What the NCE Really Means

Editorís Note: As a candidate who has been working hard to prepare to take the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB, or NCE), have you ever wondered about the development of the test itself? Is the test fair, credible, accurate and legally defensible? What does the NCE really do to prepare one for a career in massage therapy and/or bodywork?
    Linda Waters, PhD, RN, who is the Managing Principal of the Health and Professional Division at The Chauncey Group International, answered the following questions about the NCE, and how its careful development gives NCTMB candidates the best educational background to launch their careers in massage therapy and/or bodywork. Dr. Waters is a registered nurse with advanced degrees in statistics and evaluation. She earned her BSN and MSN from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, and her PhD from the University of Delaware.

What should candidates look for in terms of becoming a top performer in their field?
In any given field, a candidate should demonstrate mastery of the important knowledge and skills required in that profession. It is critical that a competent, effective practitioner possess the necessary skills and knowledge that:

1. clearly identifies that person has such knowledge and skills,
2. clearly separates that individual from a professional who does not possess this set of knowledge and skills.

The best way to demonstrate this concept of competence in a career field is through a program of study that is documented by a credential earned through an independent examination process. The examination shows that the credential was earned as a function of attainment of knowledge and skills.

Why is the NCE the best selection for one whoís chosen massage therapy or bodywork as a profession?
The NCTMB is a credential that has been developed under the most stringent professional criteria. As such, it serves the important function of differentiating between knowledgeable and skilled practitioners in the field of massage therapy and bodywork from those who are less knowledgeable and presumably less competent. The public that seeks the services of a professional who has achieved certification by passing the NCE can be assured that this practitioner has demonstrated the knowledge required for safe and competent services. The NCE helps to assure that holders of the certificate possess sufficient knowledge and skills to perform the correct professional activities when required and know enough not to cause harm in massage therapy or bodywork. The NCE is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, a distinction earned only by organizations that can demonstrate adherence to professional credentialing standards. These standards require the independent audit of the NCE according to a set of rigorous standards that assure the candidates of a high quality and fair credentialing program.

What makes a test credible and fair?
A test is fair and credible if it has been developed, administered and scored in adherence with testing industry standards for examination development. The NCBTMB has carefully adhered to the tenets of examination development and administration by making certain that stringent criteria have been upheld during each step of the development and administration of the NCE.
    Developing a sound examination program follows a prescribed process. While organizations can vary in the process used to complete each step, they must conduct and document each step involved in the creation of the credentialing program from job analysis to test development to administration and scoring.
    Operating a sound examination requires attention to factors such as customer service, fairness, validity, reliability, score reporting, and test takersí rights. When attention is devoted to each of these features, and care is taken in the development and the operation of the program, the result is that the credentialing program is both credible and fair. It is credible because the test measures the important knowledge and skills of the profession and it is fair because of the attention to detail taken in the operation of the program on an ongoing basis.

What does it mean when a test is legally defensible?
A test is legally defensible if it has been developed under sound practices resulting in a quality examination that is psychometrically sound and can be defended in the event of a legal challenge. Psychometric soundness means that the examination has been developed according to industry guidelines. Foremost in this process is the identification of the skills and knowledge that define the practice of massage therapy and bodywork through a role delineation or job analysis study. Such a study forms the basis upon which test items are created and linked back to the job analysis forming the basis for the credentialís validity. The practitioner taking the NCE can be assured that the test items have been developed to cover content deemed essential for the practice of massage therapy and bodywork and that the test is conducted in a manner that is fair to all candidates.
    When considering certification programs offered by different sponsors, the candidate should look closely at the program that is being offered. Not all certification programs are created equal! The caveat ìbuyer bewareî certainly applies to certification examinations. The ìbuyerîñin this case the practitioner seeking certificationñshould look carefully at the examination to make certain it has been developed and maintained by following industry-standard guidelines. Ask such questions as:
    ìWas a formal research study undertaken to determine the basis for the examination?î ìHow were the test questions written and reviewed?î and ìHow was the passing point set?î
    Organizations sponsoring examinations that adhere to these stringent development guidelines, such as the NCE, will be able to provide comprehensive answers.

What are the benefits of competency-based examinations such as the NCE?
The benefit of a competency-based exam is measurement of didactic knowledge and skills-based knowledge. Most professions, particularly those involving wellness and health care, require that a practitioner be competent in two modalitiesñformal knowledge of content assessed by a written examination, and clinical proficiency acquired through learning or hands-on experiences.
    The formal assessment of important knowledge used in the conduct of professional activities permits each candidate to demonstrate their competence. The NCE is a standardized impartial way for a candidate to demonstrate that he or she knows what is important for performing as a competent professional in massage therapy and bodywork.

What are the disadvantages of a hands-on only, practical type of examination?
While a hands-on practical experience or training is an essential component, it alone cannot assure that a practitioner has acquired the scope of knowledge to practice safely and competently. One limitation is the training period itself. Unless the training period is greatly extended over a period of years, it is unlikely that a practitioner could be exposed to the myriad of situations and cases that might occur during that practitioner's career in massage therapy and bodywork.
    Additionally, a hands-on only education provides no independent assessment of competence nor is there any professional designation or recognition of competence. With an obtained, earned credential, such as the NCE, a professional can demonstrate competence by external criteria. These criteria are set by the organization that offers the credential.
    Practitioners who attain the credential through an independent assessment processñin addition to hands-on educationñgain the respect and recognition that comes from meeting a rigorous set of requirements. These practitioners also have the satisfaction that they have set a professional goal and mastered that goal.

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NCB Develops Two New Credentials
As announced in previous editions of the NCB Infoline, the NCBTMB is in the process of developing two new credentials, one for massage therapy and one for advanced practice in massage therapy. The NCBTMB expects these two new credentials to be in place during the year 2003.
    The new credentials in massage therapy will require candidates to:

The NCBTMB encourages Nationally Certified Practitioners to choose a credential, successfully complete the National Certification process for that credential, and keep their National Certification current.
    ìBy offering these new credentials, the NCBTMB is working in lockstep with the needs of states, municipalities and practitioners to continue offering credentials that reflect what industry professionals are practicing,î said Christine Niero, PhD, Executive Director, NCBTMB.
    ìThe NCBTMB has always been recognized for its leadership within the industry and this latest step is just one more sign that the board is delivering what is needed for the massage therapy profession.î
    The NCBTMB is currently working to conduct appropriate studies for validity, survey practitioners, and create test specifications for the specific bodies of knowledge associated with the new certification programs. Once this is in place, NCBTMB will create and pre-test questions and examination forms before launching the new examination programs.
    The NCBTMB will continue to offer the current massage and bodywork credential, the NCTMB, attained through the successful completion of the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic (NCETMB). The new credentials will not change the current certification credential, or the current National Certification Process for the NCTMB.
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Know the Process!
It can be very convenient for students if the schools they attend provide a service that will submit their NCE application for them for a fee. It can also be lucrative for the schools to do this service for the students.
    However, all NCE candidates are expected to read and understand the NCB Candidate Handbook, and are expected to be aware of the application process, and the details about refunds, special accommodations, extensions, cancellations, and more. By simply signing their name and providing a check, those individuals do not fully understand the application process, nor the commitment that they are entering into. Failure to understand and follow policies will result in a delay in the application process.
    Schools that provide the application submission service must require these candidates to be aware of the application process and to read the NCB Candidate Handbook. A condensed version of the application process, by mail and by online submission, is highlighted in this newsletter, but doesnít give the full details of the entire application process as is described in the NCB Candidate Handbook.
    If you have any questions about the NCE application process that are not answered in the Candidate Handbook, or on the NCB web site, www.ncbtmb.com, please contact the NCB office at 703-610-9015.

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