Massage Therapy Program Frequently Asked Questions

Upon completion of your second year of our ACMT Program, you will get an advanced certification that allows you to work as a licensed 2,200-hour massage therapist and provide health insurance claim receipts.

Our massage therapy program is 3,000 hours and is the most comprehensive, industry-leading program in Alberta.

This qualification is important when looking to find a job as a massage therapist or to open your own massage therapy practice.

Yes. Please see the Clinical Massage Therapy Program Curriculum for further information about the massage therapy courses and program.

Completion of the MaKami College Massage Therapy Program is recognized Alberta-wide, and in some cases nationally and internationally.

The complete Advanced Registered Massage Therapy diploma program runs for two-years or 3,000 hours. Completion of the program can open the door to a wider variety of massage therapy career options upon graduation.

Massage therapists looking to upgrade your 500-2,200 hours into a 3,000-hour diploma can apply to upgrade your massage therapy hours or for advanced credit. You may even qualify for some financial assistance. Contact us to find out more information.

MaKami College maintains extremely high instructor qualification standards. Our faculty have extensive industry education and experience along with educational training and knowledge. Even our learning assistants are trained on site for many years in our educational training and expectations. All faculty are expected to take ongoing continuing education and training as a commitment to exceeding industry standards.

Yes it is! MaKami is a publicly funded, not-for-profit independent academic institution in the province of Alberta and is listed on the Government of Canada’s list of Designated Learning Institutions. We are also in good standing with NHP Canada, CRMTA, and the Canadian Sports Massage Therapists Association.

MaKami College offers plenty of hands-on massage therapy training taught by professional massage therapists who are leaders in the industry. MaKami is unique in offering unlimited academic support to its students through Learning Strategists, tutors, counsellors and more.
We also assist you in gaining your practical experience through practical classes, outreach events and four weeks of practicum placements (two weeks in first year, two weeks in second year).

Yes. MaKami College is currently the only Licensed Massage Therapy College in Alberta to provide a two-year, 3,000-hour diploma program in Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy.

Your first year of study includes plenty of hands-on training and a two-week job shadow placement. Upon successful completion, this allows you to practice as a licensed massage therapist. Your second year of study gives you a total of 3,000 hours of training. During the second year students are able to work as a massage therapist doing their paid practicum while finishing their program requirements, gaining valuable real-life experience prior to graduation. This training will allow you to write receipts for insurance and work in any type of clinical or spa setting. View the full massage therapy program curriculum.

This program is taught in Alberta at the Edmonton campus and both Calgary campuses with online classes available. Each student receives an iPad loaded with their course materials when they begin classes.

Yes. We have several online learning options and offer a cutting-edge iPad-based curriculum. Both in-person and online massage therapy courses are offered. However, as massage therapy is a very hands-on program and career, we do encourage students to attend in-person practical opportunities through practical classes, outreach events and practicum training when it is safe to do so. IPads will be provided for massage therapy students.

Definitely! We run weekday and weekend classes as well as online learning classes to help you fit your classes into your schedule. Our blended learning option allows students to take massage therapy courses online and learn hands-on in the classroom. Talk to a student advisor to learn more about your flexible classroom work and online course work options.

Your courses will be taught in English. However, our iPad-based learning allows students to translate the course content to their preferred language for a more comprehensive learning experience.

We do have tutors and free ESL classes available for students who do not speak English as their first language and would like additional support.

Yes, students at MaKami can apply for disability funding, and MaKami also offers academic support for people with learning and physical disabilities. Please contact our Student Advisory Services for more information on disability funding and support services.

1. Minimum 17 years of age at the time of program start
2. Admission interview with the institution
3. Completion of one of the following: 
   • Alberta High School Diploma
   • A recognized equivalent

Applicants may be considered for admission and/or advanced standing through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).

PLAR recognizes knowledge and skills gained outside of formal education, including but not limited to:

• Work experience
• Professional certifications or licenses
• Military training
• Volunteer experience
• Non-credit training or workshops

PLAR assessment methods may include:

• Portfolio review
• Skills demonstration
• Challenge exams
• Interviews or competency validation

PLAR decisions are made in accordance with institutional policy and may result in:

• Admission eligibility
• Course exemptions
• Advanced standing

If the credentials are from outside Canada, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) may be accepted to determine equivalencies. 

Requests for withdrawals and refunds must be in writing. Please refer to Alberta Student Enrollment Contracts attached in your orientation package for detailed information and cost calculation on refunds.

• Minimum 18 years of age, and
• Demonstrated readiness for post-secondary study through meeting one or more of the following:
  • Admission interview with the institution
  • Relevant work or volunteer experience
  • Successful completion of a MaKami College approved entrance equivalency exam
  • Completion of post-secondary studies or continuing education, including certificates, diplomas, or degrees.
  • If the credentials are from outside Canada, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) may be accepted to determine equivalencies.

Additional Considerations:

• Each application is reviewed holistically, recognizing formal education, experiential learning, and demonstrated competencies.
• Mature Admission decisions are based on academic readiness, professional experience, and learner potential, not solely on traditional credentials.

All applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Acceptable evidence includes one of the following (subject to institutional approval):

• IELTS Academic: Overall 5.5 (no individual band below 5.0)
• TOEFL iBT: Overall score 59 or 3.5
• PTE Academic: Overall score 45–52
• CAEL: Overall score 50
• CLB: Level 6 overall
• CELPIP: Overall score 6
• Duolingo English Test (DET): Score 95
• ELL 6 of higher
• Completion of post-secondary or continuing education, including certificates, diplomas, or degrees, completed in the English Language

Additional Considerations:

• MaKami College supports multiple entry points and may recommend upgrading, preparatory studies, or conditional admission where appropriate.
• Official test results must be submitted directly to the institution.
• English language test results must be valid within two (2) years of the date of testing.

The English language proficiency requirements for the Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy program described herein came into effect for applications submitted on or after January 2026.

Our licensed massage therapy diploma programs start every two months.

Contact a student advisor for more information on upcoming program start dates at your chosen campus.

Applicants may be eligible for admission and/or advanced standing through a transfer pathway based on prior post-secondary education.

Transfer pathways may include:

1. Internal Program Transfers
   • Graduates or students from MaKami College programs may transfer into another program or cohort subject to:
     • Program relevance
     • Academic standing
     • Credit transfer eligibility
     • Institutional approval
2. External Transfer Agreements

• Applicants who have completed coursework at recognized post-secondary institutions may be considered for admission and/or advanced standing through:
  • Formal articulation or transfer agreements, where applicable.

3. Transfer Alberta

• Where applicable, transfer credit may be granted in accordance with Transfer Alberta guidelines.
• Transfer decisions are subject to:
  • Transfer Alberta equivalency listings
  • Institutional policies
  • Program-specific learning outcomes

Transfer credit does not guarantee admission and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants still are required to meet the program admission standards.

To apply as an International Student, you must be 17 years of age or older, you must provide international educational documentation for review, you must obtain and provide evidence of a study permit, among other requirements, Learn more by visiting our International Students page.

Our 3,000 hour Massage Therapy program offers extensive theory-based and hands-on training in online, in-person or a blended format. In the first year, students will learn the foundations of the human body along with basic massage techniques in their massage therapy courses. Second-year students will learn advanced massage therapy techniques to learn how to treat and prevent injuries.

View our full Massage Therapy program curriculum here.

View our Student Massage page for more information, FAQs, and to book a massage.