Program Outline

CCMH offers Massage Therapy Diploma students the flexibility of three study options:

Option 1 - Fall Intake: a 22-month program, all on campus, starting in late August,  which has a March break and a summer holiday

Option 2 - Winter Intake: an 18-month fast track program, all on campus, with a January start date, in which students do not have a March break and attend classes through the summer months.

For both Options 1 & 2 classes are full time, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 3:15 pm.  In addition, during Terms 2-4, students complete their Clinic Rotations after class hours. 

Option 3: - Spring Intake: an on-line/on-campus blended program which takes three years to complete, beginning in March each year.  The course hours, curriculum, credentials, instructors, textbooks, and tuition are identical to the regular, on campus options.  Read on for more details...

On-line/On-campus Blended Option: Massage Therapy Diploma

Do you want to qualify as an RMT, but live outside commuting distance from our campus?  Do you have a young family or employment which prevents you from enrolling in our 18- or 22-month on-campus Massage Therapy Diploma Program? Click here to read more about our Distance Program.

Admissions Procedures

Admissions requirements are exactly the same for all 3 Massage Therapy Diploma Program options. 

Anatomy & Physiology I, II, III, & IV
Massage Theory & Techniques
Palpation Lab I & II
Professional and Business Development I, II, & III
Regional Anatomy I & II
Manual Skills
Neurology I & II
Orthopedic Assessment
Pathology I, II, & III
Hydrotherapy
Remedial Exercise
Treatments I & II                                                                  
Case Studies
Kinesiology
Research
Synthesis                                                                        

Course Descriptions 

Anatomy and Physiology I, II, III, & IV
Progressively layering the details of the science of human body function, this series of courses initially introduces the chemical, cellular and tissue levels of organization, followed by presentation of the functional aspects of the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Neurophysiology, muscle physiology and exercise physiology are investigated, with emphasis on the relevance to the Massage Therapist. Immunity, infectious diseases and the role of nutrition in human health are described.

Case Studies
Students are asked to integrate their knowledge of the practical and academic courses. The Case Studies course embraces the important aspects of a typical massage therapy treatment: assessment, treatment and remedial exercise. The students are presented with a new case every week and through guided discussion and hands on practice, they are asked to implement their skills.

Hydrotherapy
This dynamic course explores the therapeutic use of water in all of its forms and temperatures. The applications are integrated into the client treatment plan and modified to treat individual client needs.

Kinesiology
Students are provided with an understanding of movement of the human body in this course, with an emphasis on biomechanics and gait.

Manual Skills
The Manual Skills course continues the progression of students' practical skill development begun in the Massage Theory and Techniques course. This course focuses on core techniques in contemporary Massage Therapy practice. The indications, contraindications, and physiological/mechanical mechanisms for each technique will be discussed, but the focus will be on gaining the manual skills to perform these techniques safely and effectively.

Massage Theory & Techniques
An introduction to the fundamentals of the practical skills involved in relaxation and therapeutic massage, this course includes both academic and practical components and encompasses proper practitioner biomechanics.

Neurology I & II
Neurology encompasses the structure, function and organization of the nervous system. This multi-term program addresses the main subdivisions of the nervous system, from both anatomical and functional perspectives. Brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, spinal nerves, autonomic nervous system and neurological testing are discussed. Mechanisms of pain production and perception are investigated.

Orthopedic Assessment
The assessment course provides the student with the skills required to evaluate the etiology of a client's pain and dysfunction. Appropriate intake and case history techniques are introduced, followed by postural assessment, orthopedic and neurological testing protocols.

Palpation Lab I & II
In this hands-on interactive course, students apply the information taught in Regional Anatomy. Surface anatomy, bony landmarks and muscle location are investigated, providing a solid foundation for subsequent courses.

Pathology I, II & III
Pathology, the study of the origin, nature and course of disease, is taught with an emphasis on the relevance to the Massage Therapist. Inflammation and tissue injury are introduced. Pathologies of the joints, skin, bone, muscle, nervous, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems are explored.

Professional and Business Development I, II, & III
The successful Massage Therapist benefits from a variety of employment and self employment opportunities. The business course provides the student with the fundamentals of business management and initiates the framework for building a successful practice.

Legislation, regulation and jurisprudence are discussed with those principles essential to the Massage Therapist. The development of ethical decision making practices is stressed, building on the basics presented in earlier courses.

Students are encouraged to enhance their level of self-awareness and understanding. Responsibility, integrity and appropriate client/practitioner interaction are fostered in this interactive class.

Regional Anatomy I & II
The human body is explored from a regional perspective. Students are immediately introduced to medical terminology. The first term focuses on the skeletal, muscular and articular systems through detailed review of the bones, joints and muscles. Regional Anatomy provides a strong foundation for other academic and practical courses.

Remedial Exercise
This hands-on course provides the student with an understanding of the use of stretching and strengthening exercise in the prevention and rehabilitation of injury, as well as the effective incorporation of remedial exercise into the treatment plan.

Research
This course introduces the basic concepts of research and statistics. The student is taught the basics of scientific method, journal articles, study design, quantitative and qualitative research and basic statistical principles.

Treatments I & II
This course introduces the rationale of application of a wide variety of techniques to musculoskeletal complaints. Expansion and mastery of hands-on skills are the focus of the Treatments course. Successive terms build on the concepts of an integrative clinical client treatment and critical thinking process. Development of a comprehensive treatment plan through cohesive processing of all course information is the goal.

Synthesis
The course is a balanced combination of review and material integration. There are three components to this course: Palpation, Assessment and Treatments. Students are asked to participate through a guided review and they are evaluated daily, receiving commentary and helpful suggestions in each section.

Student Clinical Practicum  - 170 hours.  Students assess and treat clients in our On-site Clinic under the supervision of a Registered Massage Therapist

Outreach Clinical Practicum - 40 hours.  Students participate in a choice of supervised outreach experiences, gaining practical experience in an area(s) of interest to them - for example, Neurological Conditions Clinic, Chronic Pain Clinic, Sports Massage Clinic, Pregnancy Clinic.