Welcome to our February 2021 issue! CMTCA continues to adapt the accreditation process to support programs, especially with the challenges they are facing during COVID-19. Keep reading for more information including:
Congratulations to Mount Royal University, recently granted Preliminary Accreditation
Virtual site visits now available for eligible programs
One-year extension to Preliminary Accreditation
Join the CMTCA Board of Directors
Q&A: How do Virtual Site Visits compare to the on-campus experience?
Coming soon: a new learning module to guide programs working toward Preliminary Accreditation
Congrats to ... The CMTCA board and staff extend sincere congratulations to the following program that was granted Preliminary Accreditation in December:
Preliminary Accreditation: Granted
Mount Royal University - Massage Therapy Program (Calgary, AB)
We salute your hard work and your commitment to providing the best learning environment for your students. We look forward to working with you as you work towards accreditation!
Virtual Site Visits CMTCA temporarily offering virtual site visits to eligible programs
Given the ever-changing nature of COVID19 and public health guidelines across various jurisdictions, CMTCA will be offering virtual site visits to education programs that are eligible to move forward with a site visit. These virtual visits are available during the challenges presented by the effects of COVID-19 and the offering of virtual visits will be re-evaluated when relative normalcy resumes. There are some important distinctions and considerations to note for the virtual visit model being offered:
Virtual visits will be scheduled for 3 consecutive days.
The survey team will be comprised of 2 CMTCA surveyors and 2 CMTCA staff.
The fee for a virtual visit is $5,900.00.
A virtual site visit is limited to a 3-year accreditation award.
Please contact CMTCA for more information on Virtual Site Visits.
416-466-3427
info@cmtca.ca See the Q&A section below to learn more about the virtual site visit experience.
Preliminary Accreditation Decision Extensions: CMTCA temporarily offering Extensions to Preliminary Accreditation Decisions
CMTCA is offering a one-year extension to programs that have received a Preliminary Accreditation (PA) decision before January 2021. If COVID-19 has impacted your program, and additional time is needed to prepare for your first accreditation site visit, please contact CMTCA for more information about extending your PA decision.
(416) 466-3427
Call for Applications to join the Board of Directors: CMTCA is pleased to announce the call for applications to join the Board of Directors of the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation. The CMTCA Board is seeking to fill the following positions:
One representative with knowledge, skill and experience related to accreditation in a profession other than massage therapy.
Two representatives with knowledge, skill and experience related teaching, accrediting, regulating or advocating for the massage therapy profession. It should be noted that the incumbents occupying these two vacancies are eligible and willing to re-apply for their positions. Additional applicants are welcome.
If you would like to be considered for any of the above-mentioned positions; please review the detailed information about the role and application process: CMTCA Board Call for Applications
Applications should be submitted to CMTCA before 5PM (ET) March 1st, 2021.
Testimonial: Working with CMTCA
"The CMTCA process is extremely comprehensive especially the Preliminary Accreditation process and report. We have a very positive relationship with CMTCA. We found CMTCA very easy to communicate with and get all our questions answered. We also see that students are wanting and looking for the accreditation credentials when selecting a school.”
- Accredited program in Ontario
Q&A: Questions from our Education Programs Question 1: "What are Virtual Site Visits?" If you have experienced an on-site visit in the past, a virtual site visit will appear slightly different. Thanks to technology, careful planning, and a few extra considerations, surveyors are able to complete tracers and gather the evidence needed to fulfill their mandate. We don't want to sugar-coat it, in comparison with a on-campus visit, a virtual site visit requires even more preparation for both surveyors and education programs. The virtual site visit relies heavily on logistical support and communication from the Education Programs to connect surveyors with contacts needed to complete their assessments. CMTCA surveyors use a process called the tracer method to assess compliance with the accreditation standards, and virtual site visits are no exception. Using the tracer approach requires a high level of interactive conversations with a variety of people connected with the Education Program, including faculty, leadership, students and alumni. Some of these meetings will be one-on-one conversations and others will be group meetings. All meetings are scheduled through videoconferencing. Phone conversations are also used if needed for convenience or in case of technical issues. With a virtual review, conversations cannot be quite as "spur of the moment" as they would be on campus, so the Education Program is asked to provide evidence in advance that will allow surveyors the opportunity to plan and schedule a list of people they wish to speak with during the virtual visit. Throughout the review, CMTCA and the Education Program staff work to coordinate additional meetings or phone calls as needed to complete the tracer process.
Question 2:
“Is CMTCA able to be as thorough without in-person conversations and observations?"
You might be surprised with just how thorough surveyors can be, thanks to the developments in virtual meeting technology. Just as they would during an in-person visit, the surveyors will be speaking with as many people as possible at all levels of the Education Program.
Surveyors are trained to See, Hear, and Read in their search for evidence that relates to each Criterion within a Standard. So, education programs can be prepared for surveyors to ask you to show them evidence, describe processes and experiences, and request documentation just as they would if they were on-site. A third day has been added to the schedule to allow extra time for interviews and review of evidence and processes because the virtual process takes longer than a site visit. This ensures that a complete assessment of the education program is achieved.
Coming Soon: Preparing for Preliminary Accreditation: A new CMTCA Learning Module A new learning module will be released soon designed to guide Education Programs through the Preliminary Accreditation submission and review process. Watch for the announcement on the CMTCA website!
Your turn. What’s new with you? Do you have an innovative idea for Massage Therapy education during these trying times? Do you have a question that you would like CMTCA to address? Send us your comments or questions and we will (with your permission) share your ideas and our answers in future issues. Or follow us and share your thoughts on Twitter.