Musculoskeletal Anatomy

Clinical Practicum II (30 hours)
Apply your massage skills in a safe, supervised environment. This practical course introduces the day-to-day practice of the massage profession through performing effective relaxation massages for public clients and accurately charting treatments.
Prerequisite:Clinical Practicum I

Outreach I (20 hours)
Choose from various practicum opportunities where you will experience working on clients and integrating the skills learned to date.
Prerequisites: Relaxation Massage Techniques; Clinical Practicum I

Business of Massage Therapy (35 hours)
Be introduced to business aspects of operating a wellness-based business. Emphasis is placed on business structures, managing client information, marketing, setting goals and small business accounting.

Pathology I (75 hours)
Learn pathological conditions such as inflammation, tissue injury and common pathologies of various body systems relevant to massage therapy.
Prerequisites: Human Anatomy; Human Physiology; Musculoskeletal Anatomy

Hydrotherapy (50 hours)
Learn different application methods for heat and cold. Understand the health benefits of proper full body exfoliation, paraffin wax, body wraps and body scrubs. Indications, contraindications and precautions are defined for all treatments. Gain a working knowledge of the various body treatments as well as set up, application and clean up.

Orthopedic Assessment (100 hours)
Demonstrate clinical application of current soft tissue assessment principles and techniques. This includes initial treatment interview and history documentation; evaluation of the indications and contraindications to massage; accurate orthopedic assessment; and analysis of the assessment findings with respect to the general principles of anatomy, physiology and pathology. Continue to apply and expand your charting skills to document assessment findings. This includes evaluation, progress and therapeutic outcomes of the applied massage treatment. Development of client record forms are also discussed.
Prerequisites: Advanced Massage Techniques; Musculoskeletal Anatomy

Treatments l (100 hours)
Demonstrate specific therapeutic techniques for the treatment of various musculoskeletal and systemic conditions within the scope of practice of massage therapy. Additional advanced techniques are introduced and modifications of previous skills are learned to facilitate treatments. Continue to develop your palpation, assessment and charting skills.
Prerequisites: Advanced Massage Techniques; Therapeutic Exercise I

Clinical Practicum III (50 hours)
Apply your massage skills in a safe, supervised environment. This practical course introduces the day-to-day practice of the massage profession through performing effective therapeutic massages for public clients and accurately charting treatments.
Prerequisites: Advanced Massage Techniques; Clinical Practicum II

Integrative Studies (15 hours)
Apply all of your knowledge to formulate in-depth treatment plans based on case study scenarios. This course tests comprehension and analytical skills.
Prerequisites: All previous 18 courses

2200-Hour Massage Therapy Diploma

To receive a 2200-hour Massage Therapy Diploma, you must successfully complete the courses in the 1100-hour Certificate plus the following 18 courses:

Treatments II (100 hours)
Learn treatment management protocols for specific conditions presented including orthopedic and stages of life. As well, learn modifications for treatments previously learned. Assessment tools continue to be developed including the use of a goniometer.
Prerequisites: Treatments I; Orthopedic Assessment

Regional Anatomy (75 hours)
This course provides a review of structures and soft tissue surrounding each joint and region of the body. Learn the nerve innervations for all musculature as well as being introduced to the intrinsic muscles of the body. This course takes all material learned and compares it from a cross-sectional perspective; including soft tissue, bones, nerves, major blood vessels and some organs. Upon completion, you will have a greater understanding to identify and isolate specific tissue.
Prerequisites: Human Anatomy; Human Physiology; Musculoskeletal Anatomy

Regional Palpations (65 hours)
Apply specific palpation skills of the musculoskeletal, vascular and nervous systems. Emphasis is on the components of the muscular system including: tendons, origins and insertions, and the muscle belly. The articular system includes ligaments of relevant joints. Locate and palpate all vulnerable nerves, and pertinent blood vessels relevant to massage therapy. As well, locate and palpate internal organs of the abdominal cavity.
Prerequisites: Treatments I; Musculoskeletal Anatomy

Ethics & Communication II (60 hours)
This course builds upon material covered in Ethics & Communication I. Continue to explore interpersonal and intrapersonal communication skills as well as key ethical issues in the massage profession. Further develop and practice communication skills needed for dealing with specific client challenges, a more diverse range of clients and more diverse situations.
Prerequisites: Ethics & Communication I

Integrative Human Physiology (60 hours)
This course builds on the knowledge gained in Human Physiology. Systems in the body are explored in greater depth with relevance to massage therapy. Integrate knowledge from other courses to discuss how systems of the body are affected by various factors.
Prerequisites: Human Anatomy; Human Physiology

Clinical Practicum IV (25 hours)
Demonstrate assessment techniques and treat specific pathological presentations by integrating massage techniques and therapeutic exercise, with an understanding of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and communication in a supervised environment. Advanced charting skills are assessed.
Prerequisites: Treatments I; Clinical Practicum III

Outreach II (70 hours)
You will be placed in one of various practicum situations, where you will experience clients with chronic and acute pathologies and integrate your skills learned to date. Such placements may include: rehabilitation clinic, special needs clinic, sports clinic, maternity clinic, intermediate care facilities and on-site business massage.
Prerequisites: Integrative Studies

Fundamentals of Research (55 hours)
Learn the fundamentals of research through topics such as how to identify a research project, conduct a literature review, collect and interpret data, and how to properly present your findings.
Prerequisites: Integrative Studies; Ethics & Communication II

Introductory Nutrition (48 hours)
This course provides a basic understanding of nutrition. By learning the basics of nutrition and considering practical applications you will gain an understanding of nutrition and how it relates to overall wellness.
Prerequisites: Human Anatomy; Human Physiology; Pathology I

Pathology II (80 hours)
This course builds on the foundation of knowledge gained in Pathology I. Develop a greater understanding of the physiological changes and reactions responsible for clinical signs and symptoms commonly encountered by massage therapists. This understanding also gives you the ability to predict possible outcomes of massage intervention.
Prerequisites: Pathology I; Integrative Human Physiology; Regional Anatomy

Treatments III (100 hours)
Continue to learn treatment management for specific conditions presented including: neurological conditions, post-surgical rehabilitation and palliative care. Be introduced to a variety of adjunct therapies relevant to massage therapy. Continue to develop assessment tools as well as documenting treatments and findings.
Prerequisites: Treatments II

Neuroanatomy (40 hours)
Gain knowledge of basic structures and functions of the human nervous system. Learn about higher brain functions and the special senses such as motor, learning, vision, hearing, balance and proprioception. Gain a solid foundation in the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system essential for the understanding and successful implementation of the techniques learned in Massage Therapy. Study the functional systems of the autonomic nervous system, limbic system, somatosensory system, reticular formation and proprioceptive systems, central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The physiological impact of massage on some of neurological disorders is studied and discussed.
Prerequisites: Integrative Human Physiology

Pharmacology (80 hours)
Acquire an understanding of basic pharmacology. Drug therapy is one of the most frequent and complicated treatment modalities in modern health care. Because of its importance and complexity, and the frequent additions and changes in the field of pharmacology, it is important that massage therapists constantly review and update their knowledge in order to adjust and modify their treatments.
Prerequisites: Pathology I; Integrative Human Physiology

Clinical Practicum V (80 hours)
Demonstrate assessment techniques and treat specific pathological presentations by integrating massage techniques and therapeutic exercise, with an understanding of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and communication in a supervised environment. Advanced charting skills are assessed.
Prerequisites: Treatments II; Clinical Practicum IV

Therapeutic Exercise II (40 hours)
Expand on the knowledge gained in Therapeutic Exercise I through modifications to previously learned material and new applications to facilitate the integration of therapeutic exercise into the practice of massage therapy with respect to the rehabilitation of injuries.
Prerequisites: Therapeutic Exercise I; Regional Anatomy

Biomechanics (40 hours)
Develop an understanding of movement of the human body in this course. Emphasis is on the biomechanics of motion and how it relates to musculoskeletal function and dysfunction. Discuss and apply muscle length and strength testing. Gait is also examined.
Prerequisites: Therapeutic Exercise I; Regional Anatomy

Case Study (50 hours)
Apply research skills, choose a case study candidate and complete a minimum of 10 treatments to study the effects of massage or massage techniques on the candidate’s condition. Case study treatments take place out of class.
Prerequisites: Integrative Studies; Treatments III; Fundamentals of Research

OSCE Preparation (32 hours)
Prepare for the practical portion of an entry to practice exam or a provincial registration exam.
Prerequisites: All previous 26 courses