The South Edmonton School of Massage Therapy is a fully accredited RMT school that combines distance learning and weekend practical courses.
Our focus on two important areas sets us apart from the other Alberta Registered Massage Therapy schools.
Highest Quality
We are committed to providing a curriculum that is of the highest quality by maintaining membership, licensure and accreditation with all the major Massage Therapist associations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Private Career Colleges (PCC) Branch of the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Council of Massage Therapy Schools (CCMTS), and ongoing accreditation with the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA). We also provide complementary Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) training in your second year to help you prepare for the national exam should you wish to practice in a regulated province. We constantly review and update our curriculum to keep our program at the forefront of national practice standards.
Lowest Cost
We don't have hidden textbook or administration fees. We don't get caught up in gimmicks such as 'free iPads', draws or giveaways. Instead, we legitimately offer the lowest tuition for a 2200 hour Registered Massage Therapist program in Alberta. The way do this is simple. We cost-share rent and administrative costs with our affiliated Tawa Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic. The money we save through lower rent and administrative costs we pass onto you, the student. When choosing our school over other schools, your cost-savings will typically be between $4000 to $8000 over the 2-year program!
Get A Rewarding Career Through Thorough Online and In-Class Training
A Rewarding Career In High Demand
Massage therapists are in great demand throughout the province of Alberta. We have seen increased demand specifically in the area of motor vehicle accident injury treatment. Changes to the insurance industry within the last ten years have included massage therapy treatments to be direct billed to insurance companies, making massage therapy treatment more accessible to patients. Demand will only increase as our baby boomer population ages.
Hands-On Learning
While much of the theory and written testing can be done at home or online, a high proportion of in-class time is spent on hands-on learning and practical testing. At our school, it is possible to achieve this with small class sizes averaging 6 per instructor to allow for ample one-on-one time with the instructors. This is the best way to learn and become proficient with hands-on techniques.
Specific Skills You Will Learn In Our Program
We have a very strong curriculum that includes all elements as required for accreditation by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA), the nation-wide massage school accrediting body.
- Massage Theory: anatomy, kinesiology, advanced pathology
- Professionalism and Ethics
- Assessment: apply knowledge of many different pathological and post-surgical conditions, perform vital signs, posture, palpation, gait, range of motion, muscle strength, joint play, neurological assessment, perform special tests
- Treatment Principles: client transfer techniques, dressing, draping, positioning of the client-adaptive massage including chair massage
- Massage Techniques: Swedish and non-Swedish techniques including effleurage, stroking, petrissage, skin rolling, vibration, percussion, rocking and shaking, muscle stripping, muscle approximation, Golgi tendon organ techniques, lymphatic drainage, trigger point techniques, joint mobilization, teach diaphragmatic breathing
- Therapeutic Exercise: stretching, strengthening, cardiovascular exercise, proprioception (balance), functional exercises
- Heat and Cold Applications
- Business considerations
- Plus many other skills!
We Provide The Best Experience For Our Students
"The school was a great way to get a career and live your day to day life. These days, people who live on their own can not afford to go to school 5 days a week. So it was great to be able to work full time and still go to school in these convenient hours. The instructors and the teachers assistants are wonderful, they are very passionate in what they do and I think it made for a wonderful learning experience. It was a great year and I thank you guys for helping me start my career!"-Cheylene
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with SESMT. I really found it helpful during the course of my study to have access to many different reference materials like books, video, flashcards and to talk with other professional massage therapists. I found the instructors to be excellent in their manner of teaching. They were always prompt and helpful in answering any questions I had, either in the classroom or in between classes via email or phone. I knew I would achieve my goal with their help. I am proud to be a graduate of this school."-Ofel
"I thought the instructors were really great! They helped us all out with whatever we were having troubles with. Scott would also help us practice our bony landmarks and muscles with our partner on the table. THIS WAS REALLY AWESOME, and I think would be great to try and do that every class. Thank you so much Dave for making it easy for someone who is like me working full time, to go to school."-Reylene
We are very proud that every one of our students who graduated in 2018 got a job within 30 days!
Keep Your Job While You Study Online At Your Convenience
Many of our students are able to keep a full-time job and complete home assignments and online study and testing at their convenience. Our weekend-based program is the ideal choice for you if you need an income while you are studying, you have family, or you have other obligations during the week.
The practical part of the course is done at our convenient location in the Tawa Physical Therapy clinic on the weekends. Many of our students who live outside of Edmonton appreciate only needing to commute to Edmonton one weekend per month. This is possible because the online component of our program can be done from anywhere with an internet connection.
See what our instructors, past students and employers have to say about the SESMT on our testimonials page.
See What Our Students Have to Say About The SESMT
Be Your Own Boss or Find a Great Job
Some of our entrepreneurial grads have gone on to start great massage and wellness-oriented businesses, while others have found well-paid work at spas, physiotherapy clinics, chiropractor offices and many other locations. Design the lifestyle you want after you graduate.
Hit The Ground Running Once You Graduate
The school has a relationship with physiotherapists. Enjoy guest lectures from, and interaction with physical therapists to develop a broader perspective with respect to treating patients. This is ideal for those wishing to eventually work in an interdisciplinary environment. We have a well-rounded leadership group which includes massage therapists, physiotherapists, industry professionals, and staff from the provincial licensing body. This ensures that our program stays at the forefront with respect to any changes or trends that may affect massage therapy. It ensures that your transition from school to the workplace is as seamless as possible.
Request More Information
Choosing the right Massage Therapy School is a huge decision to get you started on the right career path. We can answer all your questions about the admission requirements, scheduling, tuition grants, instructors, and certifications. Just fill out your information below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.