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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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32201.00 – Massage therapists

Massage therapists assess soft tissues and joints of the body for treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Massage therapist (MT)
  • Registered massage practitioner
  • Registered massage therapist (RMT)

Core competencies

  • Social Perceptiveness to interpret nonverbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, to ensure the client's comfort and satisfaction
  • Oral Communication: Active Listening to listen to clients’ concerns, symptoms and medical histories to tailor massage recommendations
  • Dynamic Strength to effectively manipulate soft tissues and apply the appropriate amount of pressure without causing strain or fatigue
  • Stamina to maintain energy and focus throughout massages lasting up to 90 minutes
  • Collaboration to provide comprehensive care to clients by working as part of a larger healthcare team, including doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals
  • Knowledge in Biology to understand muscular functions and interconnectedness to identify areas of dysfunction or injury and guide the selection of appropriate massage techniques

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Assess clients by conducting range of motion and muscle tests and propose treatment plans
  • Explain procedures, risks and benefits to clients
  • Administer massage techniques, treating soft tissues and joints of the body through soft tissue manipulation, relaxation techniques, hydrotherapy, trigger point therapy, joint pain and lower grade mobilizations, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs
  • Suggest home care instructions and provide information about techniques for further postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation and rehabilitative exercises
  • Maintain records of treatments given
  • May consult with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for clients.

Additional information

  • Massage therapists may be trained in various specialized massage techniques.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (32104)
  • Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (32123)
  • Licensed practical nurses (32101)
  • Medical laboratory technologists (32120)
  • Medical radiation technologists (32121)
  • Medical sonographers (32122)
  • Opticians (32100)
  • Other medical technologists and technicians (32129)
  • Other practitioners of natural healing (32209)
  • Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (32109)
  • Paramedical occupations (32102)
  • Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (32103)
  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (32200)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

3 – Health occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

32 – Technical occupations in health

Sub-major group

322 – Practitioners of natural healing

Minor group

3220 – Practitioners of natural healing

Unit group

32201 – Massage therapists

Occupational profile

32201.00 – Massage therapists

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.