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Massage Licence

Massage centres and massage practitioners are governed under the Massage Practitioners Bylaw 10396.

This bylaw promotes health, welfare and safety for both people and property by regulating the massage industry through a mandatory licensing system.

Process

Applicants must apply in person at the Planning and Development Office on the 5th floor of 10250 - 101 Street for a license to operate a massage centre or as a massage practitioner. Be sure to bring proof of identity with you as it will be required.

Applications are processed in the form of Statutory Declarations and require the licensing office to take a photograph of the applicant(s). 

All applicants must provide an approved Edmonton Police Service Police Information Check. Security checks from other police agencies, including the RCMP, will not be accepted.

Police Information Checks must be less than 30 days old when they are submitted. 

All applicants for a Massage Practitioner's Licence will have to provide proof of 250 hours of acceptable training in massage therapy from a recognized massage therapy school.

Fees

• A massage centre licence is $76 per year.
• A massage practitioner licence is $76 per year.
• The administration fee of $37 is charged per occurrence for any changes that are made to the licence issued or to the information on file.
• Note that partial payments are not accepted for any licences. You must pay the fee in full when you apply or renew.

The following fees are effective January 1, 2011:

• A massage centre licence is $78 per year.
• A massage practitioner licence is $78 per year.
• The service fee of $38 is charged per occurrence for any changes that are made to the licence issued or to the information on file.
• Note that partial payments are not accepted for any licences. You must pay the fee in full when you apply or renew.

Application

Businesses, in addition to the massage centre licence, may require development permission in the form of a Development Permit, as required by the Zoning Bylaw. The Development Permit, if required, approves a location for this type of business.

A massage centre licence can be operated in a commercial or residential location.

Home Based Business Application Form

Business Licence Application for Commercial Locations

Exemptions

The following businesses are exempt from obtaining a licence to carry on the business of a massage centre or massage practitioner:

• A person who carries on a business or occupation which is limited exclusively to massaging of the feet, hands, head or face (individuals offering this type of service would be required to obtain a Personal Service Shop (holistic) Business Licence under the Business Licence Bylaw to properly cover their operations.
• Massages administered by medical or therapeutic professionals, who are registered or otherwise entitled to practice under the laws of the Province of Alberta, and whose professional qualifications and registration are in good standing (i. e. doctors, nurses, chiropractors, physiotherapists, etc. who are registered to practice in the province of Alberta and are providing massages as part of their treatment).

Bylaws

Enforcement action can and will be taken against businesses that are not exempt but still operate without a licence.

Businesses may be issued a fine up to $10,000 for the first offence.

If the fine and costs occurred are not paid, the guilty party can be imprisoned for up to 6 months.

For more information:

Customer Information and Support Services