What is the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO)? For individuals considering a career as a Registered Massage Therapist, this is an important question that you should ask.
Located in Toronto, the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (referred to as the College, or CMTO) is the not-for-profit organization established by the provincial government to regulate the conduct of Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) in the province of Ontario through the provisions of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA).
It is important to understand the role of our regulatory college, their mandate, responsibilities and vision. The mandate of the College is to ensure the public interest is placed at the centre of all College activities. This means that the focus is maintained on consumer needs, including the right to the provision of high quality, safe and ethical health care and that Massage Therapists are held accountable for the care they provide to the public of Ontario.
The primary purpose of the CMTO is to act in the interest of the public. Their objective is to ensure the right of the public to have access to ethical, high quality care.
The CMTO has a vision, quoted as follows: “As Registered Massage Therapists we envision a future where we are valued professionals providing compassionate care to optimize health for life.” (http://www.cmto.com/for-the-public/about-the-college/mission-vision/)
The CMTO works towards this vision by placing the public’s interest first, guided by values including honesty, integrity and accountability. The CMTO both sets and enforces the standards of practice and professional conduct by which Registered Massage Therapists are to practice. Some of their responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Maintaining registration of all Registered Massage Therapists in Ontario.
- Investigation of complaints against an RMT and conducting disciplinary hearings.
- Maintaining a Quality Assurance Program for the purposes of ensuring therapists remain current, competent and deliver the highest quality of care possible.
- Ensuring Registered Massage Therapists comply with legislation: Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and The Massage Therapy Act.
- Promoting Massage Therapy research.
- Providing a public registry of Registered Massage Therapists practicing in Ontario.
This represents a very brief summary of the role of the CMTO. To learn more about the CMTO and its role in overseeing our profession please visit their website.