Guideline of Approved Professional Activities

The Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia believes it is important to let members develop in their own direction with respect to their continuing education and professional development as massage therapists and health care providers. It is also prudent, however, that MTANS keep public safety and our professional reputation our primary concern. Accordingly, following an accepted motion at the Semi-annual General Meeting of MTANS Members of April 30, 2000 , the " MTANS Continuing Education Committee ", a standing committee of MTANS was established.

This GUIDELINE of APPROVED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES is intended to assist Members in meeting the requirements for their continuing education as outlined in the MTANS Continuing Education and Development Policy which became effective January 1, 2002 . (The MTANS Continuing Education and Development Policy was circulated to all members as of November 2001 in the T akeHold newsletter mailing, and is included in all subsequent new member welcome packages.)

By necessity the Guideline of Approved Professional Activities is a dynamic document subject to revision, additions, and deletions of activity. New or deleted programs will be published from time to time in TakeHold the MTANS Newsletter. Any and all such additions or deletions to the Guideline will be retained in a master list, or Master Guideline of Approved Professional Development Activities, which will be maintained at the MTANS office. A copy of the current master list/Guideline will be made available at every general meeting of the Association. As warranted, an updated Guideline of Approved Professional Development Activities will be distributed to the Membership with a frequency of not more than once a year and at a minimum at the beginning of a new cycle of the majority of the Members. In other words the document you have in your hands right now may not be complete. Call the MTANS office to leave a message for a Continuing Education Committee Member to get back to you or send your question via e-mail to info@mtans.com.

The MTANS Continuing Education and Development Policy shall be referenced for any interpretation as to the meanings and implications of the Guideline of Approved Professional Activities.

The Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia requires each Active Member to acquire TWENTY CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (20 CEUs) or credits in each cycle.

A CEU credit cycle is TWO years long and typically runs consistent with the Fiscal Period of the Association and or the dues collection period of the Association, currently January First of a given year.

Continuing Education Units are granted for a large variety of activities related to massage therapy and its scope of practice. The number of credits is assigned based on whether the activity (CEU) is considered a Primary or a Secondary Activity. Current policy provides for the following:

2 Hrs. participation in a Primary Activity = 1 CEU
3 Hrs. participation in a Secondary Activity = 1CEU
Bonus CEU's can be awarded for specific MTANS programs or events as outlined in the Guideline of Approved Professional Development Activities.
Members can mix Primary and Secondary Professional Activities to acquire the 20 CEUs required in a cycle.
Each Activity will have an official title or unique name.
The maximum number of credits awarded for any one activity per day is five CEUs.
Credits in either primary or secondary activities are awarded for actual hour(s) of participation / instruction time.

In context of the Continuing Education and Professional Development Policy, an activity must involve some process of formal learning (generally presented to heath care professionals), as distinct from the process of displaying the practice of massage therapy. For example, rendering services at a heath information booth, or local sport event, are situations that relate directly to massage therapy, but do not provide the opportunity for formal learning that is necessary to qualify for a primary CEU credit.

Approved course or Activities need not always be approved by MTANS Continuing Education Committee, but rather may have previously been evaluated and approved by the Quality Assurance Committee of the CMTO and / or the Quality Management Committee of the CMTBC, or other like body of other Provincially regulated jurisdiction(s). In these cases, only the CEU value need be adjusted by the Committee to conform to MTANS policy as outlined in Part 4 - Subsection 4 i, ii, and iii. relating to the value of CEUs.

To avoid the possibility that approval of an activity would be interpreted as clearly placing an activity or modality within our scope of practice, the Committee makes the following statement.

"The approval of courses/workshops and related professional development activities for CEU's by the MTANS Continuing Education Committee does not represent an endorsement of a relationship between these courses and activities and scope of practice. Each Member is expected to perform and operate their practice within the parameters of ethical and responsible means outlined in the Constitution and By-Laws of MTANS, the adopted Standards of Practice (CMTO), MTANS Code of Ethics, and associated regulations and guidelines as amended. The choice of course and/or direction of professional development are the responsibility of the individual Member. The committee encourages Members to evaluate their choice of course/workshop and related professional development activities in terms of their benefit to the ongoing quality improvement of their practice."

Examples provided in the following sections are not exhaustive, and are intended to guide but not limit, Members' ability to participate successfully in the Continuing Education and Professional Development program.

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