Canada’s healthcare system includes a combination of regulated and non-regulated professions. For patients seeking massage therapy, osteopathic manual therapy or traditional Chinese medicine, understanding how each profession is governed is essential to making safe and informed decisions.
This page explains how the following professions are regulated in Canada:
In Canada, healthcare professions fall into two broad categories:
These professions are governed by law under provincial legislation. Practitioners must register with a College or regulatory body before they can legally practice.
Regulated professions are required to:
Examples include physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and RMTs (in regulated provinces).
These are professions that do not have government-appointed regulatory colleges.
For unregulated occupations:
Osteopathic manual therapy (D.O.M.P.) currently falls into this category in most parts of Canada.
Massage therapy is a regulated healthcare profession in several Canadian provinces including Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland & Labrador.
RMTs must be licensed by their provincial regulatory College before they are permitted to treat the public.
RMT Colleges:
Only practitioners listed on the College’s official register may legally use the title Registered Massage Therapist (RMT).
Because RMTs are regulated:
This system exists to protect public safety.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are regulated professions in several provinces including Ontario and British Columbia.
Titles such as:
are legally protected in regulated provinces.
TCM regulatory Colleges:
Only properly registered practitioners may use protected titles.
Unlike RMT and TCM, osteopathic manual therapy is not specifically regulated under a national or provincial healthcare college in most of Canada.
There is currently:
D.O.M.P. practitioners typically receive training through private osteopathic institutions and may join professional associations voluntarily.
Because manual osteopathy is not regulated:
Osteopathic manual therapy is best understood as a complementary therapy and not a replacement for regulated medical care.
| RMT | Yes (in some provinces) | Provincial Colleges | Yes | Widely covered | College disciplinary system |
| TCM / R.AC | Yes (in some provinces) | Provincial TCM Colleges | Yes | Often covered | College oversight |
| D.O.M.P. | No | Voluntary associations | No | Varies by provider | Association or clinic-level |
| Ontario (ON) | Regulated | Regulated | Not regulated |
| British Columbia (BC) | Regulated | Regulated | Not regulated |
| Alberta (AB) | Not regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Saskatchewan (SK) | Not regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Manitoba (MB) | Not regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Quebec (QC) | Not regulated (Professional associations) | Regulated | Not regulated |
| New Brunswick (NB) | Regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Nova Scotia (NS) | Not regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Prince Edward Island (PEI) | Regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) | Regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Yukon (YT) | Not regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Northwest Territories (NT) | Not regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
| Nunavut (NU) | Not regulated | Not regulated | Not regulated |
Note: Regulation status may change. Always verify with the provincial authority for the most current information.
Patients are strongly encouraged to verify credentials before booking treatment.
Check the provincial College public register:
In regulated provinces:
Because osteopathy is unregulated:
Ask directly for:
Ontario — CMTO (College of Massage Therapists of Ontario)
Newfoundland & Labrador — CMTNL
Quebec — OAQ (Ordre des Acupuncteurs du Québec)
Osteopathic manual therapy does not have a centralized public register in Canada.
Patients should:
If a practitioner cannot provide documentation, consider alternative options.
Be cautious if a practitioner:
Trustworthy practitioners welcome questions.
Healthcare regulation protects the public by:
Whenever possible, patients should prioritize regulated providers, or ensure proper due diligence is conducted when seeking unregulated services.
RMT & RAC Network exists to:
In a complex healthcare environment, access to accurate information matters.
RMT, TCM and osteopathic manual therapy do not replace medical care.
If you experience:
Seek immediate medical attention.
Understanding how healthcare professions are regulated in Canada helps patients choose practitioners wisely.
Knowing the difference between a regulated, licensed practitioner and an unregulated provider enables safer healthcare decisions and promotes better outcomes.
