GREETINGSFROMTHECHAIR
Consider
for one moment the following few statistics: Do you realize
that you are one of 50,000 Nationally Certified massage therapists
or bodyworkers? Or that 31 of our 50 states, including the District
of Columbia, now have regulation regarding the practice of your
profession? And that of those 31, 25 of them utilize or recognize
the National Certification Program? And that the National Certification
Program has been in effect for 10 years?
Sometimes I am awed by the tremendous growth
not only the National Certification Programóbut the profession
in generalóhas witnessed over the last decade. Of course there
are other times when I wonder why everything takes so long!
Within that juxtaposition one thing is certain: This growth
is not going to come to a halt. As a Nationally Certified Practitioner,
you are on a fast-moving train toward unified acceptance and
understanding of your profession. Massage therapy and bodywork
professionals havenít always had it so easy. We all know that.
Yet, each year we come closer to the recognition of our work
on a national level. That has always been my personal and professional
reason for serving on this Board of Directors, because it serves
as a vehicle for this development.
When the Board of Directors came together
years ago to write the beginnings of a new strategic plan, the
first thing we looked at was our biggest dream, and how we would
vividly describe it. We wanted consumers and employers to look
for and consider the NCB credential when choosing a massage
therapist or bodywork professional. We wanted our credential
to be valued in the marketplace no matter how it grew, and regardless
of the health care system to which it was connected. We wanted
reciprocity to exist between states so that practitioners were
not burdened by state borders. The biggest, most audacious goal,
of course, was that all massage therpists and bodywork professionals
become and remain Nationally Certified, and that the National
Certification Board be seen as a model for other certification
organizations.
Iím here to say, with all factors in due
perspective, we may not be far away from our goals. Where will
we be in another 10 years? Think about it. But donít stop for
too long, because this profession isnít waiting for anyone!
Thanks for being on board! May your way be easy and filled with
peace.
Restructuring
the NCB
In order to assure that NCBTMB has an effective organizational
structure prepared to carry the organization into the future,
NCBTMB determined that it should investigate the roles of its
volunteer leadership to assess efficiency. The NCBTMB Board
of Directors decided that the best way to evaluate the current
structure would be to appoint a task force on committees. This
task force would address issues such as: roles and responsibilities,
interactions and communications with staff, current need relative
to the certification program, assessment and accountability,
silo thinking, intra-committee communications, degree of function,
and the difference between prescribed responsibilities versus
developing policy.
In July 2001, Susan Scoboria, NCBTMB Chair,
appointed Margaret Avery Moon to head the Task Force on Committees
to further define the roles of the NCBTMB volunteer leadership.
Margaret quickly assembled the task force, which included Ray
Moriyasu and Jerry Weinert (both former members of the T/SPTF).
Bruce Wardle, CAE, Christine Niero, Ph.D., and Susan Scoboria
also agreed to participate in the Task Force on Committee activities.
To complete the objectives that had been
assigned to it, the Task Force on Committees first needed to
better understand volunteer leadership within NCBTMB and outside
of NCBTMB. The task force accomplished this through a variety
of methods. They researched how other certification boards utilized
their board members and volunteers. Surveys were sent to current
NCBTMB board members and volunteers inquiring about their feelings
and attitudes concerning NCBTMBís current policies regarding
its volunteer leadership. In addition, the task force reviewed
the history of the NCBTMB, and in more detail: the evolution
of the NCBTMB, the steps that were taken that prompted NCBís
rapid rise, and NCBís volunteer leadership changes.
Once the task force had completed its research,
it then made a recommendation to the board. The recommendations
included committee name changes, the elimination or addition
of committees, task forces, and panels, the reorganization of
committees, task forces, and panels, and an implementation plan.
The Board of Directors approved the recommendations of the Task
Force on Committees and their implementation plan, which included:
the creation of a standing strategic planning
committee
combining the responsibilities of the board
development task force and the nominating committee, and
then renaming it the Leadership Development Committee
the elimination of the Communications Committee
ñ assignments previously assigned to this committee will
be addressed by the Board of Directors
changing the status of the Eligibility Committee
to a panel
changing the status of the Recertification
Task Force to a panel and combining it with the Continuing
Education Panel
the elimination of the Government Relations
Committee ñ the work previously assigned to this committee
will be handled by NCBTMBís legislative consultant.
The work of the Task Force on Committees will
make NCBTMB a more efficient certification board for years to
come.
NCBís
Job Task Analysis: Will You Be Asked to Participate? The NCBTMB has begun its work on the 2002 Job
Task Analysis Study, and you may be asked to participate.
During the next several weeks, a random, stratified sample of
Nationally Certified Practitionersóboth massage and bodyworkóthroughout
the United States will be sent a questionnaire. With the questionnaire,
they will be asked to provide a detailed description of job-related
tasks, the extent to which they are performed, and their importance
for entry-level practice in therapeutic massage and bodywork.
The information provided from this study
will determine the areas of content and proportions of content
that will appear on the National Certification Examination for
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCE). By utilizing the results
of its current and former Job Task Analyses, the NCBTMB is able
to create and maintain a legally defensible examination program
that accurately reflects the current standards in the therapeutic
massage and bodywork profession.
The questionnaire will allow the NCBTMB to
survey Nationally Certified Practitioners for information such
as:
a. Demographic Information
b. Information about what is practiced and how often it is incorporated
into practice
c. Information about the criticality of what is practiced
d. Information about the knowledge base that is necessary for
a massage therapist and/or bodyworker to practice competently
In addition, the questionnaire that will
be mailed to these selected Nationally Certified Practitioners
will focus on an inventory of job tasks, knowledge, skills and
abilities that have been previously identified by Subject Matter
Experts (SME) in the field of therapeutic massage and bodywork.
Practitioners who choose to participate in the survey by completing
the questionnaire will be asked to comment on the criticality
of certain knowledge areas and skills, as well as the frequency
with which those knowledge areas and skills are incorporated
into their practice. Pursuant to providing the most valid and
reliable data, the NCBTMB may be asking for your valuable help.
Again, in that NCBTMB is concerned with what is actually being
practiced and what is important for practice, the NCBTMB will
only sample practitioners of massage and bodywork training.
Respondents to this questionnaire will be randomly selected
from the population of massage and bodywork practitioners and
asked to comment on the job tasks, knowledge areas, related
skills and abilities of a practitioner that will have been previously
identified by experts in the field.
In continuing with its practice of providing
the most valid and reliable data, the NCBTMB will use these
results to construct areas of content that are organized and
prioritized in proportion to their importance, frequency of
use, and necessity for entry-level practice. This information
will then used to construct a test blueprint and Content Outline,
from which an examination will be created.
The NCB Connection will continue to provide
updates to the candidate population regarding its Job Task Analysis.
NCE
Numbers
Total Administrations of the NCE in 2001: 15,156
Total Tested with the NCE in 2001: 15,156
Total Number Passing the NCE in 2001: 11,083
Total Number of new certificants in 2001: 9,727
Total Certified as of December 31, 2001: 52,000
Total Number Recertified in 2001: 3,879
NCB
Hits Milestone 50,000 Massage Therapists
and Bodywork Practitioners Nationally Certified MCLEAN, Va. (February 2002)óThe
NCBTMB has announced that its certificant population has reached
50,000. To obtain the NCTMB credential, over 50,000 practitioners
have completed a rigorous training process including a minimum
of 500 in-class hours of education and training, as well as
passing the NCE, and have pledged to follow the NCBTMB Code
of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Since its inception in 1992, the NCBTMB has
experienced rapid growth, including an increase of more than
28,000 certificants in the last five years. In the last year
alone, the number of Nationally Certified Practitioners increased
from 43,000 to 52,000. As the massage therapy and bodywork profession
is increasingly used for medical and relaxation benefits, the
role of the NCBTMB in this growth is prevalent. As with choosing
any medical practitioner, consumers as well as practitioners
understand that individuals who obtain National Certification
possess the core knowledge and attributes necessary to perform
at entry level, and are committed to the public interest by
adhering to a stringent Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Nationally Certified Practitioners are also required to maintain
competency through continued education.
ìMassage therapy is one of the fastest growing
segments of alternative medicine and with this comes an increased
demand for qualified practitioners,î said Christine D. Niero,
Ph.D., executive director of the NCBTMB. ìThis is evidenced
by the nearly 1,500 candidates taking the NCE each month. As
more Americans come to understand the benefits of massage therapy
and bodywork, it is increasingly important to have a certification
body that provides consumers and employers with a national standard.î
For practitioners, holding the NCTMB credential
increases the mobility of certificants and fosters uniform standards
of professional practice and conduct. Currently 25 states and
the District of Columbia recognize or utilize the NCE either
in statute or in rule. The NCE is designed to test the knowledge
required to perform the job of massage therapists and bodyworkers
at an entry level. The exam is not designed to test only a specific
modality(s), instead it covers the knowledge areas that are
reflected in current practice.
Consumers are recognizing that the benefits
of massage reach far beyond the fact that it feels good. In
a study conducted by the NCBTMB last October, statistics on
consumers attitudes about massage therapy reveal that 52% of
the consumers questioned received massage therapy to relieve
stress, while 36% received massage for rehabilitation from an
injury (as part of an on-going medical treatment).
A surprising 50% always or usually inquire
about the practitioner=s training, while 71% responded that
the ethics of the practitioner is extremely/very important when
choosing a massage therapist. Finally, most respondents, or
37%, responded that the most important thing to know before
receiving massage is if the practitioner has a license or credential.
Consumers are increasingly seeking massage therapy for a variety
of reasons including treatment of pregnancy, aging, cancer,
asthma, arthritis, abuse, eating disorders, stress, animals
and overall beauty.
CERTIFICANTSCORNER
Does the NCBTMB Grant Extensions for Recertification?
An extension of the recertification deadline
for extenuating circumstances may be granted for up to six months
beyond the expiration date. The certificant must submit the
following information in writing before the expiration date:
a statement of the extenuating circumstances, the number of
completed continuing education hours, whether or not the ethics
requirement has been fulfilled, the number of work hours completed,
and a detailed plan stating how all requirements will be fulfilled
by the requested extended deadline.
The NCBTMB Continuing Education/Recertification
Panel reserves the right to modify the extension. If an extension
is granted, the original extension date will remain constant.
During this extension period, the certificant is not nationally
certified, cannot claim that they are, nor may they use the
NCTMB credential.
What Constitutes a Professional Ethics Course?
In order to promote skills aimed at fostering
honorable professional behavior, the NCBTMB has included an
ethics course requirement as part of the recertification criteria.
Ethics is a system of principles of human conduct guided by
positive, right, or good intent.
Below is a sample list of course topics that
deal with issues specifically geared toward the massage and
bodywork profession. Schools and candidates are encouraged to
use the NCB Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics as a guide
in their coursework. They can be found on the NCB=s web site,
www.ncbtmb.com, as well as in the various handbooks.
Scope of Practice/Legal Guidelines
Cultural Diversity
Boundaries
Client/Therapist Confidentiality
Professionalism
Financial Issues (such as fair billing practices)
Conflict Resolution
HIV/AIDS
Can you carry over continuing education hours
from one certification period to another?
Applicants often obtain more that the required
number of continuing education hours during each certification
cycle. A certificant is allowed to carry over as many as 12
hours of continuing education from one certification period
to another.
2002 Board of Directors Election
In mid March, the NCBMTB office will be mailing
out ballots for the upcoming 2002 election for the NCBTMB Board
of Directors. For this election, the candidates will compete
for two available Director positions. The methodology of the
election has been modified from the former procedure that certificants
may have become accustomed to. In the past, the NCBTMB office
would include its ballot and candidate information in the Spring
issue of the NCB Connection. This year, certificants in good
standing will receive a separate mailer that will include the
ballot and candidate information. Look for your ballot and be
sure to vote!
On the Road with the NCB
In the first quarter of 2002, the NCBTMB
has participated in several events and conferences. Representatives
of the NCBTMB have attended the following events: the Annual
Meeting of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies
of Asia, the Council of Schools Leadership Conference and Annual
Meeting, the Federation of Association Regulatory Boards Forum,
the American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation and the
California Massage and Bodywork Convention in southern California.
Board Members Discuss Strategies
Members of the NCBTMB Board of Directors
met in January with Committee Chairs. During the meeting, they
approved plans for a new recertification program, as well as
the restructuring of the continuing education program (Look
for additional details concerning the recertification program
in the months to come). They also focused on issues such as
strategic planning, budgeting, and revising current procedures
regarding the administration of the National Certification Program.
The board members also discussed broader issues within the industry
for future planning.
STRATEGICPLANUPDATE Editorís Note: In this issue of the NCB Connection,
Committee Chairs were asked to report on how their committee
members are working toward achieving Goal 2 of the NCB Strategic
Plan: Knowledge of the Environment
Objective 2.3óIncrease our knowledge of related
areas that may directly or indirectly impact the practice of
massage therapy and bodywork, including medical research, physical
therapy, occupational therapy, societal trends, economic issues,
etc.
Government Relations Activities Legislative Consultant, Sally Hacking
The Legislative Consultant has completed work
on the new Government Relations Handbook. The purpose of the
handbook is to provide information to those who work in local
municipalities about the National Certification Program.
The NCBTMB was represented at the National
League of Cities Conference in Atlanta and presented the handbook
to participants. This annual conference hosts representatives
from 1,800 cities, towns and villages of all sizes, 49 state
municipal leagues, representing more than 20,000 municipal jurisdictions.
The NLC mission is to ìstrengthen and promote cities as centers
of opportunity, leadership, and governance....î
Certificants Mark Dixon, NCTMB, Wayne Franson,
NCTMB, Kate Jordan, NCTMB, and Legislative Consultant Sally
Hacking presented to the city representatives attending the
conference the benefits of the National Certification Program
and its consideration in local massage ordinance structure.
They also promoted the new NCBTMB Government Relations Handbook.
The NLC librarian was particularly interested in the handbookís
information about the rise in the interest of massage regulation
issues brought to cities and counties, and requested a copy
for the NLC archives of library information.
ìHaving a resource such as this handbook
in our NLC information Archives will be of great benefit to
the league,î said Glenn Steckman, who is an NLC Board of Directors
Member and former Maryland Municipal League Director. ìIn Maryland,
we have had to deal with many county and city local massage
regulations (many of these cities and counties adopting the
NCE in their local ordinances) issues prior to the implementation
of the MD State Law for Massage. This handbook would have been
of great assistance. Good to know we have it now!î
The handbook will be updated frequently in
order to assure that the information in the handbook about the
NCBTMB is current and accurate.
Ethics and Standards Committee Chair, Marion Visel, NCTMB
The Ethics and Standards Committee members
keep abreast of other bodywork and related health care professions
in a variety of ways. Our members bring knowledge of related
areas through diverse educational backgrounds and experiences.
When the committee members produce documents such as the Standards
of Practice or the Code of Conduct, similar documents by other
professional organizations are reviewed. We also do a search
of The Ethics Index, a database of articles on business and
professional ethics.
In order to stay in the mainstream of thinking
in professional ethics, the committee members gather information
and discuss issues with colleagues in the areas of nursing,
psychology, social work, physical therapy, and ministry. All
of these professions share a common foundation in therapeutic
relationships.
Other
NCBTMB Committees: Continuing Education/Recertification Panel
Chair: Judy Dean, NCTMB
Eligibility Panel
Chair: Elliot Greene, NCTMB
Examination Committee
Chair: Robert Lehnberg, NCTMB
Leadership Development Committee
Chair: Marlene Cohen, NCTMB
This list of events is provided for informational
purposes only. For specific information about participation
in the events listed above, please contact the host organization.
Event
Date
Location
American Academy of OsteopathyAnnual Convocation
March 21-24, 2002
Norfolk, Virginia
Anatriptic Arts Expo 2002
May 3-5, 2002
San Francisco, California
NCBTMB Board of Directors Meeting
May 17-19, 2002
Washington, DC
International Symposium on the
Science of Touch by the Canadian Touch Research Center
Name ___________________________________
Contact Phone # ___________________________
Address _________________________________
Fax #_______________ E-mail _______________
Role with NCBTMB _______________________
Year Certified ________ Year Recertified _______
Demographics
What type of practice do you have:
Private
Clinic
Hospital
Spa/Hotel
Out-call
Other ______________________
How many years of professional experience do you
have:
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21+
What type of massage and/or bodywork are your
specialties? (list your top 3 areas)
Type Years
Practicing
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Client
Demographics
What age range do most of you clients fall?
(check all that apply)
Infants
Children (under 12)
Teens (15-20)
20-35
36-45
46-50
51+
What reason(s) do you mostly see clients:
Sports Injury
Relaxation
Wellness
Specific medical issue(s)
Other _____________________________________
Certifications/Certificates/Accreditations Please list any/all certifications, certificates
or accreditations you hold within the field
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Media
Opportunities Would you be willing to be interviewed by a reporter
or other media related representative about areas of massage
and/or bodywork practice/techniques?
Yes
No
Would you be willing to share any true-life experiences
of your clients (with clients permission) with the media?
Yes
No
Would you be willing to contribute a byline article
on any recent trends in massage therapy or bodywork?
Yes
No
Please list the techniques or modalities of massage
and/or bodywork you would be comfortable discussing in an interview
or byline.
What do you feel are the most important aspects
to highlight about being a nationally certified massage therapist?
______________________________________________
Case
Histories
Do you have any true life stories or case studies that would
stand out about the benefits of massage? Please describe 2 of
your most successful cases (while still protecting the privacy
of the client).
Case - 1
For what was the client being treated?
______________________________________________
What type of treatment was used?
______________________________________________
How did this help the client?
______________________________________________
Would the client be willing to share this story
with the media if the opportunity arises?
______________________________________________
Case - 2 For what was the client being treated?
_______________________________________________
What type of treatment was used?
_______________________________________________
How did this help the client?
_______________________________________________
Would the client be willing to share this story
with the media if the opportunity arises?
________________________________________________
What do you feel are the most important aspects
to stress about being a certified massage therapist?
________________________________________________
Client
Demographics
What age range do most of you clients fall?
(check all that apply)
Infants
Children (under 12)
Teens (15-20)
20-35
36-45 o 46-50
51+
What reason(s) do you mostly see clients:
Sports Injury
Relaxation
Wellness
Specific medical issue(s)
Other ________________________
Return completed questionaires to:
NCBTMB Media Questionaires
8201 Greensboro Dr., Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
NCBTMB
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
703-610-9015 … 703-610-9005
1-800-296-0664 (totally automated line)
e-mail: snicolais@ncbtmb.com
William Stoehs,
Public Member, Treasurer,
Palm Harbor, FL-2003
Garnet Adair, NCTMB, Tuscon, AZ-2004
Tree Bright, NCTMB, Winston-Salem, NC-2004
Elaine Calenda, NCTMB, Longmont,
CO-2004
Neal Cross,
NCTMB, Immediate Past Chair, Biddeford,
ME
Leena Guptha, DO, PhD, NCTMB,
Lake Bluff, IL-2003
Pam Laubscher, DO, Public Member,
Oro Valley, AZ-2002
Michael Pizzuto, NCTMB, St. Petersburg, FL-2002
*Terms end on April 30 of year indicated.
NCBTMB Connection
Published by the
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
8201 Greensboro Dr.,
Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
(703) 610-9015
FAX: (703) 610-9005
Automated Information Line: (800) 296-0664 http://www.ncbtmb.com
Staff Coordinator:
Jason Theis
Editor:
Paula Miller
Production/Design:
Teresa B. Gutsick
The NCB Connection
is published four times a year by the National
Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage
and Bodywork (NCBTMB). All rights reserved.
Reproductions of any material in this publication
in whole or part without the written permission
of the NCBTMB is prohibited. Copyright 2002
by the National Certification Board for
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
Consider
for one moment the following few statistics: Do you realize
that you are one of 50,000 Nationally Certified massage therapists
or bodyworkers? Or that 31 of our 50 states, including the District
of Columbia, now have regulation regarding the practice of your
profession? And that of those 31, 25 of them utilize or recognize
the National Certification Program? And that the National Certification
Program has been in effect for 10 years? 
