What an RMT's website can and cannot say in Ontario

In Ontario, your website counts as advertising, so the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario's Standard of Practice on advertising and social media applies to it. The version we read was approved on September 8, 2026. The main points: no testimonials, no comparisons that suggest you are better than another RMT, nothing you cannot verify, and the responsible RMT has to be named.

This is a plain summary for practice owners, not legal advice. The standard itself is the final word, and it is short enough to read.

Testimonials are not allowed

The standard says RMTs must not use testimonials by anyone, including existing or former patients and their friends or relatives. That covers the quotes many website templates put on the home page.

It also asks you to take reasonable steps to turn off social media features that allow testimonials, or to remove that content or separate it from your practice pages.

The standard does not mention Google reviews by name. A review widget on your own site looks a lot like a testimonial, though, so ask the College before adding one. The same goes for sending clients a link asking for a review: older College guidance said RMTs cannot solicit testimonials.

No comparisons that suggest you are better

You cannot compare yourself with another RMT or practice in a way that could reasonably read as a claim of superiority. Words like "the best massage in Toronto" are the obvious case. Check your page titles too, since those are what people see in search results.

Everything has to be true and checkable

Advertising must not be false, misleading or deceptive, and it must not include information you cannot verify. If a page says something about results, ask whether you could show where that comes from. Careful wording such as "many people find" is safer than a promise.

Name the people responsible

Your advertising has to identify the RMTs primarily responsible for the practice, using only the names on the College's public register. If you go by a shortened name, check that the one on your site matches.

A quick check for your site

Open your home page and look for these:

• Client quotes or a review carousel.
• Words like best, top, leading or number one.
• Claims about what a treatment will cure or fix.
• A name for each RMT that matches the public register.

Other provinces and professions

Other colleges have their own rules, and they are not all the same. In British Columbia, massage therapists moved to the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC in 2024, so older advice that mentions the previous college may be out of date. Whatever your profession and province, your own college's advertising standard is the document to read.