ABOUT TMTATT
TMTATT was incorporated as an Association by Act 8 of 1998 (see below)
The Vision Statement:- is to create, maintain and sustain the professional synergy necessary for Massage Therapists to bring the holistic approach:- mind, Body and Sprit connection to all those persons that may come in contact with.
The Mission Statement: - To be totally committed to supporting to promoting , developing and advancing the highest form of Education for Massage Therapies and related modalities as acceptable standards to the field of medicine in a nurturing, caring and ethical manner in order to benefit the health and welfare of the environment.
Aims and Objectives of the Association
To serve the public and its members, TMTATT pursues the following aims and objectives:
1. To proclaim the benefits of massage therapy which are inter alia; -to relieve pain, to reduce stress, to synergise the mind and body, to promote peak performance, and to rehabilitate from devastating illnesses
2. To register and regulate all qualified professional Massage Therapists for the general betterment of the profession
3. To establish a code of ethics for the practice of Massage Therapy and to establish disciplinary procedures for professional misconduct in relation to such code
4. To establish acceptable professional body capable of supervising the local training of Massage Therapists to acceptable International Standards
5. To establish acceptable rates and fees applicable to Massage Therapists for professional services.
6. To establish and enhance the practice of Massage Therapy as a recognized part of supplemental and integrative medicine
7. To provide facilities for further education and retaining of Massage Therapists for the advancement of the professional and to be up to date with modern technology.
Current Members of "The Board" and the Management Committee of TMTATT
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The first Members of "The Board" and Management Committee
Click below to view Act 8 of 1998
Act 8 of 1998
Click below to view the Rules & Regulations Booklet
Rules & Regulations Booklet
Where can Act 8 of 1998 be found?
Recently there has been some misinformation being spread in the Massage fraternity that Act 8 of 1998 was 'removed' or 'repealed'.
This is NOT TRUE! This act is still in effect and therefore enforceable. Based on this act, rules and regulations were derived to govern Massage Therapy / Therapists in Trinidad & Tobago. The Ministry of Health has given the Board of the Massage Association 'powers to make rules' based on Section 8 of the Act.​
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WHY WE NEED MASSAGE THERAPY REGULATION AND LICENSING
The following information has been taken from an article posted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) https://www.amtamassage.org/state-regulations/why-we-need-massage-therapy-regulation-licensing/
The public has a right to expect that a massage therapist has the qualifications needed to practice effectively and safely.
Legal recognition of the practice of massage therapy and clearly-stated requirements to practice are essential to promote the profession and protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public.
Legal recognition of massage therapy in the form of licensing creates standards of minimum competency for entry level practitioners and determines who can represent themselves to the public as licensed massage therapists. Competency is measured and enforced through formal education, training and examination requirements.
Scope of practice for massage therapists is a legal definition identifying the procedures, actions and processes unique to the practice of massage therapy. A scope of practice helps guide healthcare practitioners seeking to refer patients to a massage therapist and making clear to the public what a massage therapist is legally able to do in their practice.
Legal recognition of massage therapy through licensure enables a state or jurisdiction to discipline a massage therapist when warranted and to create standards of care. Professional licensing laws also enhance public safety by enforcing disciplinary actions against non-compliant practitioners. Statewide licensing is an instrument for public protection to ensure a person cannot claim to be a massage therapist without demonstrated education training and knowledge.
Licensing is the most rigorous form of professional regulation, making it a violation of the law for anyone to practice as a massage therapist unless he or she has obtained a license.
Legal recognition of massage therapy through licensure protects the public through establishing a consistent standard of practice which is enforceable by a professional code of ethics. Licensing also establishes a formal grievance process for consumers that helps prevent unethical and/or non-compliant massage therapists from continuing to practice.
The Rules and Regulations are designed to protect the general public by demanding accountability from the profession and seek to unify the industry by providing a common governing structure, minimum competency for entry level practitioners.