NCB Helps Practitioners Promote Their Credential
New Consumer Brochures Describe National Certification Program

MCLEAN, VAóThe National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has announced the completion of five marketing brochures to assist Nationally Certified Practitioners and massage schools in marketing the National Certification status to clients and prospective candidates.
    The consumer brochures are being sent to all Nationally Certified Practitioners and all massage schools listed in the NCBTMB database in September. The schools will also receive a complimentary copy of the newly-produced video titled, ìNational CertificationóItís the Right Thing To Do.î The video was unveiled and presented at the Gala Event honoring the 10th Anniversary of the administration of the National Certification Examination (NCE), which was held in May at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
    The brochures are entitled, "Consumers' Guide to Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork," "National Certification - It's the right thing to do," "The Value of National Certification," "First Steps Into Marketing - Easy Ways to Market Your Business." They were produced to assist Nationally Certified Practitioners in marketing their credential, and the high level of professionalism they have achieved with National Certification.
    ìProviding the brochures and video to Nationally Certified Practitioners for them to share with their clients will help consumers know that they have made the right choice in choosing a Nationally Certified Practitioner for massage or bodywork,î said Christine D. Niero, Ph.D., executive director of the NCBTMB. ìWe want to make it easy for Nationally Certified Practitioners to promote their credential, since they worked so hard achieving it.î
    For more information about the brochures, contact the NCBTMB office at 703-610-9015 or visit the web site at www.ncbtmb.com.

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FROMTHECHAIR

By Whitney Lowe, NCTMB

It is with great honor that I take over as Board Chair of the NCBTMB, and continue the work to meet the needs of Nationally Certified Practitioners and our stakeholders. The NCBTMB strives to keep up with the change that is so evident in this dynamic profession, and I will continue with the many important projects that have begun under the direction of Immediate Past Chair Susan Scoboria, NCTMB, who has done an excellent job leading our organization.
    In May, the NCBTMB celebrated the 10th anniversary of the administration of the National Certification Exam (NCE). We have come a long way since that first exam and it is exciting to look at many of the upcoming developments. In our effort to continue responding to the needs of our stakeholders, we are proud to unveil a new study guide for the NCE. The Official NCBTMB Study Guide will be a great benefit for schools and candidates as they prepare for the NCE.
    We now have a new testing vendor, the Chauncey Group International. As reported in the last issue of the NCB Connection, the technological improvements with our new vendor will allow us to significantly speed up the time it takes to process applications for the exam. For example, you are now able to register for the NCE through the internet. We also have more testing sites available and additional improvements in the test administration process.
    Later this year, we will present information about a new recertification program that has been under development for some time. This recertification program will have many more options for individuals to gain recertification credits other than attending traditional classroom courses. While credit will still be available for these traditional classroom courses, it is our goal to recognize many different educational experiences that Nationally Certified Practitioners may have that contribute to professional development and continued competence. This will be especially valuable for those individuals who find it difficult to attend traditional classroom continuing education courses.
    The NCBTMB recently announced the development of a new credential for massage therapy, as well as a new credential for advanced practice of massage therapy. Continual feedback from our stakeholders has indicated a strong desire and need for these advancements. It is our commitment to evolution and growth in the professionóalong with a need to be flexible and responsive to changing trendsóthat is the impetus for these exciting transitions.
    I look forward to an exciting year of working with all the talented individuals in this organization and hope we can make great strides to continually improve on this valuable program.

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Leading the Profession
Susan Rosen Shares the Benefits of Being Nationally Certified

Not only is Susan Rosen a massage therapist, a teacher of massage therapy in Washington State, a director of the Benjamin Advanced training in the northwest region, and the owner and director of Susan Rosen & Associates in Olympia, Wa ó sheís also one of the ìfounding mothersî of the National Certification Examination.
   Susan started her career in massage therapy more than 25 years ago when she decided to stop teaching math and science to take a three-month course in massage therapy. Soon after Susan completed her initial course in massage therapy, she went on to take many specialty treatment courses to advance her career and formed a coalition to develop the first NCE.

Why did you become involved in the NCE program?
When I served on the Washington State Board of Massage, there was no national exam for massage therapy that was legally defensible. I spoke with a colleague of mine who served on the Oregon licensing board about developing a national certification and what it would take to do so. We surveyed other professionsí national exams and experts to find out what steps we needed to take to start a certification exam. We then found funding and got the ball rolling.

What are the benefits of the NCE?
The NCE gives massage therapists much more credibility in the eyes of health plans and networks, employers and other health professionals. By having national standards for our industry, it lends credibility to massage therapy/bodywork as a profession. It gives us a recognized and accepted standard ó developed and set by professionals in our field together with testing professionals.

What difficulties have you experienced throughout your career?
I have experienced isolation, lack of acceptance and recognition at various times throughout my career.
    It has been a challenge to convince the public and other health care professionals that we are in a legitimate profession and that we have a lot to offer the public. It has also been difficult to get the appropriate recognition for our work. For example, reimbursement from health plans and networks, acceptance from other health care professionals, and the recognition that we do provide needed services to clients. Personally, I feel that the NCE helps us through some of these issues by giving us a common platform to stand on, the ability to access the public both by referral and education, and inclusion in reimbursed health benefits.
    There is also a lot of division in our industry on different topics and end goals. I think that in order to be effective, we need to keep the same end goal and common body of knowledge in sight ñ raising the awareness of our professionalism and the effectiveness of our work with a unified stance. National Certification raises awareness among consumers.

How is this credential valued by health plans and networks and what do third party payers look for when including a therapist in a reimbursement program?
Many health plans and networks are now national. Thus, they value a nationally recognized credential.
    Health plans and networks want assurance that a massage therapist has a high level of competence, the knowledge, skills, and abilities to treat patients well and successfully. Thatís where National Certification comes in. When a therapist is Nationally Certified, then the health plan and network or third party payer knows that the therapist has all the appropriate training and can provide good service to the patient. With third party reimbursement for massage therapy, they also want to know that a therapist knows how to work within the health care service system ñ that they can complete all the proper paper work and take care of all the administrative details. Health plans and networks also want to see credentialed professionals working side by side.

What is the importance of the NCBTMB title to your practice and profession?
I have to admit ñ I let my certification expire a few years ago. I was at a stage in my career that I was teaching quite a bit and very busy and I just overlooked the fact that I needed to get recertified. I also was at a point where I didnít see the necessity of certification because I took the exam for my license feeling that certification didnít test me on anything different.
    I have since changed my mind and am on my way to retaking the exam. I realized that having the certification is very important because it is for the betterment of the industry. And I know that better than anyone ñ being on the forefront of developing the NCE in the 1980s. We, as a profession, need to focus more on the larger picture of advancing the industry and certification to give us a bigger platform to stand on and get our messages out to the appropriate people.
    Another clear incentive to LMTs, especially in the State of Washington, are the new certifications and advanced certifications that will be available to therapists through the NCBTMB. These advanced certifications will be on topics that are not covered on the state licensing exam and will allow therapists to specialize even further in our profession.

Why is it important for practitioners to take a legally defensible exam?
A legally defensible exam means that the exam the practitioner is taking is fair and that it tests their complete knowledge, skills and abilities ñ not just one sector or division. Further, the exam is developed by a broad spectrum of massage therapy/bodywork professionals with the help of testing experts. Health care service providers look for therapists that are certified and have taken a legally defensible exam when they are choosing whom to include in their reimbursement programs. Consumers are demanding these services.
    It all goes back to legitimacy ñ a Nationally Certified Practitioner who has taken a legally defensible examination is recognized as a professional and holds more weight in the health care world and in the profession.

Why is it important that your credentials be mobile between states?
It is important for credentials to be mobile between states because it makes it a little easier on practitioners who have moved. For the most part, having a mobile certification minimizes the additional work that therapists need to do when they move to another state, and it means that you donít need to retake the exam if you move to another state, or take an exam in a different state if you practice in an unlicensed state.

How do you feel about the importance of this credential in the State of Washington?
A national credential is very important. It is used to measure our competency as massage therapists and show that we are professionals. It is also increasingly important as health plans and networks and third party payers are putting together the criteria to decide who should eligible to receive reimbursement for their services (which is a trend we are seeing in the State of Washington). With National Certification, we have control in determining our practice standards.

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GUESTCOLUMN
Janet Stevens, NCTMB
Editor's Note: As we approach the first anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, the NCBTMB honors the memory of those innocent victims whose lives were lost, and the heroic efforts of the relief workers at all three crash sites. The NCBTMB also extends many heartfelt thanks to those Nationally Certified Practitioners who were able to provide massage and bodywork services to relief workers at the Pentagon and World Trade Center. Your services were invaluable and the NCBTMB is very grateful to you. Janet Stevens, NCTMB, of Connecticut is a licensed, Nationally Certified massage therapist. For several months she provided massage to relief workers at the World Trade Center, site of one of the September 11th disasters. Here is an interview of her experiences. To read a copy of her diary of her experiences click here.

How did your National Certification prepare you for dealing in such a crisis?
I wouldnít have been permitted to volunteer at St. Paulís Chapel without being Nationally Certified (the State of Connecticut, where Iím licensed, requires this). Though we offered different approaches to our work, each LMT who worked there had to provide a copy of his or her license, which was then kept on file. I knew that this was a privilegeóthat I was representing not only myself but my profession as well. That, at 50-ish, Iíve been able to go back to school, and then to become Nationally Certified, has given me a confidence that I would never have had.

What was the most rewarding moment for you when you were doing this?
There never was one most rewarding moment in the six months that I participated in the relief. It was very special to walk through the door of the chapel at 2 a.m. on Wednesday night and have one of the workers waiting for me, saying, ìI knew youíd be here. Can you help me? Iíve got this ëthingí right here.î Or to be able to affect a change in the attitude of a skeptic who was in a lot of pain and didnít feel he had an alternative but to have massage therapyóand then came back the next week for more help.

How did you prepare yourself to keep going in this type of situation?
First of all, it was something I felt called to do. I wasnít able to go in the beginning when the work must have been frantic and the most demanding. However, the ìdoorî opened in December, and I cleared one day a week from my private practice so that I wouldnít overwork and injure myself. It was only one night a week, but Iím closing in on 58 years old - something that I often forget.
    Physically, the weekly change of sleeping habit was the most frustrating element of the commitment. Formerly a late-night personality, I struggled trying to sleep from about 5 or 6 p.m. till midnight each Wednesday, knowing that I needed the rest before working through the night. And I made sure that I ate small amounts of really healthy food throughout the night (I usually carried raw carrots, celery, raisins, nuts in my backpack and would have some of the eggs served at the chapel in the morning). Occasionally, after my shift, I would grab a couple hours of sleep on one of the cots in the balcony before driving back to Connecticut.
    Emotionally, I made sure that I came into the chapel upbeat and ready to be there for these men and women. Sometimes they shared their experiences ó things that they probably wouldnít even share with their spouses. Things that were disturbing, but had become very usual at the site. It was like a shared trust that had to do with our being there in that element together. I made a conscious ritual when I left the chapel in the morning of leaving these burdens there. Walking along the chapel fence that is covered with shrines and memorials to those whose lives were lost, I wept in the arms of another volunteer or a chaplain when I needed to, rather than have the emotions ìcatch upî to me later. Then I did comforting things for myself the whole rest of the day until I could go to sleep such as a mineral bath, connecting with my friends and family with my God and with myself.

What types of people did you help?
I had no idea when I decided to do this work that I would meet so many different types of people. Well-educated and not, of so many different colors and cultures, nationalities and backgrounds. Compared to my basically ìsuburbanî type of private practice, this was a melting pot of personalities. Members of the military, National Guard and Coast Guard, firefighters, police officers, construction workers, operating engineers, plumbers, electricians, iron workers, truck drivers, government employees (i.e. O.S.H.A.). Men and women. Young and not-so-young.

What was the response from those who you helped?
I have never in my life met a more gracious, grateful, appreciative group of men and women in my life. Most of them had been working 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week since September. So many times they told me that they couldnít do what they were doing if we werenít there to help and support them. They made it easy to come back each week.
    Recently, I was working on one of the firefighters who told me about how he had been ìsavedî by one of the MERT therapists just after the disaster when he was near collapse from exhaustion. She did chair work that enabled him to go back down to the site and go on working.

What words of advice do you have for other massage and bodywork practitioners?
To follow your heart. This type of work is not for everyone, so donít feel guilty if it isnít something that you feel you can or should do. Do what you can do to bring relief to someone where you are. It has been a life-changing experience for me and many of the other MTís who were a part of the WTC relief effort. I know an MT who was so shy - even though she got herself to the chapel, she didnít have the nerve to go up to anyone and tell them she was doing massage. She made a ìMASSAGEî sign on a piece of paper, held it over her head, walked around the chapel, and the workers came back to her for help. Itís simply a matter of doing what you can do.

Editorís Final Note: If you have a unique story about providing massage that youíd like to share with other Nationally Certified Practitioners, and have it featured in the NCB Connection, please contact the editor, Paula Miller, by email at pnamiller@aol.com.

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NCBTMB Visits National Conference of State Legislators

DENVER, COóJULY 22-28, 2002óRepresentatives of the NCBTMB attended the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) held here last month. The NCBTMB booth was open for attendees and visitors in the NCSL conferenceís exhibition hall.
    At the NCBTMBís exhibit booth, Susan Jackson Grubb, NCTMB, with her team, provided more than 200 on-site massage chair sessions. Sally Hacking, legislative consultant for the NCBTMB, manned the booth with Grubb, as well as NCB staff member Ashleigh Millner. ìDuring the three days we were there,î Hacking said, ìthere was hardly any time for a break!î
    The NCSL is a bipartisan organization that was created to serve legislators, their staff, and legal counsels of the 50 states in the nation, including the nationís commonwealths and territories. Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offered his perspectives on Medicaid, welfare reform and bio terrorism. NCSL legislative staff teams spoke on various subjects, including education, state budgets, public safety, welfare reform, privacy, crime, capitol security, and many health care reform issues.
    Throughout the meeting, NCB representatives were able to provide information about the National Certification Program to representatives of the following states: Washington, Kentucky, Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Montana, Hawaii, and California.

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NCBNEWS

Anatriptic Arts Expo Features National Certification Program
SAN FRANSISCO, CAóMAY 4, 2002ó Two NCB staff members participated in the Anatriptic Arts Expo held here in May. By attending the event, they were able to provide information to conference visitors and attendees about the Candidate Review process, the Portfolio Review process, Recertification and Continuing Education, and Category A approval. They also distributed official NCBTMB Candidate Handbooks to interested visitors, including students and graduates who will be preparing to take the NCE in the near future.
    The Anatriptic Arts Expo was a gathering that entertained professionals from many other health-related fields, including nursing and physical therapy. NCB staff members spoke with several people who are currently in other professions who have been introduced to massage therapy or bodywork and are now pursuing careers in these fields.

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CERTIFICANTSCORNER

Is It Time To Recertify? Get Your Handbook! Those who are due to recertify their National Certification credential by December 31, 2002, and March 31, 2003, have been sent copies of the most current NCBTMB Recertification Handbook. If you have not received a copy of the handbook, then please visit the NCBTMB web site at www.ncbtmb.com to access a copy of the current NCBTMB Recertification Handbook, or call 1-800-296-0664 to request a copy of the handbook to be mailed to your preferred mailing address.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is Inactive Status?
Sometimes, certificants experience out of the ordinary circumstances for an extended period of time that prohibit them from recertifying their National Certification. Being granted ìinactive statusî may help them maintain their certification.
    Inactive status can be granted to candidates on a case-by-case basis for special circumstances. The members of the Recertification Committee will review and grant an applicantís request for inactive status. Examples of conditions that might necessitate inactive status include: pregnancy, illness, injury, military duties or personal hardship.
    An inactive status may be granted to a certificant for up to a maximum of three years. During this time, the certificant will return their National Certificate to the NCBTMB office. Any continuing education hours taken during this period will not count toward recertification. Once an applicant applies to reactivate their status, the NCBTMB Recertification Committee will determine the length of time that the certificant has to meet the recertification requirements.
    If the inactive status goes beyond three years after the expiration date of the original certification, the certificantís record will be purged from the NCBTMBís database. If within this time frame, the certificant desires to recertify, the certificant will pay the current reinstatement fee, in addition to the current recertification fee, plus meet all current recertification requirements with appropriate documentation. The original expiration date will remain valid. If nothing has occurred within those three years, the certificantís record will be purged from the NCBTMBíS database.

If I go past the expiration date for recertification, am I required to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) again to renew my National Certification for another four years?
When a certificant goes past the expiration date to recertify, they are not required to take the NCE. Certification can lapse for up to three years after the expiration date of the original certification. If within this time frame the certificant wishes to recertify, the certificant must pay the current reinstatement fee, the current recertification fee and meet all current recertification requirements with appropriate documentation. The certificantís original date or expiration will remain valid when the new certificate is issued.
    If the certificant does not take action within the three-year time frame, the certificantís record will be purged from the NCBTMBís database. If at a future time the applicant wishes to become Nationally Certified, they must reapply as a new candidate, meet all eligibility requirements and successfully complete the current form of the NCE.

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Newly Approved Category A Providers

Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
820 Davis Street, Suite 100
Evanston, IL 60201-4444
On-site Evaluator Training
On-site Accreditation Visit Participation
Provider #: 308314-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Robin L. Viteri
650 South Town Center, Suite 1051
Las Vegas, NV 89144
Pre-natal Massage course
Provider #: 305441-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Robbin Michelle Reid
105 Wildwood Drive
Daphne, AL 36526
The Belavi Facelift Massage
Provider #: 308895-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Dahan Institute of Massage Studies
3320 East Flamingo Road, Suite 32
Las Vegas, NV 89121
Various Courses
Provider #: 295908-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Eugene Dobkin
P.O. Box 1317
Perris, CA 92572-1317
NMT Courses
Provider #: 311464-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Shalandra Abbey
P.O. Box 1195
Kapaa, HI 96746
Reiki Courses
Provider #: 307803-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Bastyr University
Attention: Pamela Vaughn
14500 Juanita Drive NE
Kenmore, WA 98028
CranioSacral Therapy I, II & III
Provider #: 311109-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Pfrimmer Institute for Corrective Muscle Therapy, Ltd.
P.O. Box 150918
San Rafael, CA 94915-0918
Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy Courses
Provider #: 308893-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Renate K. Egeness
1330 Kemper Road
Delafield, WI 53018-1435
Various Courses
Provider #: 308029-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Carrie W. Bodane
4109 Wake Forest Road, Suite 303
Raleigh, NC 27609
Reiki Courses
Provider #: 308897-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Louisville School of Massage
7410 LaGrange Road, Suite 320
Louisville, KY 40222
502-429-5765
bcwilliams@kih.net
Various Courses
Provider #: 022016-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

School of Shiatsu & Massage
PO Box 570
Middletown, CA 95461
707-987-3801
Various Courses
Provider #: 22356-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Sister Rosalind Gefre School and Clinics of Massage
149 East Thompson Avenue, Suite #150
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Ethics and Various Courses
Provider #: 305258-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Canadian Touch Research Centre
760 Saint Zotique Street East
Montreal, H2S 1M5
Quebec, Canada
514-272-2254
514-272-5141 fax
Various Courses
Provider #: 324617-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Integrated Bodywork: Wellness & Learning Center, Inc.
Connie S. Timko
5209 Hoagland Blackstub Road
Cortland, OH 44410
330-637-0612
shockra999@aol.com
Reiki Courses
Provider#: 309896-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/04

Joyce Hasija
24 Chemar Drive
Hurricane, WV 25526
304-757-0775
jhasija@att.net
Reiki Courses
Provider #: 303361
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Solihin Thom DO Dac
216 Southwest Tualatin Loop
West Linn, OR 97068
800-304-4464
Cranial Fluid Dynamics
Provider #: 310257-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Ross Tourtchaninov
15402 North 28th Street, #233
Phoenix, AZ 85032
602-404-1583
aesculapr@hotmail.com
Segment-Reflex Massage
Provider #: 312994-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Dr. Robert L. Wertz
PO Box 540473
Lake Worth, FL 33454
561-433-4184
advancedspinecenter@hotmail.com
Myofascial Trigger Point
Provider #: 307994-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Creative Thouth Center
Steven Rogat
2517 Laine Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
919-967-1306
rogat@usa.net
The Thought Body Course
Provider #: 303442-00
AP Exp. Date: 03/2004

Natural Therapies
1009 Cedardale Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88005-1247
505-541-9530
Childrenís Natural Therapies
Provider #: 313133-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Diane K. Ripperda
4020 Kemp Boulevard, Suite D
Wichita Falls, TX 76308
940-692-9925
tmcbd@aol.com
Homestudy, Ethics, Insurance Course
Provider # 323502-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Tennessee Massage Therapy Association
112 2nd Avenue NW
Winchester, TN 37398
931-967-6006
psmith@cafes.net
Myofascial Release Therapy
Provider #: 305459-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Kam Thye Chow
Lotus Palm School
5870 Waverly Street
Montreal, QC H2T 2Y3 Canada
lotuspalm@hotmal.com
www.thaiyogamassage.net
Yoga Training
Provider #: 310467-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Carla A. Ennes
4904 Bassett Avenue
Richmond, VA 23225
804-233-9377
wtw2214@aol.com
Massage Therapy Courses
Provider #: 309902-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Dineen E. Cuneo
8439 McClellan
Mechanicsville, VA 23111
804-779-3557
Cuneod@aol.com
Reflexology Courses
Provider #: 310534-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Suzanne M. Korner
2557 Nottingham Road
Columbus OH 43221
614-562-4051
suzmadi@aol.com
Body Mechanics for Massage
Provider #: 312461-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Massage Therapy Training Institute of New Mexico
205 West Boutz, Building 4
Las Cruces, NM 88005
505-523-6811
Various courses
Provider #: 289781-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Jeff McConnell
1920 9th Street North, Suite C
St. Petersburg, FL 33704
727-822-7763
jmcconnell55@hotmail.com
Flexibility Training Courses
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Judy Dean
Agua Dulce Center
136 Grove Avenue
Prescott, AZ 86301-2910
928-776-7870
jdean4@mindspring.com
Spa Therapy Training
Provider #: 312124-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Scott K. Jordan
6306 Midwood Avenue
Monona, WI 53716
608-575-6302
sjordan14@juno.com
Reiki Courses
Provider #: 312996-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Patricia L. Shelton
705 North Lincoln Avenue
OíFallon, IL 62269
618-624-6002
mskt@apci.net
Aromatherapy Courses
Provider #: 312671-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

The Massage Therapy Program
10050 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19116
Reflexology Courses
215-969-1170
Provider #: 322124-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Linda Tingle
Subtle Energy Institute
2304 Kenstock Drive, Suite 101
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
757-431-0711
athealth@Erols.com
Various Courses
Provider #: 312323-00
AP Exp. Date: 04/2004

Ursula M. Popp
12252 2nd NW
Seattle, WA 98177
206-783-3922
wrsulampopp@aol.com
Craniosacral Work: Supervision
Provider #: 322123-00
AP Exp. Date: 05/2004

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STRATEGICPLANUPDATE

Editorís Note: The NCBTMBís Strategic Planning Committee met last month at the NCB office in McLean, Virginia, to discuss and review goals and objectives. They also drafted action plans for the board members to review at their next meeting, which will be held this October. The members of this committee are: Garnet Adair, NCTMB; Sally Hacking; Bob Lehnberg, NCTMB; Whitney Lowe, NCTMB; Ray Moriyasu, NCTMB; Susan Scoboria, NCTMB; Marion Visel, NCTMB; Elliot Greene, NCTMB, who is the Chair of the committee.
    Below is an update of the committees as submitted by their designated chairs. Each update is a brief description of the work the volunteer members have completed to reach the goals and objectives of the NCBTMB Strategic Plan.

Continuing Education/Recertification Panel
Chair, Judy Dean, MEd, RN, NCTMB
The recent re-organization of the NCBTMBís Committee and Panel Review structure has resulted in the merger of the former Continuing Education Provider Review Panel and the Recertification Committee to become the CE/Recertification Panel.
    Bill Sherwood (NY); Bob Helfrich (CT); and Bonnie Massey (MO), who are the former members of the CE panel will be joined by Judy Silcock (ID); Michael McCarthy (WA); Stephanie Manriquez (OR); Wanda Beals (WI); Neal Delaporta (CT); John Yates (AZ) and Pat Caufield (CA). These members of the newly-merged committee will meet at the NCBTMB office in McLean, VA this Fall to attend a two-day training session to become fully acquainted with the newly-revised CE Provider Application packet and the extensive expanded options available for the Recertification Process.
    In addition to reviewing potential and current CE providers for compliance with the new guidelines in the coming year, committee members will also address four major charges identified by the board. These include:

1. The design of an evaluation process to monitor and assess the quality of approved providers and their courses to determine if the ìraisedî application requirements have a direct impact on improved CE offerings.
2. Develop procedures, guidelines, and a tracking system for approved provider CE offerings that are presented via various venues - distance education, satellite, the internet, home study and other media technologies.
3. Develop a plan to monitor changes in the market that affect the provision of CE.
4. Identify areas of strengths and deficits in the policies, procedures and forms required to support the newly-revised CE/Re-certification process.

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Is the NCE Recognized Where You Live?

The following is a list of states that have adopted the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) as of August 1, 2002:

Please note that while these states currently recognize the NCE, either by statute oróas in Wyomingóby rule, all states do not regulate massage therapists and bodyworkers by licensure.
    Thirty states and the District of Columbia currently regulate massage therapists and/or bodyworkers.
    In states that do not currently regulate massage and bodywork, many cities and counties adopt the NCE in local massage ordinances. States containing cities and counties such as these include:

NOTICE
The Ethics and Standards Committee of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has found that Mr. Kevin Heath violated NCBTMBís Code of Ethics. Based upon these findings, on July 3, 2002, the Committee permanently revoked Mr. Heathís NCBTMB certification.

The Ethics and Standards Committee of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB)) has determined that Mr. Richard Williams violated NCBTMBís Code of Ethics. Based upon these findings in August 27, 2002, the Committee has permanently revoked Mr. Williamsí NCBTMB certification.

The Ethics and Standards Committee of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has found that Ms. Amy Bradley violated NCBTMBís Code of Ethics. Based upon these findings, on July 1, 2002, the Committee has temporarily suspended her NCBTMB certification.

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Job Analyses Keep NCE at the Top
By Paul Parker, Director of Certification, NCBTMB

As has been recently reported in the NCB Connection, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) is currently conducting Job Analyses for its current entry-level massage and bodywork program, an entry-level massage program and an advanced level program.
    The NCBTMBís Job Analyses, a type of descriptive survey study, provides a detailed description of job-related tasks, the extent to which they are performed, and their importance for a type of professional practice. As such, the NCBTMBís latest Job Analysis will help to provide scores on the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCE) with content-related evidence of validity. By utilizing the results of its Job Analyses, the NCBTMB is able to create and maintain a legally defensible examination that accurately reflects the current standards in the therapeutic massage and bodywork professions.
    Typically, with any Job Analysis, a questionnaire is sent to a sample of practitioners for the purpose of gathering data, which represent the opinions and practices of an entire population of practitioners. Using various statistical methods, the NCBTMB is able to represent the opinions and practices of practitioners of therapeutic massage and bodywork. Pursuant to meeting the needs of the NCBTMBís surveys, a number of certified practitioners may be asked to participate by submitting a questionnaire that asks information about the level of importance they assign to certain knowledge areas and practices. Participants will be randomly selected from a pool of Nationally Certified Practitioners, who will be assembled and stratified using years of experience and the environment in which they provide massage and/or bodywork.
    These important studies will help to identify the competencies that are necessary to provide massage and bodywork in a safe and effective environment at the entry and advanced levels. The results of these studies will give the NCBTMB important information about the current professional practices of therapeutic massage professionals, which will guide the development of new certification examinations and continuing education initiatives. Your participation can help to play an integral role in defining the work for entry level and advanced practitioners and creating new examination programs for practitioners of massage therapy and bodywork.
    If you are selected, please return your completed questionnaire on the date noted on the questionnaire. All responses to the questionnaire will be kept completely confidential. Names will not be included in the data files and only group results will be presented. The value of this study is directly related to the number of individuals who return completed questionnaires. If selected, your participation is of great importance to the profession.

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Call for Applicantsó2003 Election
The National Certification Board is seeking Nationally Certified Practitioners who are dedicated to certification for the massage therapy and bodywork profession and committed to moving forward with the goals and objectives set forth in the NCBTMBís Strategic Plan.
    Two director positions are open for three-year terms commencing May 1, 2003. Each board member is elected by Nationally Certified Practitioners who are in good standing with the NCBTMB at the time of application and the election.
   To be considered for a board position, minimally an applicant must: be a certificant in good standing; hold all applicable licensing requirements; declare all possible conflicts of interest; and have the ability to commit to the time and travel necessary to be a fully participating member of the Board. In addition, each applicant must have experience with teamwork and organizational structure, and must be able to support collective decisions. Applicants must support the positions of the NCBTMB, have a broad view of the profession, and an understanding of certification. Applicants must also have knowledge of, or a desire to learn about, not-for-profit organizations and the political and ethical dimensions of the National Certification Program. Other skills are also required.
    To be considered for service as a Director of the NCBTMB, please submit a letter of intent postmarked no later than October 4, 2002, to the NCBTMB office at the following address:

NCBTMBó2003 Election
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102

The NCBTMBís Leadership Development Committee has the responsibility of determining the slate of qualified candidates, and reserves the right to refuse applicants.

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CALENDAROFEVENTS
This list of events is provided for informational purposes only. For specific information about participation in the events listed below, please contact the host organization.

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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