Editors note – Today is the first instalment of a three part series which originally was a response to the frequently asked question of licensing Reflexology in Canada. When you read this article you will have a better understanding of practicing Reflexology in Canada. For the most part a Business License is required by and obtained at local authority offices such as city hall, or townships, municipalities, villages, districts, regional districts, etc. based on where you live.
As a Canadian institute teaching Reflexology in Canada (and throughout the world), we are asked many questions from prospective Reflexology students. Frequently we are asked about licensing.
The Canadian government is specific on this issue. Very few complementary therapies in Canada are licensed.
This is where Reflexology currently sits as an unregulated or unlicensed health modality. So, what training do Canadian Reflexologists receive? Without federal or provincial regulations, there are no national training standards in Canada. The range of training in Canada varies tremendously. Some certified Reflexologists are, in fact, very well trained through internationally recognized and legitimate institutions such as the Universal College of Reflexology. On the other end of the scale, some “Reflexologists” may receive their “training” by simply reading a book, attending an evening class, spending a weekend at class and receiving a certificate of attendance on Sunday before they go home, or simply purchasing a certificate from a clearing house on-line.