Creating an Advanced Certification Exam

Hello, Everyone.

I'm Elizabeth Langston and I am the Director of Exam Development for NCBTMB. The development of the new Advanced Certification Credential is such an exciting project and I'm honored to be working on this initiative, which will positively affect the entire profession. 

Since we've announced that we are creating an advanced certification, we've been deluged with questions, comments and feedback from people across the massage industry. The direction for the exam has not yet been determined – that will be discussed through the input of the profession as we analyze the responses from the Needs Assessment Survey. However, you can see that we are committed to making an advanced certification a reality. 

One of the questions I’ve been seeing a lot is “Why? What makes you think we need or want an advanced certification?” The desire for such an advanced certification has been verified through various projects and studies over the past twelve years (based on information gathered from peer groups, past Job Task Analyses, Task Force reports in Board minutes and other empirical evidence.) In 2009, after review of these past efforts and confident that the desire for such a credential was evident, NCBTMB's Board of Directors decided to proceed with the creation of an advanced certification credential and exam. And here we are.

Because the understanding of "advanced" varies by practitioner, the Needs Assessment Survey was designed to determine the type of advanced exam the majority of stakeholders think is needed. We’re reviewing the survey responses now to see what has risen as the primary industry definition of "advanced". Whatever that is, we are planning to make sure the results are made available on NCBTMB's website, on this blog and via other communications, so that everyone can see how the profession as a whole responded to the questions presented.

The Advanced Certification Task Force will use these results as a base to guide the development of the exam – starting with defining the eligibility criteria and drafting the Job Task Analysis survey.  

In the weeks to come, I hope to use this blog as a way to interact with everyone out there, answer questions, kick things around, and provide a place for people to share ideas and, well, even just sound off in general. 

We are here and we are listening! 

Liz

Comments

[Rose]

I am not for advanced certification. I am proud of my National certification but really do not need it because of our state certification. I have been in the business for 16 years and have had to lower my prices because of the factory massage chains. Maybe it would cause the factory owner to make more money and not the therapist. I am a good therapist because I listen to my clients and with my hands and experience of touch, not a test, keep my clients coming back. The true test is getting referrals from clients to keep your practice going. Massage is an art form and different strokes for different folks. How can we be judged by a test?

[Terra]

I've got to say there will always be "great" massage therapist and "lousy" MT's. And it doesn't have a thing to do with a piece of paper you have hanging on your wall. When you enjoy what you do, you enjoy learning about it, and seeing positive results from it. When you are stressed about time or education or test you don't have the energy or focus to be an attentive therapist. How many clients are going to get a lousy massage as a result of "cramming"? It seems like the paper you hang on your wall has more to do with status than ability. The great thing about massage is that it is so flexible to adapt to clients needs. The more you try to fit it in a box, the more people we won't be able to reach. I'm proud to be certified. However my skill level now is up to me and how much effort I put into it, and how many years I practice massage.
NCBTMB might be great, but they are too small of a very diverse group to make these choices.

[Cheryl]

I think another certification extending the qualifications of an already qualified therapist is only a marketing assist for those of us already in practice for years. I do not feel that my elevated test results on whether I know anatomy thoroughly "enough", is proportionate to my work. There are plenty of other fields that have been required to elevate and "certify" their "advanced" qualifications, only to have found that causing them to fulfill more requirements and credentialing without any more reimbursement increases for that increased education. When you create another level of credentialing, you have to ask yourselves "what is your intention." Will having another credential help your patient, your client, yourself, increased revenue? Not to mention, you will be allowing the insurance companies to then demand all practitioners to attain that level to stay a provider with them and they will not receive any increased compensation on the fee scale, nor any aspect or outcome of patient care prior to obtaining the "advanced certification". Once you enact an "advanced certification", slowly that will become the new "minimum requirement".

[Chris]

I would love to have an advanced certification and learn more about the field I love, but what would the certification mean? would that mean I will get to work in a better place or my practice will be recognized more?