Advanced Placement | OV College of Massage Therapy

Start Where Your Learning Takes You

Already completed post-secondary sciences education, or joining us from another massage therapy program? You may be eligible for Advanced Placement.

At OV College, we recognize that previous education and clinical training can be valuable. Through our Advanced Placement process — also known as Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) — we review your previous coursework and experience to determine if you may qualify for course exemptions.

Advanced Placement May Allow Eligible Students To:

Receive credit for previously completed equivalent coursework
Reduce their course load in some terms
Focus more time on new learning and skill development

Every application is reviewed individually to ensure your previous learning aligns with OV College's program outcomes and entry-to-practice requirements.

How the Advanced Placement Process Works

Apply to OV College

Complete your profile on our online application portal for OV's RMT Diploma Program. Select "Advanced Placement / PLAR" within the application and submit the fee.

Submit Your Documentation

Upload supporting documents, including:

Official transcripts
Detailed course outlines or syllabi
Learning outcomes and/or week-by-week course breakdowns
Additional clinical training documentation (if applicable)

For example, an Anatomy or Physiology course outline should show the depth of material covered and the specific topics studied.

Joining Us From Another Massage Therapy Program?

In addition to the above, to complete the Clinical portion we require:

Documentation of Clinical hours completed
Patient encounter records (privacy respected) — including where, when, and with whom this occurred, and who supervised you
Documentation from your previous program's policies and procedures defining which activities qualify as faculty-supervised direct massage therapy provided to the public
Documentation of your previous program's policies and procedures defining clinical supervision, including the credentials of the supervising RMTs

This is required by the CMTCA (Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation) for our school to meet Accreditation Standards. We protect patient information with the same rigor we apply to our current program's patient data.

Academic Review

Your documentation will be reviewed by our Academic, Practical, and Clinical Directors as applicable. They will compare your previous learning with OV College's curriculum and determine where your coursework meets the required learning outcomes.

What Happens Next?

Following your assessment, you may:

✓ Receive approval for course exemptions
→ Be required to complete challenge assessments
○ Continue through the full program curriculum

If challenge assessments are required, they must be successfully completed before beginning the applicable courses.

Fees & Timelines

Advanced Placement Assessment Fee $200

Standard Application Fee $150

Total Advanced Placement Application Fee $350

6 weeks before program start — All documentation must be submitted

4 weeks before program start — Any required challenge exams must be completed

Early submission is strongly encouraged. Reviews and any required challenge assessments are scheduled based on Director availability and intake timelines. Submitting your documents early provides the greatest flexibility for completing the process before your program start date.

Ready to Explore Advanced Placement?

Request the Advanced Placement Guide for complete details on required documentation, the assessment process, challenge exams, and fees and timelines.

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