International Students
Wherever you’re from, you’re welcome here. Vicars School is a Designated Learning Institution, approved by the Government of Canada to host students from all over the world.
Study in Canada for your massage career
Canada is a great destination for your massage education if you choose the right program. For professional success in Canada—or anywhere else—choose from programs that are fully accredited by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation. The CMTCA’s standards for academics and practical training are what you need for a career as an effective massage therapist anywhere in the world.
Vicars School is fully accredited by the CMTCA and is also a Designated Learning Institution, approved by the Government of Canada to host students from all over the world.
Everyone pays the same tuition at Vicars School!
Most Canadian institutions charge more for international students—often much more. But students at Vicars pay the same tuition as Canadian residents: $29,800 for the full two-year diploma program, regardless of citizenship status or country of origin. Private colleges like Vicars do not receive any government subsidies, so we don’t see any reason to have a different tuition price for international applicants than we charge Canadian residents.
International students are also eligible for our no-fee, no-interest, tuition payment plan, which makes the program even more affordable.
We follow the regulations of the Alberta government’s Private Career Colleges branch (PCC) which sets standards for our tuition and refund policy. For more details about the tuition, fees, and other expenses that all students will have, download the Budgeting Guide.
Entrance requirements and transcripts
The entrance requirements for Canadian and international students are the same. We accept students based on an application form, transcripts from previous education, and a personal interview, and we accept only those who we feel will succeed in our program.Â
Our decisions are never based on gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs.
Students who are applying from Canada are required to have a high school diploma with Science and English at a senior grade level or the equivalent. International applicants will need transcripts to document similar academic achievement from their home country.
Please note that all transcripts must be notarized and translated into English before you send them to us. It’s best to check with one of our admissions advisors for details before submitting your documents. Our program is delivered in English. All students must be fluent in both oral and written English. If you have completed a high school, college, or university program delivered in English, we will accept your official transcripts from that program as evidence of your English skills. We may require English language testing.
Getting a Canadian study permit starts with us
If you are not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you will need a valid study permit from the Government of Canada to study in Canada. Your first step is to apply to and be accepted by the school of your choice.Â
To apply for a study permit, you’ll need a letter from us that confirms you have been accepted into our program. Be sure to leave enough time before the next intake, in March or September of each year. You will need to check us out carefully to make sure our program is right for you, apply, have a virtual or in-person interview, and submit your transcripts and other details.Â
You may also need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from Alberta. This is a new requirement, as of 2024, so be sure to check the latest information on how to apply for a PAL in Alberta, and to see if you are on the list of people who do not need one.
Support for international students on campus and in the community
We make it easy for students to talk to us in our small classes, by e-mail, text, in study groups, and in online student forums. While our campuses are small and we do not employ student services professionals, everyone on staff from the front office to the Executive Director is dedicated to your success as a student.Â
The Registrar’s Office is your contact for personal or financial concerns. Your privacy is carefully protected at all times. If we cannot help you on campus, we will refer you to a wide range of community services in either Calgary or Edmonton.
If you have a complaint or want to appeal a grade or a decision made by the school, we have processes for that.
Health care coverage is free for international students
The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) covers any international student who has a valid study permit and is living and studying in Alberta for 12 months or longer. You can apply for AHCIP at no cost.
We encourage you to check your eligibility for AHCIP and apply before arriving in Canada. To be covered by AHCIP, you must apply within 90 days of your moving date. The plan only covers basic health expenses, not dental care, or prescriptions, for example, so you may want to look into getting an additional private plan.
Need more details on the Alberta Health Care Insurance plan?
Working while you are a student
Working in Canada may be possible, depending on the conditions of your study permit and whether you have a Social Insurance Number.
Our diploma program is challenging, and it is full time. Successful students commit to 30-35 hours a week or more, including classroom sessions, online coursework, and supervised student clinics. We recommend that students wishing to work while they are students limit their hours to part time during the school year.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are following the conditions of your study permit.
Need more information?
Let's Get Started!
If you have questions or would like more detailed information about studying at Vicars as an international student, please contact the Registrar.
All about RMT training in Canada
The following documents cover what you need to know about studying at Vicars School of Massage Therapy.
What international students ask us.
This is the most important document for all Vicars students. It contains information on every part of student life, including: admission requirements, privacy policies, dispute resolution, withdrawal information, and more.
This shows current tuition, fees, textbook costs, and estimates of other school expenses.
Useful links to government and community information and resources.
Vicars School is a Designated Learning Institution approved to admit international students. If
you are not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you will need a valid study permit from
the Government of Canada to begin studying at Vicars.
Your first step is to contact the school and follow the steps to apply and be accepted. You will
receive a formal acceptance letter and that (along with your provincial attestation letter, if you
need one) allows you to apply for a study permit.
Take the time you need to make sure Vicars School is the right program for you. Visit our
website, if you have not already, and get in touch as soon as you can to talk to our Admissions
team. We have both virtual and live Info Sessions every few weeks so you can learn about the
career, the curriculum, and what the experience of being a Vicars student is like.
After you have talked to us, you need to fill out an application form and submit it to the school.
Allow time to get your transcripts notarized and translated and sent to our Registrar.
We cannot guarantee that your application for a permit will be granted, and we are not able to
give immigration advice. For more information on obtaining a study permit and to check
processing times, please visit this resource on the Government of Canada’s website.
You may need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from Alberta. The provincial attestation letter
is a new requirement, as of January 2024, so be sure to check the latest information on how to
apply for a PAL in Alberta, and to see if you need one.
Our best advice is to allow lots of time before the next start date. Classes begin in September or
March each year and we need to receive your study permit at least a month before classes
begin.
The entrance requirements for Canadian and international students are the same. We accept
students based on an application form, transcripts from previous education, and a personal
interview. Our decisions are never based on gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, or religious
beliefs.
Vicars school accepts only those who we feel will succeed in our program. Our admissions
advisors are not in a call centre, and we do not pay commissions.
All Vicars students must meet our academic and English language proficiency requirements.
© Vicars School of Massage Therapy
Students who are applying from Canada are required to have a high school diploma with
Science and English at a senior grade level or equivalent. International applicants will need
transcripts to document similar academic achievement from their home country. All transcripts
must be notarized and translated before you send them to us.
Full details are available in the Student Policies & Procedures Handbook.
Our program is delivered in English. All students must be proficient in English communications,
both written and oral. Our online courses in Anatomy & Physiology and Pathology are at firstyear university level.
If you have completed a high school, college, or university program delivered in English, we will
accept your official transcripts from that program as evidence of your English skills.
If you have not completed the required English-language education, we will also accept a wide
range of English proficiency exams as proof of fluency.
Full details are available in the Student Policies & Procedures Handbook.
No. All students at Vicars pay the same tuition and fees, regardless of citizenship status or
country of origin. International students are also able to take advantage of our no-fee, nointerest tuition payment plan, which makes the program even more affordable.
Most Canadian institutions charge more for international students—often much more. But
students at Vicars pay the same tuition as Canadian residents: $12,500 for each year of our
two-year program, regardless of citizenship status or country of origin. Private colleges like
Vicars do not receive any government subsidies, so we don’t see any reason to have a different
tuition price for international applicants.
To for more information about tuition, fees, and other school expenses, please talk to your
admissions advisor.
Vicars School of Massage Therapy complies with all provincial and federal government
regulations on consumer protection for all students.
Vicars School is licensed by the Private Career Colleges (PCC) branch of the Alberta government
and is governed by the Private Vocational Training Act. The Act protects students by requiring
post-secondary schools and colleges to use standard enrolment contracts and follow PCC policy for collecting tuition and fees, making refunds, and report on completion and graduation data
for each program.
Full details are available in the Student Policies & Procedures Handbook.Â
Yes, Vicars is governed by the Alberta Personal Information Protection Act, and we take our
responsibilities for protecting the privacy of prospective students, students, clinic clients, and
staff very seriously.
We have voluntarily sought and been awarded accreditation from the Canadian Massage
Therapy Council for Accreditation (CCMTA), the national body that ensures the highest
standards for massage education across Canada. To earn our accreditation, we committed to a
high level of academic and skills-based curriculum, but also to school procedures that protect
students’ investment, their safety, and their privacy.
Information that we collect from students and prospective students is stored in a secure
electronic database, located on secure off-site servers. Any paper files on campus are stored in
locked areas.
Our full privacy policy is available in our Student Policies & Procedures Handbook.
Our Student Policies & Procedures Handbook is your guide for all of our policies!
Vicars policy and procedures have all been developed to serve the best interests of our
students and clients and to maintain our high educational standards.
Disagreements happen, and we are committed to listening and working with any student who
feels they have not been treated fairly in the classroom or by the administration. We have
policies in place if you have a grievance or complaint or want to appeal a grade,
Full details are available in the Student Policies & Procedures Handbook.
Our program is full-time. Even though you won’t be on campus every day, you can expect a
workload of at least 35 hours a week. We encourage all students to arrange for funding that
allows them to focus on their studies.
Your student workweek will include classroom sessions, independent coursework, reading, and
supervised student clinics. Some of our students are able to keep a part-time job while they are
in school, while others are not.
Whether working part time is permitted depends on the conditions of your study permit and
whether you have a Social Insurance Number.
To find out more about working while on a study visa, visit the Canada Immigration site. It is
your responsibility to ensure that you are following the conditions of your study permit.
Whether you’re new to Canada or have been here for several years, being an international
student can be a challenge. At Vicars, we are committed to providing a supportive learning
environment for all students and we work hard to make your school experience fulfilling and
enjoyable.
While our campuses are small and we do not employ student services professionals, everyone
on staff is dedicated to your success. Your instructors are a wonderful resource for personal,
academic, and career questions. Informal and scheduled study groups are available from time
to time. If you have financial concerns, contact the Registrar’s office.
We refer students to organizations within the community for free and low-cost services to
newcomers, including mental health supports and social services. Check out our listing of
Community Resources for International Students on this page.
The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is available at no cost to international students
who have a valid study permit and live in Alberta for at least one year.
We encourage you to check your eligibility for AHCIP and get appropriate health care insurance
before arriving in Canada. To be covered by AHCIP, you must apply within 90 days of your
moving date. Even if you are eligible for AHCIP, you may want to research additional coverage
as the plan only covers basic health expenses. You will not be denied emergency medical care
in Alberta even if you do not have medical insurance.
For details on the Alberta Health Care Insurance plan and how to apply, visit this site.
Our graduates have generally been successful when they apply for a work permit after
graduation, but that is not guaranteed.
Vicars is a privately owned and operated vocational school, approved (designated) to accept
international students, but only graduates of publicly funded institutions are guaranteed a Post
Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). For details, visit the Canada Immigration site.
This is one of the many pros and cons you will need to consider in choosing which school is right
for you when you decide to train in Canada. If, on balance, you decide to choose a publicly
funded massage therapy program, there are two we recommend: Mount Royal University
(Calgary) and MacEwan University (Edmonton). Both programs have achieved national CMTCA
accreditation in for their massage therapy program, as we have.
Let’s Connect
Our friendly and knowledgeable admissions advisors will help you decide for yourself if Vicars school is a good fit for you.