Features Education Leadership
MTAA moves to make membership “more accessible”

“The MTAA will be integrating the principles of the examination process
into the professional development program as a valuable assessment tool
for members,” the MTAA announced in a statement.

 “We believe
that facilitated learning opportunities will assist MTAA members – and
the entire profession – in enhancing their professional skills in
relation to the Inter-jurisdictional Practice Competencies and
Performance Indicators for Massage Therapists at Entry to Practice as
well as the MTAA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.”

The
move was an offshoot of a province-wide consultation by the MTAA to
provide massage therapists in Alberta with “clear, accurate and positive
information about regulation of massage therapy.”

“As a result
of this initiative, a very unique opportunity arose to consult with the
profession at large with respect to concerns surrounding eligibility for
registration with a future massage therapy regulatory college in
Alberta.”

“One theme that frequently came forward during these
sessions was concern of acceptance for the completion of an Entry to
Practice Examination without well-defined guidelines from the yet to be
drafted registration requirements of the future regulatory body.”

The
massage therapy profession in Alberta has been actively pursuing
regulation for several years. MTAA is one of four professional
associations in Alberta for massage therapy practitioners, and has been
in existence for more than 61 years.

“In our unique and diverse
Alberta environment, this change allows for the inclusivity of the
entire profession and means that MTAA membership is accessible broadly.
In making this change, the MTAA hopes to bridge the split that has
formed within the profession and encourage all massage therapists to
speak with a unified voice,” the MTAA said.

For more information about the revised MTAA membership eligibility, visit the MTAA website.