Improvements to the NCBTMB Web site

NCBTMB has revised its Web site over the last few months in an effort to provide even more up to the minute information to its certificants and other stakeholders. New sections, such as ìWhatís New at NCBî and ìMedia Room,î have been added, and the Important Forms section has been revised to include more documents certificants and candidates need most often. The Practitioner Locator Service is scheduled for a vast expansion beginning the first part of 2001. NCB Publications, the Candidate Handbook, Recertification Materials and Continuing Education information are all still conveniently available on the Web site. Check the site often for your most current edition of these NCB materials.

The locator service section is under construction now and will be launched just after the New Year. The locator section is being expanded to include more relevant information for consumers looking for Nationally Certified practitioners. The new format will also allow the option to search for certificants by type of modality practiced, the type of setting, location of the practitioner, etc. The expanded information about each practitioner will include items such as the top three modalities practiced, the type of practice (clinic, home-based, hospital, etc.) and expanded contact information for the practitioner, including a web address (if available). To assist us in building our locator program, please complete and return the enclosed Practitioner Profile Form to the NCBTMB office as soon as possible. For you convenience, the profile form is also available on the Web Site.

The form also addresses information to be used by NCBís media relations firm, Environics Communications, Inc. Over the last several months, Environics has secured a variety of media interviews and opportunities to author articles about the National Certification Board, its program and certificants. However, during this time NCB also realized that our resources are not extensive enough to cover all of the opportunities extended to us. So, we are asking for your assistance to increase our resource bank for interviews and article authoring opportunities. Your responses to the media section of the form will be forwarded to Environics Communications for their records.

If you have any questions about the revisions to the Web site or NCBís media relations efforts please contact Beth Danner, Marketing & Communications Manager, at 703-610-0236 or via e-mail at bdanner@ncbtmb.com. 

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FROMTHECHAIR
By Neal Cross, PhD, NCTMB
I have been Chair now for almost six months or about one half of my term. It does not seem possible that the time is passing so swiftly. I thought I would relate to you how it feels to be Chair of NCBTMBóthe good, the bad and, the ugly.

THE GOOD
NCBTMBís new leadership structure has worked remarkably well in this transition year. As the first Chair-elect I felt that I was well prepared to follow in my predecessorís footsteps. Cliff Korn went out of his way to lay a solid foundation for me to build upon and made sure that I was informed of all significant issues impacting the organization. I intend to do the same for our current Chair-elect, Susan Scoboria. In addition, our Executive Director, Christine Niero, PhD, and I have pledged to give all of our energies to the betterment of NCBTMB and our certificants. This is the stable platform from which I am able to operate. 

I am so fortunate to be able to work with an incredibly energetic and upbeat board, committee structure and staff. The mutual support we give each other is truly unique in my experience. So, within this remarkable framework, I humbly represent you to the best of my abilities.

THE BAD
There is not enough time to accomplish the things I want during my term. Even though we are working within the structure of a well thought out and agreed upon strategic plan I wish I could lead NCBTMB toward our goals faster than I am able. I have the personal frustration of not being able to solve problems as promptly as I would wish. It is frustrating not to be able to be responsive to all requests in a timely manner. I am told these are the trappings of leadership. True, but nonetheless frustrating.

Although these frustrations within a volunteer organization like ours are common; they are at times painful. I will pass on what wisdom I have gained through this experience to my successors. They can keep what they want and discard what they donít.

THE UGLY
I can say without hesitation that there is no ugly! I see NCBTMB continuing as a leader in our profession and reflecting the ideals, the wishes and the dreams of our certificants.

We will continue to build bridges, clarify misunderstandings and heal wounds to the best of our abilities. This experience has been exhilarating and I will continue to give it my best. 

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COMMITTEEUPDATES

Communications Committee
Lynda Solien-Wolfe, NCTMB, Chair
The Communications Committee says farewell and thank you to committee member Jan Popovec, NCTMB, of Youngstown, Ohio. During Janís two years of service to NCB she contributed her many talents and countless hours of work. The committee would also like to welcome its new members, Nancy Soliven, D.C., M.D., from Anthon, Iowa, and Brian Coughlan, NCTMB, from Mendocino, California. 

The committee continues to meet via the phone in monthly conference calls and is working on specific charges related to the implementation of NCBís strategic plan. Our first priority is to create a comprehensive education program about NCB for the stakeholders we serve. 

Communications Committee member Michael McGillicuddy was honored at the Florida Chiropractic Associationís (FCA) Fall National Convention, held in Orlando in August, and received the FCA Licensed Massage Therapist of the Year Award. The FCA also awarded NCB the Best Booth Award for the second consecutive year. Congratulations on both achievements!

Examination Committee
Elaine Calenda, NCTMB, Chair
The committee continues to assure that NCBís item bank is well supplied and of high quality. Ten experts from around the country participated in an item writing session in Philadelphia in late October. This item writing session will result in new items for the exam bank.

The committee is gearing up to work with other NCB committees to accomplish strategic plan charges. Working with members from other committees to accomplish programmatic advances gives the members a new sense of involvement and an exciting 2001.

Government Relations Committee
Sally Hacking, Chair
The Government Relations Committee has been reviewing and updating the current NCBTMB Position Statement to present to the Board of Directors. A position statement is an ever-evolving document that reflects trends in regulation and the massage and bodywork industry as well as changes in the position of the Board of Directors to reflect the current philosophy of the NCBTMB, and its direction to best serve its stakeholders. With the recent adoption of the NCBTMB Strategic Plan, there will be ongoing revisions to the NCBTMB Position Statement over the next several years. The Committee has completed the semiannual revisions to the State Compendium, an existing status of state regulatory laws and rules regarding educational requirements and examination credential information existing in the regulated states. 

Representatives from the NCBTMB Government Relations Committee represented the NCBTMB at the National Conference of State Legislatures, held in Chicago, IL, and the California League of Cities 2000 Annual Conference, held in Anaheim, CA. These events provided opportunities for the NCBTMB to exhibit and provide educational outreach to key policy makers and legislative officials who ultimately could make legislative decisions impacting the massage and bodywork profession.

Nominating Committee
Claudette Laroche, NCTMB, Chair
The committee is currently in the process of interviewing candidates for the 2001 slate for election to the NCBTMB Board of Directors. There will be three directors elected in March 2001.

Welcome to the newest member of the committee, Sue Kozisek, of Nebraska, from the rest of the committee, Claudette Laroche, NH; George Glass, VT; Sharon Marden-Johnson, ME; and Vickie Strickler, IN.

Please watch for your mail ballot in the winter issue of NCB Connection. 

Recertification Committee
John Kelley, NCTMB, Chair
The Recertification Committee has been reviewing requests for exceptions to Category A hours on a case-by-case basis. The committee has approved several cases, where they might not have received credit before, due to their experiences of exemplary merit in the field of massage and/or bodywork. The committee is continuing its efforts to make recertification more meaningful and user-friendly. Please forward any comments or suggestions about the recertification process to John Kelley, chair of the Recertification Committee, through the NCBTMB office.

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NCBNEWS

50,000th Administration of the NCE
The NCBTMB recorded the administration of the 50,000th examination this past August. NCBTMB also recorded a 14% increase in tests taken over the past year. Dr. Christine Niero, executive director of the NCBTMB, said, ìWe are encouraged by the number of massage therapists and bodyworkers who care enough about their profession to become certified or recertified each year.î National Certification not only strives to protect the profession, but also protects the core knowledge and attributes necessary to perform at entry level. The complete press release on this milestone can be found on the Web site at www.ncbtmb.com/whatsnew.htm

Fee Increases January 2001
NCBTMB has announced enhancements to components of the National Certification Program to begin in 2001. As a result of the Strategic Plan, adopted in 2000, the NCBTMB has begun several initiatives to re-evaluate and re-design key components of the certification program including Recertification, the Portfolio Review Process for demonstrating eligibility, and continuing research into the feasibility of developing an additional certification program. 

These are just a few of the changes addressed in the Strategic Plan. In an effort to keep all program costs low, NCBTMB anticipates that only the examination fee will experience an increase for 2001. Beginning January 1, 2001 the examination fee will increase to $225. For additional information about enhancements to the National Certification Program visit the Web site article at www.ncbtmb.com. 

NCB Hosted Reception at AMTA
During the AMTA Annual Convention in Phoenix, AZ, the National Certification Board hosted a reception for certificants, conference attendees, local media, state legislators, and other stakeholders of the National Certification Program. By all accounts, the event was a success. More than 300 people came to meet the members of the board and staff. Some members of the board reported meeting many people from across the country who shared their comments, concerns and appreciation for what the National Certification Program is striving to accomplish on behalf of the profession. Also, since Arizona is an unregulated state, many people had questions about how National Certification would benefit them specifically.

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What Is the Standards of Practice Document?
By Garnet Adair, Chair, Ethics and Standards Committee
The Standards of Practice, as reprinted in the Summer issue of NCB Connection, represents the philosophy of NCBTMB. The Ethics and Standards Committee studied the Standards of Practice from a variety of professions, surveyed certificants for input on the document and received guidance from NCBTMB legal counsel. The Committee also considered past and current complaints that NCBTMB has received about the behaviors of certificants. The Board of Directors spent many hours discussing the Standards of Practice and working with the Ethics and Standards Committee. The document was adopted on February 6, 2000 and implemented September 15, 2000. Appreciation is extended to those certificants who responded to the Standards of Practice after reading the last issue of the NCB Connection newsletter.

The NCBTMB has a mission statement and Strategic Plan to guide their decisions. With over 40,000 certificants, the Board of Directors acknowledges that not every certificant will warmly receive the Standards of Practice. However, research and statistics support the strength of the standards as currently written. This dynamic document is subject to revision in keeping with the changing demands and expectations of the massage and bodywork profession. 

With this in mind, here are some of the questions and comments about the Standards of Practice that have been posed to NCBTMB.

It appears that these standards are trying to ìbe everything to everybody.î They also seem to have more to do with protection of the therapist than protection of the public.
The mission of the NCBTMB is to foster high standards of ethical and professional practice in the delivery of services through a recognized, credible credentialing program that assures the competency of practitioners of therapeutic massage and bodywork. Since the eligibility requirement to become certified by the NCBTMB is based on the completion of a minimum number of hours, it is necessary to list competencies in order for practitioners to assure the public that they are meeting the criteria to which they hold themselves accountable. With the variety of educational training programs offered to massage and bodywork therapists, the NCBTMB must be able to recognize behavior that ìassures the competencyî of the certificant as well as more clearly identify behaviors that are inappropriate when complaints are received from the consumer. The ability to recognize standards not only protects the consumer, but also protects the certificant if a complaint is unfounded.

It concerns me that this became policy without a ìvoteî by the members.
It appears that there is confusion between being a practitioner that is a voting member of an association and being a practitioner that has voluntarily attained a certificate of competency from a certifying body. National Certification is a credentialing body that assures that practitioners operate under consistent standards of competency. An association is an organization of members that have a common interest. Being a member of an association does not assure the public of the competency level of the practitioner. 

Why did you eliminate the old NCBTMB Code of Ethics?
The Standards of Practice document does not replace the NCBTMB Code of Ethics. The function of this document is to support the Code of Ethics in clearly identifying behaviors that are recognized as inappropriate when complaints are received from the consumer.

What therapeutic treatments do massage therapists perform in the ear canal, nasal passages and oropharynx and why are they listed in the ìPrevention of Sexual Misconductî (Standard VI)?
Because the NCTMB credential covers a variety of bodywork modalities, we had to ensure they were addressed in the Standards of Practice. Some certificants are trained in RolfingÆ as well as specific neuromuscular therapies. Some of the techniques involve working within the ear canal, nasal passages, oropharynx and anal canal. These were listed in ìPrevention of Sexual Misconductî as we wanted to stress to certificants as well as to consumers that, while there may be treatments that work in these very intimate areas, it is possible that some certificants may inappropriately work these areas under the guise of doing ìtherapeuticî work. With the client/patient giving voluntary, informed consent that may require a signature, the certificant is less likely to participate in inappropriate behavior. If inappropriate behavior occurs, and the Ethics and Standards Committee receives a letter of complaint, the committee has more specificity when determining whether the certificant has breached the NCBTMB Code of Ethics.

The decision to maintain liability insurance and methods of accounting should be a personal one. Why are they part of the Standards of Practice? 
The standard to follow acceptable accounting practices is basic record keeping of income and expenses and the ability to track those records. This is standard bookkeeping that is necessary for the practitioner in preparing state and federal tax reporting. The standard to provide adequate liability insurance is to ensure that if a client is injured during a session, or if the client is injured on the practitionerís property, there would be coverage and protection. These two standards are aspects of professional business practices that consumers expect from a certificant who upholds high standards.

Iíve always considered ìmulti-dimensional and dual relationshipsî as good networking. Why are these now to be avoided?
The Standards of Practice do not state that certificants must not develop any relationship with their clients but that they are to avoid dual or multi-dimensional relationships that could impair professional judgment or result in exploitation of the client. The potential exists for certificants to take advantage of their relationship with clients, and that is what is addressed in this particular standard. There have been incidences in the past that have brought harm to the consumer.

Now I have to keep progress notes on all my sessions even if they just want to relax. Why should I use a plan of care instead of intuition? 
The standard to maintain progress notes for each client session is required, if applicable. It is for the protection of both the client and the certificant to show the date of each client session and the focus of the session. The ìplan of careî may indicate the needs of the client for that session whether it was for basic relaxation or for specific rehabilitative needs. Listening to the clientís wants/needs for each session allows the practitioner to create a client-centered treatment. Although intuition is a beneficial skill, not all practitioners possess that skill nor do all clients desire to rely on a practitionerís intuition to know their needs for a session. Progress notes support what took place during a session if the practitioner ever had a complaint lodged against him/her or if he/she received a subpoena to testify on behalf of a client.

Why do I have to report alleged violations of the law by other practitioners? 
This standard is part of the Standards of Practice document in order to protect the public. All complaints that are received about alleged violations are fully and fairly investigated. Actually, alleged violations of the law are among the clearest cut determinations of the Ethics and Standards Committee since they rely on the court system to determine the facts. 

The NCBTMB Standards of Practice document will continue to evolve with the growth of the profession and will be peer-reviewed on a periodic basis by the Board of Directors. NCBTMB invites your comments about the Standards of Practice via e-mail at info@ncbtmb.com. 

(back to NCB Connection Contents)


Newly Approved Category A Providers

Allegany College of Maryland
12401 Willowbrook Road, SE
Cumberland, MD 21502
301-784-5529
www.ac.cc.md.us
Various courses

Asheville BodyMind Clinic
276 Sand Hill Road
Asheville, NC 28806
828-255-0018
Various courses

Catalyst Body Work
Suite 4B
1140 Alpharetta Street
Roswell, GA 30075
770-992-8220
Various courses

W. Dale Cosby
1522 St. Mary Street
Jackson, MS 39202
800-919-5618
wdclmt@aol.com
Various courses

Caryn Elaine Diel
PO Box 10222
Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-986-0986
www.energymedicinecaryn.com
Various courses

Effective Pet Massage
Suite D
6530 Secor Road
Lambertville, MI 48144
800-779-1001
Workshops@PetMassage.com
www.PetMassage.com
Various courses

Foundation for Healthy Family
Living
230 Second Street East
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-996-3545
Various courses

Lesley Goffinet
615 East Bottle Bay Road
Sagle, ID 83860
208-265-9379
goffinet@televar.com
Various courses

Michael Hovi
783 Hickman Lane
Woodstock, IL 60098
815-338-4572
mhovi@yahoo.com
Sports massage

John Thomas Howard
857 Canal Shore Drive, SW
Le Claire, IA 52753
319-289-4064
jthcuim@aol.com
Cranial- Sacral courses

International Loving Touch Foundation
PO Box 16374
Portland, OR 97216
503-253-8482
www.lovingtouch.com
Various courses

Loving Touch Center, Inc.
PO Box 1339
Bayfield, CO 81122
800-582-3683
www.reiki-LTC.org
Reiki courses, Advanced Practitioner

Jeff Rockwell
1014 SE 2nd Street
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
972-262-8479
jrockwel@parkercc.edu
Various courses

Sandra Skildum
101 E. Milwaukee Street, Suite 508
Janesville, WI 53545
608-754-8810
sandykold@aol.com
Various courses

Carolyn L. Small
432 East 27th Street
South Sioux City, NE 68776
402-494-0562
freshair@pionet.net
Various courses

Jasmine Wolf
653 Flanders Road
Coventry, CT 06238
860-742-5253
Various courses

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GUESTCOLUMN

The Importance of National Certification
By Ron Stephens, NCTMB President, Florida State Massage Therapy Association
In Florida most students and Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs) associate National Certification with the test that they are required to take (or took) to become licensed. The more seasoned LMTs, who were licensed prior to 1995, equate National Certification with an optional test that was administered prior to the transition from State operated testing that included a very subjective hands-on practical graded from video. Alternatively, they may think of it as a test that they chose not to take and, therefore, are not Nationally Certified. Generally, these are the therapists who will quickly say that being Nationally Certified is not necessary to their practice. I challenge that type of colloquial thinking on the basis that National Certification is one of the things that helps to evaluate the stature of massage practitioners in the eyes of the public and other disciplines with whom we work. In Florida, as more therapists are licensed under the current system the ratio of Nationally Certified practitioners will increase.

Not unlike other programs that are involved with government agencies there is always the threat of budget battles and tweaking by those looking for what they perceive as a better way. I am not opposed to tweaking the certification exam as educational needs change, but to pursue an option other than National Certification would be a true disservice to the thousands of LMTs who have earned the NCTMB credential and who continue to prioritize their resources and commitment in maintaining it. 

Of the 29 states that currently regulate the massage and bodywork profession, 22 utilize the NCE in some format for satisfying their requirements. This further supports the idea that National Certification is much more than just an exam. The whole certification program offers regulatory bodies various avenues for public protection. The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice offer specific criteria a practitioner must uphold or face disciplinary action. The recertification and continuing education components represent that a practitioner is committed to the program and advanced learning to remain current in the changes within the massage and bodywork profession. And these are just a few of the many areas National Certification offers its stakeholders. 

Over the many years I have been involved in the massage and bodywork profession, I have seen the profession evolve extensively. Further evidence of that evolution is supported by the number of states now regulating the profession. In the last 10 years, the number of states regulating the profession has grown to more than half. Currently, 29 states and the District of Columbia regulate massage and bodywork and, like Florida, 22 of them utilize National Certification to some level. I believe that as individual states become aware that National Certification is more than just an examination, they will adopt appropriate statewide regulation for the profession. 

I recently opened an outstanding treatment facility and office. Those of you who have had that experience know that we need every tool possible to let potential clients know of our commitment to the profession of touch therapy. The credential indicating National Certification is one of the more important tools to show our dedication to our profession, as it is a universally recognized indication that the therapist has completed specific requirements and upholds the standards of our profession. I support the concept of a more standardized basis for training and education. To date, the NCBTMB is the front runner in providing leadership in this arena.

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RECERTIFICATIONCORNER

Donít Forget to Recertify! 
If you took the exam in October, November or December of 1996, you must recertify by December 31, 2000. You should have received the Recertification Handbook and the application form in late June. If you did not receive one, please call 1-800-296-0664, press option 2, and leave your name and address. The handbook and application will be mailed to you within 24 hours of your request. 

For those certificants who are due to recertify in June 2001, check your mailbox in December! Recertification Handbooks will be sent to your address of record. Do we have your current address? If not, get current today.

Get Current!!
The NCBTMB office makes every effort to keep the most current mailing address of its stakeholders. We need your help!!

Please contact us when your address changes. Remember to update your phone and fax numbers, e-mail and Web site addresses.

To ensure NCB is changing the correct personís address, a social security number is required for verification. The information is used only for verification purposes and is kept confidential. For prompt service, please include your social security number when submitting the address change. Changes can be made by contacting NCBTMB by phone, 703-610-9015, by fax, 703-610-9005, or by e-mail, info@ncbtmb.com. 

Finding Professional Ethics Courses
Most schools offer some sort of an ethics program. To make the ethics requirement easier for those who are trying to meet this requirement, NCB permits documentation under Category A or Category B.

A list of Category A Approved Providers offering ethics courses, including correspondence courses, is available on the Web site at www.ncbtmb.com under Continuing Education. This is a new searchable database of providers. You can look by topic, location, or name of the provider.

Acceptable documentation must be submitted if the two-hour ethics requirement is met through another course. Acceptable documentation includes a certificate of completion, a transcript or letter from the provider stating ethics was included in the course.

Just a Reminder
An application is incomplete without the ethics documentation. This drastically slows down the time it takes to become recertified. Save time by sending all required ethics documentation. See the inside cover page of your Recertification Handbook to verify youíve included all of the required documentation necessary to recertify.

(back to NCB Connection Contents)

Sanctions
In serving the publicís trust and in accordance with the Rules and Procedures Regarding Ethical and Professional Disciplinary Complaints, NCBTMB is required to publish sanctions imposed on certificants found to be in violation of the Code of Ethics and/or the Standards of Practice. The following sanctions have been imposed:

The Ethics and Standards Committee has found Michael Young, NCTMB, Category A Approved Provider, Evergreen, CO, to be in violation of the following Codes of Ethics: a) Avoid any interest, activity or influence which might be in conflict with the practitionerís obligation to act in the best interests of the client or the profession; b) Respect the clientís boundaries with regard to privacy, disclosure, exposure, emotional expression, beliefs, and the clientís reasonable expectations of professional behavior; c) Provide draping and treatment in a way that ensures the safety, comfort and privacy of the client; d) Refrain, under all circumstances, from initiating or engaging in any sexual conduct, sexual activities, or sexualizing behavior involving a client, even if the client attempts to sexualize the relationship. The Ethics and Standards Committee has sanctioned the certificant and restrictions have ben placed on his ability to provide education under Category A. 

(back to NCB Connection Contents)


Election Reminder
If you have submitted a letter of intent to run for a position on the NCBTMB Board of Directors, you should have returned your completed packets to the NCBTMB office by October 31, 2000.

Board members are elected for three-year terms by the population of certificants who are in good standing with the NCBTMB. The election will take place by way of a mail-in ballot that will be included in the Winter 2001 issue of the NCB Connection.

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CALENDAROFEVENTS    

Holiday Schedule of Closings

NCBTMB Office Closed
Holiday Break 
December 23, 2000 - January 1, 2001

ASI Test Centers Closed
Holiday Break 
December 23 - 25, 2000
December 30 - January 1, 2001