The Hidden History of RMTs in BC.

The Hidden History of RMTs in BC - A 2 Min Read

How the profession evolved — and why worker protections lag behind.
1900s–1930s

Massage Therapy wasn’t its own profession yet

Massage practitioners originally worked alongside physiotherapists and remedial gymnasts.

1937

BC practitioners formed a joint organization that included:

• physiotherapists

• massage practitioners

Massage was considered one of several rehabilitation techniques, not a separate profession.

Key takeaway: Massage therapy had no independent identity yet.

1940s–1970s

Early regulation begins

Massage practitioners and physiotherapists were regulated together under provincial law.

During this period:

• massage therapy gained legal recognition

• training programs slowly developed

• the profession remained relatively small

Most RMTs worked through doctor referrals.

Key takeaway: Massage therapy was seen as an auxiliary healthcare service, not an independent field.

1980s

The legitimacy battle

By the 1980s massage therapy was growing rapidly in BC.

At the time:

• RMTs could bill MSP

• physiotherapists could also bill MSP

• both professions competed for the same rehabilitation funding

Tensions emerged.

In 1987, a physiotherapy council member wrote to the BC Trial Lawyers Association accusing an RMT of misrepresenting qualifications, creating negative publicity for the profession.

Massage therapists responded with:

• public relations campaigns

• political advocacy

• formation of stronger professional organizations

Key takeaway: The profession’s main goal became proving legitimacy in healthcare.

1990s

Professional recognition is achieved

1994

Massage therapy officially became a designated health profession under BC’s Health Professions Act.

The profession now had:

protected title

regulated education

defined scope of practice

a regulatory college

To strengthen credibility, BC created one of the longest massage therapy training programs in the world (~3000 hours).

Key takeaway: The profession secured professional recognition and high education standards.

2000s

A major shift: MSP coverage disappears

Massage therapy gradually lost broad coverage under BC’s Medical Services Plan.

The profession moved toward:

• private clinics

• extended health insurance

• contractor-based work

This dramatically changed the profession’s economic structure.

Key takeaway: Massage therapy transitioned from a partially public healthcare service to a private healthcare model.

2010s

Education changes and labour mobility

Canadian trade agreements (Agreement on Internal Trade → Canadian Free Trade Agreement) required provinces to recognize professional credentials across Canada.

As a result:

• BC training programs were redesigned

• total hours decreased from ~3000 to ~2200

• competency-based education replaced hour-based models

Key takeaway: Education standards began aligning with national labour mobility policies.

Today

A strong profession — but an unfinished chapter

BC RMTs now have:

stronger education (sort of - but that's another topic)

professional regulation

strong public demand

high clinical standards

But one major issue remains underdeveloped > worker protections for practitioners.

Most RMTs work as independent contractors inside clinic businesses, often without:

• worker protections

• correct worker classification

• worker safety & labour protections

• predictable income structures

• fair labour practices

• workplace standards & occupational health and safety

• clear power balance between clinics and practitioners

The Missing Chapter

During the profession’s development, most advocacy focused on:

• legitimacy

• education

• regulation

• public credibility

Very little attention was given to:

• labour standards

• workplace protections

• worker safety and rights

• contractor classification

• long-term career sustainability and transferability

Not because those issues didn’t matter —

but because the profession was busy answering a more fundamental question:

“Do massage therapists belong in healthcare?”

The Next Phase of the Profession

Many healthcare professions evolve in three stages:

Legitimacy

Professional recognition

Worker protections

Massage therapy in BC has successfully completed the first two.

The third stage is still developing.

That means the current generation of RMTs has an opportunity to shape what the profession looks like next.

Why this history matters >

Without understanding the history, it’s easy to assume that the current system was designed intentionally.

In reality, many of today’s challenges are simply side effects of how the profession evolved.

Understanding where we came from helps us ask a better question: What should the profession look like going forward?