Massage therapy member criteria
To become a member of Ritma Association, a massage therapist must be 18 years of age or older. He must be a graduate in massage therapy from a school recognized or accredited by RITMA association. Some other curricula may be submitted for approval, there must be at least 1000 hours of training in massage therapy. Some schools offer 400 hours of training, it is up to the student to complete his or her training in order to meet the Ritma criteria. Years of practice may also be considered in some cases. Massage therapy practitioners with between 400 and 1000 hours of training must visit our section: : Massage Therapy Practitioners
You could be accepted with the following criteria: At least two (2) basic body techniques: Swedish, Shiatsu, Trager, Californian, Jin Shin Do®, Esalen®, Océüm, Momentum, Reflexology, Polarity, Lymphatic Drainage + Human Anatomy and physiology, Support relations, interview and listening techniques, professional ethics, deontology
Ritma recognizes certain classes offered in college and university that form the common core of these training. For example, anatomy, physiology, pathology and several other related classes.
For applicants with a university or college education (manual technique), whether or not they belong to a professional order, the basic training may be taken into account up to a maximum of 600 hours. Applicants must therefore also have 400 hours or more of training, depending on the case, in massage therapy. Applicants belonging to an order must be particularly vigilant and refrain from carrying out activities reserved for their professional order when practicing massage therapy. It goes without saying that respect for this law applies to everyone.
To become a member of the RITMA Massage Therapists Association, the massage therapist must be 18 years of age or older. They must have received at least 1000 hours of training in massage therapy. He/she must have graduated in massage therapy from a school recognized or accredited by Groupe RITMA. Some other courses of study may be submitted for approval. Contact the administration for verification.
Mandatory basic criteria: At least two (2) basic body techniques: Swedish, Shiatsu, Trager, Californian, Jin Shin Do®, Esalen®, Océüm, Momentum, Reflexology, Polarity, Lymphatic Drainage + Human anatomy and physiology + Helping relationships, interviewing and listening techniques, professional ethics, deontology
Other techniques not mentioned above may be accepted and counted in your 1000+ hours of training. Contact the administration for verification.
Recognized techniques are subject to revision without notice.
Ritma recognizes certain courses offered in college and university settings that could form a common core for these trainings. For example; anatomy, physiology, pathology and other related training.
For applicants with university or college training, whether or not they are members of a professional order, the core training could be taken into account for a maximum of 600 hours. Applicants will therefore also have to complete 400 hours or more of training, as the case may be, in massage therapy. Applicants who are members of a professional order will have to be particularly vigilant and refrain from activities reserved for their professional order when practicing massage therapy. It goes without saying that compliance with this law applies to everyone.
To be awarded the title of Kinesitherapist
- The applicant has a minimum of 1000 hours of training including: massage therapy training and at least the following: physical therapy techniques, practical work and supervised internships specific to physical therapy.
To be awarded the title of Orthotherapist
- The applicant has a minimum of 1000 hours of training. Which include massage therapy and physiotherapy as well and must have completed several additional hours of training including at least the following: mobilization, specific orthotherapy techniques, practices and supervised internships
Groupe RITMA encourages continuing education. Massage therapists must keep their knowledge, practices and abreast of the evolution of new techniques and technological advances. They must also keep up to date with the rules and laws that govern their profession and their sector of activity.
All members must take at least 15 hours of continuing education per year.
Groupe RITMA has very rigorous eligibility criteria and advocates the supervision of practices, the implementation of high training standards and methodical audits. Groupe RITMA has the right to audit at its discretion and at any time the methods, facilities and instruments used by its members to assure the public that the care offered meets all of its quality standards. With respect to receipts issued, it prevents abuse by assigning individually numbered receipts to each member, making multiple use impossible. Staff is also assigned to frequently verify the advertisements and websites of its members to prevent the offering of services that are not intended for therapeutic and professional purposes.
Groupe RITMA highly recommend that all its members carry Errors and Omissions insurance.