Why? Who? How?

Hello, Everyone.  

 

These are some of the big questions:  Why?  Why are you making an advanced credential?  Who?  Who are advanced practitioners - can they be defined? How?  How will you develop this exam to make sure it is really representative of a real-life advanced practitioner?  

Let's start with "Why?"  The desire for such an advanced certification has been verified through various projects and studies over the last twelve years: 

•     In 1997, Job Task Analysis survey respondents indicated a desire for advanced certification and specialty exams. In response, NCBTMB commissioned a Task Force, which then distributed a market research survey to stakeholders through the NCB Connections newsletter.  When asked to respond to "I support the development of a "Masters" or Advanced Level of certification which recognizes higher levels of skill and experience than the current NCBTMB credential" almost two-thirds of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed. 

•     In 2000, a feasibility study for an advanced credential was undertaken.  This further reinforced the idea, noting the need for a body of knowledge in order to proceed. 

•     Shortly thereafter, in 2001, a Pre-Job Analysis Report for Advanced Certification was commissioned with an independent testing company to confirm the belief that a real construct exists for an advanced exam and credential.  This was confirmed and in 2002 and 2003, further refining work was completed regarding task analysis and item development. 

•     In 2007, the Job Task Analysis again reflected that the profession desired a voluntary advanced credential. 

•     Finally, in 2009, after review of these past efforts and confident that the desire for such a credential was evident, the NCBTMB Board of Directors decided to proceed with the creation of an advanced certification credential and exam.  Nearly 7,000 practitioners responded to the Needs Assessment Survey, indicating that the interest in such a credential remains high.

Now for "Who?"  Even though the profession of massage therapy and bodywork is varied and encompasses many different techniques and methods, a valid definition of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for one to practice has already been created.  The Job Task Analysis (JTA) is the tool used to define the knowledge, skills and abilities for which a specific exam will test.  Both the NCBTMB and the Federation developed their exams through the usage of JTAs, defining the minimum requirements for participation in the "profession" of massage therapy.  The MTBOK is further defining what is encompassed within the practices of the profession. 

We are aware that not every massage practitioner will want to take an advanced certification exam.  But you have to remember that the keystone of advanced certification is that it is completely voluntary.  It will simply provide an option for people who have practiced for years and mastered their craft and desire to have a means to set themselves apart -- to differentiate themselves based on their knowledge, skills and abilities as defined by the profession and verified by an independent agency.

And, finally... "How?"  A steering group of test development specialists, psychometricians and NCBTMB representatives is directing the development of the new credential. Working with a Task Force of more than 20 diverse professionals serving as the core body of industry experts, specific exam development activities will be tackled one at a time.  This includes items such as item (or question) writing, item review and standard setting. We'll know it is really representative of a real-life advanced practitioner because we will rely on input from practitioners across the field to define the exam content with the Job Task Analysis survey.  A Step-by-Step document will be posted on the webpage within the week to explain each step and let you see where we are in the process.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of the rationale for NCBTMB’s activities regarding advanced certification.  We truly feel that this is something that the profession has been asking for and that it will provide benefits for practitioners across the country.  We are committed to providing a certification that will elevate the stature of the profession, by increasing respect and notability nationwide.  This is one way that massage can move closer to the status of other allied health and integrative professions.

Until Next Time...

Liz

 

Comments

[Mike Hinkle]

Hi Liz,

Lots of questions to follow about "Why", but would like to start with "Who".

The following statement boggles the mind... "a valid definition of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for one to practice has already been created."

Has already been created? Could you please post this BOK. Would love to know it's influence on the ongoing MTBOK project.

MTBOK has set no standards of competency and yet you said "noting the need for a body of knowledge in order to proceed."

Thank you.

[NCBTMB]

Hi, Mike.

The BOKs that currently exist for the profession are the one upon which the NCBTMBs existing exams are based and the one upon which the MBLEx is based - and the MTBOK is working on developing one. My statement does not refer to an advanced BOK - this has yet to be developed, but will be through the exam development process for the new credential.

Does this help?

Liz

[Mike Hinkle]

Advanced BOK? I thought the stake holders were creating an entry level BOK? The MTBOK is an advanced BOK? Where do I see your basic BOK?

[Rose]

So when you state that 7,000 responded and this indicates a high level of interest in such a credential, are you saying that a high percentage of the 7,000 replied with a "ADVANCED CERTIFICATION IS NEEDED" response in the survey?

If so, do you happen to know that percentage?

[NCBTMB]

Hi, Mike.

There is no advanced body of knowledge at this point. One will be created by the profession through the Job Task Analysis process for the advanced certification exam.

The Job Task Analysis (JTA) is the tool used to define the knowledge, skills and abilities for which a specific exam will test, and the most recent JTA performed by the NCBTMB - and defining the knowledge, skills and abilities required for an entry level massage therapy practitioner - is available on our website. The NCETM and NCETMB were specifically designed to measure the knowledge and skills that massage and/or bodywork practitioners identified as important for safe and competent practice at the entry level. The most recent JTA report called on the expertise of more than 4,000 massage professionals and resulted in refinements to the weight of content areas for NCBTMB exams (that will be instituted in January).

I hope this is helpful for you.

Liz

[Mike Hinkle]

Hi Liz,

Ok,so if a JTA survey will create the advanced BOK needed by NCB to create the advanced certification test(s?), why doesn't the MTBOK Task Force just create a JTA survey to create the basic BOK?

4,000 (NCB members only?) out of over 200,000 therapists is all that is needed? Is the information to create this advanced BOK going to be presented to membership again for any confirmation?

[Bert Davich]

Hi Liz,
I have some simple questions.
Your Statement to Mike:
"There is no advanced body of knowledge at this point. One will be created by the profession through the Job Task Analysis process for the advanced certification exam.

I cannot understand the reasoning of developing an advanced BOK by developing an exam first. That seems backward to me. I would think that an exam would be developed from a BOK.

Your statement to Mike....
"The BOK that currently exists for the profession is the one upon which the NCBTMBs existing exams are based and the one upon which the MBLEx is based - and the MTBOK is working on developing one

You clearly stated that a BOK exists and the NCBTMB is using it.

Then subsequently stated

"The Job Task Analysis (JTA) is the tool used to define the knowledge, skills and abilities for which a specific exam will test, and the most recent JTA performed by the NCBTMB - and defining the knowledge, skills and abilities required for an entry level massage therapy practitioner - is available on our website.

Well I looked at the JTA and the only thing I could find regarding your statement was a small box that was headed "Task Analysis" in the .pdf file nce_report-1.pdf (page 4) which listed Task Domains: 1)Intake of information... followed by 4 more short 'Task domains, then Knowledge/Skill Domains: 1)General Knowledge of Body Systems 2)Anatomy Phisiology kinesology... followed by 4 more short 'domains' listed.

This hardly constitutes a BOK. If there is a BOK there and I missed it, please give us a link so we can find it. It seems to me that you should either post this BOK or explain why you (the NCBTMB) are unable or unwilling to do so.

I would like to state again that an exam should be created FROM a BOK to test a therapist's knowledge of clearly stated KSA's, not the other way around. This is particularly true for an 'advanced' certification.

I want you to know that your hard work is appreciated, but there are many therapist out here that feel like we are being treated like mushrooms and kept in the dark. This makes it difficult to get on board with your advanced certification plan.

Regards,
Bert

[John R. Goss, III]

So you are suggesting that NCB is developing an exam based on its analysis of what constitues an advanced body of knowledge. One advanced body of knowledge? Might specializations be distinct forms of advanced knowledge? IF so, is NCB proposing a "one size fits all" approach to knowledge (advanced or otherwise) or might exams in specilized practice areas be inteh offing? These are important questions, at least from my perspective as a post-secondary educator.

[Mike Hinkle]

Hi Liz,

There are many folks writing wanting to see the NCB BOK, Please post the location for that.

Next is the issue of:

"The BOKs that currently exist for the profession are the one upon which the NCBTMBs existing exams are based and the one upon which the MBLEx is based - and the MTBOK is working on developing one."

If there is a true BOK, wasn't it created by NCB, not the profession? NCB is only a small part of the profession.

I thought it odd that NCB would assist FSMTB with the MBLEx. I remember reading how NCB felt about MBLEx even coming into existence. And the fact that NCB is suing states, to make them stay with the NCB test, even if they don't want to, caused me to contact FSMTB and ask.

Their answer was, "MBLEx is based on OUR JTA not their BOK". Liz why are you trying to tie NCB to MBLEx?

ABMP and AMTA have both said the best test is MBLEx. Is your lost of revenue causing NCB to create another source through advanced certification? You said this effort goes back to 1997, why now is this being pushed to this degree, voluntary or not?

[John R. Goss, III]

So you are suggesting that NCB is developing an exam based on its analysis of what constitutes an advanced body of knowledge. One advanced body of knowledge? Might specializations be distinct forms of advanced knowledge? IF so, is NCB proposing a "one size fits all" approach to knowledge (advanced or otherwise) or might exams in specialized practice areas be in the offing? These are important questions, at least from my perspective as a post-secondary educator.

[NCBTMB]

Hello, Everyone.

There seems to be some confusion here in the multiple uses of the phrase “body of knowledge.” A formal Body of Knowledge is being created by the MTBOK project. The way in which I was using the term “body of knowledge” in one of my responses above was not a reference to a physical document but was used to refer to “the collective corpus of information necessary to practice in the profession” which encompasses knowledge garnered from across the field. It is the complete set of concepts, terms and activities that make up the profession of massage therapy as defined by those who are a part of the profession. To avoid future confusion, I will from here onward refer to the “Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge” as the outcome of the MTBOK project.

Bert is absolutely correct when he says that “I cannot understand the reasoning of developing an advanced BOK by developing an exam first.” As I stated, there is no advanced body of knowledge at this point; however, through a job task analysis process what the profession itself considers advanced practice will be defined. This WILL be done before the actual exam is written. At the start of that process, the Advanced Certification Task Force (Subject Matter Experts) will have to bring their overall advanced knowledge of the profession together to create the advanced JTA. That JTA, like its predecessor, will be made widely available (and responses will be separated through the use of screener questions) to ensure that the concepts, terms and activities they utilized was truly representative of the field and to refine the knowledge, skills and abilities for an advanced level practitioner. We cannot write an exam without this key component – this must happen first.

The results from the Needs Analysis survey will be available soon, and they will show which kind of advanced exam was indicated as most needed by the profession now: “A certification centered around advanced knowledge of body sciences (including body systems) and skills that are outcome based”, “A certification centered around a specific modality (e.g. sports massage, energy work, pregnancy massage, etc.)” or “A certification centered around a specific practice setting (e.g. educational setting, clinical setting, spa and/or resort, etc.)”. I am not sure what the future may hold, but for now, I can say that we are creating an advanced certification of the type indicated as most needed by the profession.

Regards,

Liz

[Gloria Coppola]

Short & Simple!
I don't feel the NCB should be offering any advanced certification. I feel it is just another way for them to make money. The organizations that are teaching advanced trainings should offer that status. The ones I know of require hands on testing, case studies and written evaluation. They should be offering the advanced certification! No test NCB can make will prove anything,except that some can pass a test.

Why do we need another test....fees? MT's in the masses are complaining about all the fees they have to pay for this and that.

We can't seem to get straight and clear answers from anyone. Many are skeptical that I have spoken with and rightfully so.

I am conducting my own survey for other reasons and included "Do you think there should be advanced certification?" Do you know a huge amount of people are not even aware that there wasn't, or why we need one? Lots of confused people out there. Many aren't NCB members and so they aren't aware of your survey(s).

I feel like it's another government, slipping things through without all the facts being out there first, without the majority of voices being heard.

Well, this was supposed to short. So i'll stop now.

[Jan Schwartz]

Re the Who? In order to do a JTA for the advanced cert, don't you have to survey advanced practitioners? I'm curious to know what criteria you are using to identify those people?

[Kim Goral]

What will be the format of the Advanced Cert test(s)? Will it be another multiple choice exam? Frankly, I don't see how answering multiple choice questions on a computer demonstrates mastery of bodywork of any type.

Also- you stated above,
"The way in which I was using the term “body of knowledge” in one of my responses above was not a reference to a physical document but was used to refer to “the collective corpus of information necessary to practice in the profession” which encompasses knowledge garnered from across the field. It is the complete set of concepts, terms and activities that make up the profession of massage therapy as defined by those who are a part of the profession."

Even if it was an "informal" BOK, it must be in print somewhere- why will you not release it to us? I can't imagine it was a bunch of people sitting around a table just discussing things without documenting decisions about what was to be included.

If there has been a push for advanced Cert. since 1997, why has it taken until 2009 to create? Like others have stated, seems a bit coincidental that it took until another certification exam came around to come out with this. Maybe it honestly took 12 years to develop...?

You said, "Nearly 7,000 practitioners responded to the Needs Assessment Survey, indicating that the interest in such a credential remains high"
7000 out of how many??? Doesn't seem like that high of a number to me, in comparison to the number of MTs out there.

How many exams will there be? One for every modality?

Thanks for the info.

[Bert Davich]

Hi Liz,
Simply put, if the JTA does not make available in it's entirety....
(Your quote below)
"the collective corpus of information necessary to practice in the profession” which encompasses knowledge garnered from across the field. It is the complete set of concepts, terms and activities that make up the profession of massage therapy as defined by those who are a part of the profession",

then you are still keeping us in the dark. I cannot understand why the NCB would do this, other than to protect the information used to create the test for proprietary purposes.

IS this 'collective corpus' going to be made available or not? And I think if we are going to volunteer for this certification we should know how you determined who would participate in defining these concepts, terms and activities.

[Mike Hinkle]

Hi Liz,

Laura Allen said you were up again. Thanks.

Here's my point! There are four, at least, discussions talking about this issue and Gloria Coppola's survey as well. It looks like 8 out of 10 people are "against" advanced certification, especially, as a test from NCB. Why is this going forward? Are you using info from 1997 to go ahead now? Therapists had less certifying organizations back then and therapists were trying to get established. They felt they needed to say they weren't just a massage therapist. Now they can become certified as advanced in hundreds of modality specialties, from hundreds of instructors approved by NCBTMB to do just that. There were not as many people with their hand out towards therapists. Times are different.

You said 4,000 surveys are being reviewed. Were they only sent to NCB members? I have been a NCB member since I graduated, I did not get a survey. Were they sent to the initial NCB members that all were favorable, at that time? I have not seen or heard from but a handful of people that are for this effort and almost all of them are NCB approved instructors.

To release this exam in April is wrong. I know there is a fantastic group working behind the scenes on this, some are my friends, but this effort, I feel, will be for naught, if things are not slowed down. The MTBOK, being given as a reason to go forward, will not even be released to the public until May in Seattle, WA.

Slow down, gather more information and support across the profession and it may work. Keep forcing and I think it will be rebuffed. If no one takes a "voluntary" test, what has been gained? And more important is, what has been lost?

[Emmanuel Bistas]

Few years ago my foot was hurting so I asked a podiatrist friend of mine for his opinion. He said that my big toe joint was jammed and that he should operate on it to decompress it. Fearing surgery, I visited a bodyworker friend who told me the problem was probably with my pelvis, which was affecting my gait and was causing the problem with my big toe. Few bodywork sessions later the foot pain was gone.

We all tend to solve problems based on what we know and do best, but sometimes there is a better and drastically different solution. NCB is taking what it knows best - exam development,JTAs, psychometrics, and all – and applying it to a perceived need for an advanced credential. Could it be that creating yet another exam is not the solution?

[David Lauterstein]

Dear Colleagues Affiliated with the NCBTMB proposed Advanced Certification Exam,

I and many in our field have serious reservations about the proposed Advanced Certification Exam and process.

Please note the important points raised:

• With the MBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards’ exam) now having cut into NCBTMB's market, the proposed advanced certification exam seems to be more necessitated as an income stream, than as a mandated credential. One organization's bottom line should not rule the decisions made affecting our whole field – especially if those decisions will have a negative effect on the field as a whole.

• From the response I’ve gotten from everyone except NCBTMB, I believe I’m in the majority in believing that the proposed Advanced Certification exam and credential proposed by NCBTMB is not a good idea at this time. The majority of therapists are not nationally certified and the majority of advanced therapists certainly are not nationally certified. And I believe the NCBTMB surveys in 1997 and onward did not include the majority of practitioners. Many therapists, teachers and school owners have serious reservations about the flawed psychometrics on which NCBTMB is claiming to base their decisions.

• I never received the initial survey in 1997 or any others - was it completed only by Nationally Certified therapists? If the primary school owners in the U.S. were not consulted, who else was left out of the surveying process?

• That NCBTMB should be the arbiter of who is advanced and who is not is very debatable. Over time, the negative comments on problematic service and self-interest have grown to the point where many of the finest teachers and schools now view NCBTMB with concern and, at worst, resentment and frustration.

• Requiring to be certified as advanced that one be already Nationally Certified, arbitrarily, dramatically and unnaturally limits who can qualify for advanced certification to people who are currently Nationally Certified.

• If we end up with a group of advanced practitioners who are not eligible - due to the arbitrary requirement of National Certification - vs. a group who are eligible - NCB would be putting a dysfunctional division in our field. A split between advanced practitioners not recognized by NCB and those who are will be divisive and deleterious to our field.

• There is basically no way in such exams to demonstrate practical skills. Qualifying someone as advanced without any way to demonstrate advanced skill level is problematic to say the least.

• Who is considered advanced may be more appropriately decided by the individual organizations that oversee and/or train the specialties in our field - such as the Rolf Institute, AOBTA, Feldenkrais Guild, and other education institutions or organizations that can responsibly verify advanced skill levels. Only they can look closely enough at the individual practitioners to genuinely assess whether their knowledge and skills are advanced.

• NCBTMB has not demonstrated thorough research nor industry backing for how to define the advanced knowledge an advanced practitioner should have. The emphasis of the proposed exam apparently would be orthopedic massage. While I appreciate orthopedic massage specialists, the majority of advanced practitioners practice holistically, that is they have excellent skills to resolve physical problems, while also utilizing advanced skills to prevent disease and to augment the health of their clients. Advanced Massage therapists largely are complementary health-care practitioners, not just allopathic disease-treatment specialists. Any advanced exam MUST reflect that fact.

* * *

In sum, I and others believe you are proposing to make a bad decision, which would negatively affect the whole field, apparently on the basis of your own needs as an organization and the opinions of a select minority whom you have preferred to survey. Additionally, to do this at the expense of the field which supports you is extremely unfortunate.

I love our field and have been completely involved in it for over 30 years. I am protective of its highest aspirations which I do believe we all want to see respected in the decisions made affecting our field.

Sincerely,

David Lauterstein
Co-Director, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School
4701-B Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
[email protected]
http://www.tlcschool.com/
512.374.9222 ext. 20

[Bert Davich]

Earlier this year (I just recalled) I completed the advanced certification survey, then had several online conversations regarding the survey itself. Other therapist who commented agreed with my evaluation below.

The survey was designed (as surveys often are) with assumptions and omissions that channeled the outcome in a certain direction. Most of the possible answers to questions were not an answer of my choice. I did fill in the blank "other" but I doubt these answers carried any weight for obvious reasons.

I checked the NCB site and cannot find the survey results posted, although the "re certification survey" results are available (106 responses)

I am requesting the NCB to publish the survey results question by question (as other results are displayed) or explain why the you will not.

[Angela K. Palmier]

In response specifically to Mr. Lauterstein's message:
As a fellow bodyworker/massage therapist, massage educator and affiliated industry contractor, I think it's appropriate for me to respond to this "Open Letter and Call to Action."

For purposes of transparency, I'd like to include that Resource ETC was contracted by NCB to provide Industry Relations services in September of this year and as "Industry Relations" issues have come forward, we have promptly and without filter, provided them with the information and have been very pleased that they have responded quickly and appropriately. That being said, there are several questions that come up for me as I read this "Call to Action" and hope to get some clarity so that we (Chris Alvarado and I) can reflect information back....(Please excuse the length of this post!!!) While NCB will most certainly see this post, I'd also like for our peers to be able to see the questions that I have and further comment on them....

Your statement, ".....the proposed advanced certification exam seems to be more necessitated as an income stream than a mandated credential...."

My question: To what are you basing this assumption? I read your assertion that MBLEx exams are cutting into "NCBTMBs market", but I'm not sure that a direct correlation between the increase in MBLEx exams would directly relate to anyone's market share---the number of exams given over the past few years are increasing as more states have licensure, so, in fact the "market" has grown, correct?

Your statement: "...From the response I've gotten from everyone except NCBTMB...."

My question: Has ABMP, AMTA or any other organization publicly stated that they do not support Advanced Certification, or NCB's involvement in it? That would directly conflict with statements made by both of those associations/organizations in the past. I did make an assumption (and you know what they say about assuming ;), that you were referring to specific organizations. Is that the case? I suppose the real question is "Who is everyone?"

Your statement "......and the majority of advanced therapists certainly are not nationally certified"

My question "By making that statement, it would infer that you have an idea, or definition of what advanced therapists are, what their affiliation is, what their scope is, etc. Do you have that information available to share? Is this your opinion?"

Your statement: "Many therapists, teachers and school owners have serious reservations about the flawed psychometrics on which NCBTMB is claiming to base their decisions:

My question: This is probably the single most statement of concern for me---Pearson Vue psychometricians are providing these services for both MBLEx and NCB exams, as well as the advanced certification exam development. Does this mean that you believe that Pearson Vue is not qualified, or uses flawed methods?

Your statement: "That NCBTMB should be the arbiter of who is advanced and who is not is very debatable"

My question: Do you have a suggestion of who the arbiter of advanced certification should be? It is my understanding that the profession decides the definition, and not NCB. Is there something I'm missing?

Your statement: "Requiring to be certified as advanced that one be already Nationally Certified.."

My question: Has NCB posted that this was going to be required? (Again, assuming here) but I would imagine that National Certification may and most likely will be A pathway to or a step, or something to qualify, however given the multitude of "advanced-type" courses out there, such as those offered by your school, I would imagine that those pathways would be considered as well.

Your statement: "If we end up with a group of advanced practitioners who are not eligible due to arbitrary requirement of National Certification vs. a group who are eligible..."

My question: Again, it appears that you have eligibility requirements for advanced practitioners in mind. If so, can you please share?

Your statement: "There is basically no such way in such exams to demonstrate practical skills"

My question: Is it your assertion that for someone to demonstrate practical skill, that a written exam does not provide any level of competency? I'm wondering as the discussion with regard to distance education by several reputable massage educators such as Erik Dalton, Tom Meyers, etc., would offer a different opinion. I think this is a great discussion item and would love to hear more about this.

Your statement: "NCBTMB has not demonstrated thorough research nor industry backing for how to define the advanced knowledge an advanced practitioner should have."

My question: Other than the psychometrically valid steps that have been offered by Pearson Vue, the responses from the needs assessment, the future JTA that will be forthcoming, do you have any further suggestions or is there anything else that would satisfy your concern with regard to research or industry backing?

Your statement: "The emphasis of the proposed exam apparently would be orthopedic massage"

My question: What are you basing this opinion on? Was something published that indicated that the advanced credential would be focused on orthopedic massage?

Your statement: "....the majority of advanced practitioners practice holistically...."

My question: Again, you appear to have an idea of a advanced practitioner definition in order the make the statement that most of them practice holistically.

Your statement: "....while also utilizing advanced skills to prevent disease....."

My question: Sorry to beat a dead horse here, but clearly you have an opinion on what defines an advanced practitioner, advanced skills, etc. Please share those!!!!

Your statement: "Advanced Massage Therapists largely are complementary health-care practitioners, not just allopathic disease-treatment specialists."

My question. Excluding the "advanced massage therapists" designation, as I am in no position personally to define what that is, there is no question that the designation of "complementary" certainly applies to massage therapists. What I wonder is, if given the opportunity, would more of them choose to work in an allopathic environment? One of the major blocks for massage therapists to enjoy the various opportunities in an integrated healthcare system is in many ways because we cannot show physicians, hospitals, third party reimbursers, federal health care programs, etc., what our skills, training, etc. are simply by a "licensed" or "certified" credential.

While we can satisfy a states requirement for entry level, we cannot clearly articulate to the larger public what, in addition, we can offer. When you open the phone book looking for a doctor, you don't just see MD---you see oncologists, radiologists, etc. Do you think that it would be helpful for the public, legislators, employers, etc., to know that if they want to utilize massage therapy services as a tool for treating a specific problem there would be a way to clearly identify them?

Your statement: "....the opinions of a select minority whom you have preferred to survey."

My question: I'm not sure what you are basing this assertion on. The needs assessment survey was posted not only on the NCB website, but on the AMTA website as well---reaching over 148,000--I believe ABMP also planned to post it to their site as well? Laura Allen and her blogs, this massageprofessionals.com arena was also posting links--and certainly many conversations in other mediums such as Facebook, etc., carried the information and the response was huge----many of which were not certificants at all. I'm wondering if you were aware of this?

So sorry to take up so much space here. I'm sure I've violated just about every single rule regarding length of blog responses, but as you can see, I'm very concerned about, and committed to ensuring that the industry perspective is heard. I'm responding to this blog as a peer--former school owner, committed massage therapist, and educator, just like yourself.
Talking WITH people and not AT them is something that I value very highly. I appreciate your many concerns and I assure you as the responses come in to your post---and the responses that will be generated from my response will absolutely be considered, unfiltered and heard.

Thank you, Mr. Lauterstein for your dedicated service to the Massage Therapy Profession, your continuing support and recognition of advanced massage training and advanced massage certification courses, etc. Your stature and history are not lost on me.

Very Respectfully Submitted,

Angela Palmier

[Jeanette Stack, LMP, NCTMB, AMTA]

Hi Liz,

I would like to thank you and the NBCTMB for all your hard work and I am very excited about the Advanced Certification. Over the years I have participated in a number of surveys and each time indicated that I support advanced certification.

In response to those who are against advanced certification, if they do not want advanced certification, then they do not have to take the exam. It is a voluntary certification. Very simple.

I hope that the NBCTMB does not let the negativity from some discourage them from their goal. Those of us in favor of voluntary advanced certification should not be denied the oppertunity because of those who do not favor it.

Keep up the good work,
Jeanette

[Tracy Anderson]

Hi Liz & Fellow Colleagues,

In reading these posts and thinking about other professions that have specialty or advanced certifications I am wondering whether NCB could spend some time looking at the ways legal assistants/paralegals (www.nala.org), yoga instructors (www.yogaalliance.org), personal trainers (www.ace.com, as well as all the other NCCA accredited organization who offer CPT--for a chart, see www.starting-a-personal-training-business.com/accredited-personal-training-certification.html), Certified Public Accountants (CPA's), and perhaps other similar professions who have voluntary certifications have structured their certifications.

Additionally, it would be helpful to understand and study how doctors and attorneys structure certs and board certifications. Doctors have a national board that they take, then national board certification, by exam, such as in internal medicine, gyn/ob, etc.).

This is an idea: not one NCB advanced certification, but many: orthopedic, aromatherapy, asian modalities, sports massage, stretching, pre/post natal, etc.

As a side note, these boards that doctors take are recognized by each state, with just minor administrative paper work for each state to complete criminal checks and check complaints where ever the doctor was licensed in a prior state.

Sure, ideally there would be just one national certification/testing organization for massage therapy, but now there are two. And I suspect there will be many more in the future. Just look at the personal training national certification options! The same happened with legal assistant/paralegals. The original organization was NALA, then another started with their own cert and exam. So far, just one national organization/cert for yoga instructors.

Also, ideally you might have more than a multiple choice exam, but that has become almost impractical. And, I don't think a national cert by NCB or anyone else would complete with an advanced cert in Rolfing, Feldenkrais, Trager, etc. It's just one more option, one more choice.

Additionally, NCB and others who want to offer advanced certifications need to start somewhere. These things can be modified over time. Yes, ideally it would be perfectly studied before hand, and particularly at this time, it will be important to take advantage of the studies and collaborative effort going on within the profession (the BOK, etc.).

If some surveys have been done, maybe additional surveys should be sent to a wider audience and in the spirit of collaboration, sent out by all the organizations/massage magazines, etc. (NCB, AMTA, ABMP, Massage Today, etc.)

Lastly, let's try to make the advanced certification acronym understandable. I'm NCTMB, but even others who have that credential can't keep the initials in the correct order, and most consumers are completely confused by it--it's much too long and some consumers/patients/clients don't even realize it relates to massage! In addition, many massage therapist list AMTA after their names as if it were a credential or ceritification....but I digress.

Please, please do not come up with something crazy like "NCTMB-AMTBP." Maybe something like "Advanced National Certification in Orthpedic Massage--NCB" -- understandable, but still on the long side! I'd be interested to see what you all are thinking of!

The more I think about it, the more I believe separate advanced certifications in massage/bodywork would be helpful. Perhaps even a collaborative effort with the leaders in those fields, as mentioned in a post above, and any additional teachers, such as Dalton, Meyers, Waslaski, Mattes, etc. If those in the field and massage practitioners believe some hand-on testing is best, perhaps those instructors teaching could provide such "hands-on testing" (the hands-on part to test those who have taken their courses) as a "part A" and then those practitioners could then go on to "part B" by taking the NCB multiple choice test in that corresponding area of massage specialty.

Respectfully,
Tracy Anderson, NCTMB, LMT, RYT, CLA

[Account Deleted]

Just one or two notes for posterity:

1) Quite honestly, if anyone is interested, what I find to be most objectionable about the quality of commentary, is the oxymoronic "argument" construction and often solipsistic rebuttals.

2) Just as it may suit some of us to point the finger of 'conspiracy theory' toward those who's Professional opinions lead them to act on their convictions and say...create a 'governing body' and in so doing, attempt to lay claim to a generalized monopoly on an entire genre of political and philosophical discourse, please note that I will continue to vote with my feet. See note #1

The following could be said with more class but I am going to let allow it to be rough.

3) While I DO wish the very best to those NCB colleagues who are actively seeking to carve their own niche, I am not having a cow over the NCB's advanced cert odyssey after 10 years as a 'lowly' and 'hideously' meritocratic NCBTMB member. Nor will I say nothing when idealism is pitted against me.

4)Although, I would love to know which end of this "cultural transformation," in the Massage Profession claims ownership of 'Civilization' and which will DEIGN to lay claim to 'Culture?' I have NEVER been a member of the AMTA nor of any or any other "upstart" Professional networking organization such as the ABMP. Untill 2002, the ABMP was just another massage magazine. So if there was as much gnashing of teeth and fear mongering about their advent at the turn of the current century as there has been regarding the FSMTB and MBLex, pardon me for having walked away and having 'missed it.'

5) I was blissfully self absorbed for my ten years as a MT, minding my own business and that of my employers when I wasn't an independent contractor. I don't doubt, that a 'voluntary' advanced credential was created for the simple reason that the Profession's philosophical dead ends leaves it unable to do more than wait for all the undesirables to simply die off like dead wood. Capitalism at it's finest but with the current climate, one might well call compare it to Sharia finance and cry "Islam!"

[Dr David Sandler Phd ND Phd HD NCTMB]

If you feel we need advanced certification then something is wrong with our schools.They would need to up the education to get in and up the education to complete massage school.the national certification test just make it harder.You say no but an advanced certification will make my NCTMB almost void.