Search Results | Clear Search | Previous (in doc) | Next (in doc) | Prev Doc | Next Doc

"Point in Time" Regulation Content

Health Professions Act

Massage Therapists Regulation

B.C. Reg. 280/2008

NOTE: Links below go to regulation content as it was prior to the changes made on the effective date. (PIT covers changes made from September 19, 2009 to "current to" date of the regulation.)
SECTIONEFFECTIVE DATE
Regulation April 1, 2026
Section 1 April 20, 2015
June 28, 2024
Section 2 June 28, 2024
Section 4.1 June 28, 2024
Section 5 April 20, 2015
Section 6 April 20, 2015

 Regulation BEFORE repealed by BC Reg 130/2025, effective April 1, 2026.

B.C. Reg. 280/2008
M240/2008
Deposited October 15, 2008
effective October 17, 2008

Health Professions Act

Massage Therapists Regulation

Definitions

1   In this regulation:

"Act" means the Health Professions Act;

"massage therapy" means the health profession in which a person provides, for the purposes of developing, maintaining, rehabilitating or augmenting physical function, or relieving pain or promoting health, the services of

(a) assessment of soft tissue and joints of the body, and

(b) treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction, injury, pain and disorders of soft tissue and joints of the body by manipulation, mobilization and other manual methods;

"registrant" means a registrant who is authorized under the bylaws to practise massage therapy.

[am. B.C. Regs. 58/2015, s. 1; 31/2024, Sch. 2, s. 1.]

College name

2   The name of the college responsible for carrying out the objects of the Act in respect of massage therapy is "College of Complementary Health Professionals of British Columbia".

[en. B.C. Reg. 31/2024, Sch. 2, s. 2.]

Reserved titles

3   The following titles are reserved for exclusive use by registrants:

(a) massage therapist;

(b) registered massage therapist;

(c) massage practitioner;

(d) registered massage practitioner.

Scope of practice

4   A registrant may practise massage therapy.

Restricted and provisional registrant classes

4.1   The college is authorized to establish, under section 19 (1) (i) of the Act, a class of

(a) restricted registrants for the purposes of section 20 (4.2) of the Act, and

(b) provisional registrants for the purposes of section 20 (4.3) of the Act.

[en. B.C. Reg. 31/2024, Sch. 2, s. 3.]

Repealed

5   Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 58/2015, s. 2.]

Limits or conditions on services

6   No registrant may

(a) prescribe or administer drugs or anaesthetics,

(b) treat a recent fracture of a bone,

(c) apply any form of medical electricity, or

(d) move a joint of the spine beyond the limits the body can voluntarily achieve using a high velocity, low amplitude thrust.

[en. B.C. Reg. 58/2015, s. 3.]

Patient relations program

7   The college is designated for the purposes of section 16 (2) (f) of the Act.

Health profession corporations

8   Part 4 of the Act applies to massage therapy.

[Provisions relevant to the enactment of this regulation: Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183, s. 12 (2).]

 Section 1 definition of "massage therapy" BEFORE amended by BC Reg 58/2015, effective April 20, 2015.

"massage therapy" means the kneading, rubbing or massaging of the human body, whether with or without steam baths, vapour baths, fume baths, electric light baths or other appliances, and hydrotherapy or any similar method taught in schools of massage approved under the Physiotherapists Act, but does not include any form of medical electricity.

 Section 1 definition of "registrant" was added by BC Reg 31/2024, effective June 28, 2024.

 Section 2 BEFORE re-enacted by BC Reg 31/2024, effective June 28, 2024.

College name

2   The name "College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia" is the name of the college established under section 15 (1) of the Act for massage therapy.

 Section 4.1 was enacted by BC Reg 31/2024, effective June 28, 2024.

 Section 5 BEFORE repealed by BC Reg 58/2015, effective April 20, 2015.

Restricted activities

5   (1) No person other than a registrant may practise massage therapy.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person

(a) employed by and on the premises of a hospital which has been designated by the minister, and

(b) who is acting under the direction of a medical practitioner.

 Section 6 BEFORE amended by BC Reg 58/2015, effective April 20, 2015.

Limit or condition on services

6   No registrant may prescribe or administer drugs or anaesthetics, or treat a recent fracture of a bone.