The following guidelines are NOT exhaustive.  They are intended to direct, not limit, the ability of a member to successfully complete the MTAS competency requirements.   CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MEMBER CON-ED HANDBOOK. 

Credit activities are to be recorded in the electronic member database and office paper files, and members must also maintain a personal record of all credit activities.

PRIMARY CREDIT ACTIVITIES
Activities in the primary category are directly related to the Scope of Practice.

MTAS Scope of Practice, as stated in the Association Bylaws:
"The practice of massage therapy is the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues and joints by mobilization and other manual methods to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain."

Topics for primary credits as directly related to the MTAS Scope of Practice would include, but are not limited to, the following (1 credit per 1 hour of study):

• Anatomy
• Assessment
• Charting skills
• Ethics
• Massage techniques, theory and treatments           
• Medical terminology
• Pathology  
• Physiology  

  
Modalities/techniques within Scope of Practice include, but are not limited to:

• Active Release
• Acupressure
• Alexander Method
• Athletic Taping and Bracing
• Bowen Therapy
• Cranial Sacral Therapy including Unwinding
• Cupping
• Deep Tissue Therapy
• Fascial Stretch Therapy
• Feldenkrais
• Graston Technique
• Hot Stone Therapy (assessed on course content-some courses may not be eligible)
• Hydrotherapy
• Indian Head/Foot Massage
• Infant Massage/Infant Massage Instructor Training
• Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM)
• Integrative Manual Therapy
• Joint Mobilization
• Ligamentous Articular Strain Technique (LAST)
• Lomi Lomi
• Lymphatic Drainage Therapy
• Manual Lymph Drainage
• Muscle Energy Technique
• Myofascial Release
• Neuromuscular Therapy
• Oncology Massage
• Onsen Technique
• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF stretching)
• Relaxation Massage
• Rolfing
• Shiatsu Massage
• Sports Massage 
• Strain/Counter Strain
• Structural Integration
• Swedish Massage
• Thai Massage
• Therapeutic Exercise (assessed on course content-some courses may not be eligible)
• ​Touch for Health/RESET
• Trager Approach
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Visceral Manipulation

All other in scope modalities/techniques are subject to approval by the Competency Committee.

CPR/First Aid

There are several options available for obtaining CPR/First Aid requirements, including Canadian Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance and Heart and Stroke Foundation.  A variety of private companies also offer the training. 

 Standard First Aid and CPR Level “C” or higher are mandatory licensing requirements for the profession.  You are required to maintain up-to-date standards in this area to maintain our agreements with SGI and WCB; therefore, members are responsible to ensure their certification is not allowed to lapse.    This is not an area that directly affects your skills as massage therapists and, as such, is not “continuing education” in the field of the work that you do.  However, MTAS currently grants competency credits for this training (5 primary credits per window).  A copy of the certificate must be submitted to your profile on the MTAS website upon renewal so that your file is always current.  Recertification is only required as directed by the First Aid/CPR provider – every three years.    Note that if you decide to take the full course instead of the recertification, choose to recertify more than once during each window, or elect to complete an advanced certification (e.g. Sports First Responder) you will not be granted additional credits.  All practicing members are required to maintain current certification.  If you allow your SFA/CPR certification to lapse for any reason, your membership may be suspended until we receive your proof of recertification.

NOTE: If you are an RN, LPN, EMT, First Responder, fire fighter or a member of another profession that requires First Aid and CPR training at a higher level than required by MTAS, we will accept a copy of your current license in lieu of CPR/SFA certification.

NOTE: Due to Sask. Occupational Health and Safety guidelines, fully online courses and non-Canadian courses are not permitted.  Blended training is acceptable.   

Primary activities include:

• Attending workshops, seminars or courses relevant to the Scope of Practice (includes on-line or correspondence courses).
• Presenting workshops, seminars or courses relevant to the Scope of Practice (including preparation time to the first time the presentation is made).
• Participating on Committees of the Association that are relevant to the Scope of Practice.
• Obtaining MTAS examiner training accreditation, working as a peer assessor, subject matter expert or investigator for the Association.
• Conducting or collaborating in formal research with intent to publish results that are relevant to the Scope of Practice.
• Reviewing books, articles or videos that are relevant to the Scope of Practice.

Primary activities are to be recorded in the member's online con-ed file. 
Members should keep a personal record copy of all primary activities.

BUSINESS CREDITS

• MTAS AGM attendance
• MTAS jurisprudence quiz (not yet available)
• Chamber of Commerce events  
• Financial institution seminars
• Sask. Polytech business classes   
• Technical college business classes
• University business classes
• Meetings with financial planners, accountants, business consultants, tax advisors, etc. to discuss your practice.

May include, but not limited to:

• Accounting  
• Administration
• Advertising and promotion
• Book-keeping
• Business law
• Business planning
• Coaching skills
• Commerce
• Communications
• Computer applications
• Conflict resolution
• Customer service and client relations
• Data processing
• Decision-making
• E-commerce
• Economics
• Financial planning
• Human resources
• Investments
• Jurisprudence and compliance
• Labour relations
• Leadership
• Management
• Marketing
• Negotiation
• Organizational behaviour
• Organizational theory
• Policy development
• Problem-solving
• Public relations
• Sales techniques
• Statistics
• Strategic planning
• Taxation
• Website design
• Writing skills
 

Courses taken for business credits do not have to be pre-approved by the Competency Committee.  Members may take any classes, courses or workshops of personal interest that are related to business.  A  certificate of attendance or letter from the course provider must be uploaded to your con-ed file on the website for credit recording purposes.  This should state the therapist name, course name, completion date, and number of hours of attendance. 

Please note that receipts are NOT considered proof of attendance.