Embracing our History, Advancing the Future
As I begin my role as NCBTMB Chair, I bring a great passion to the massage therapy and bodywork profession. It is a profession with a long rich history and an even more promising future, a profession that is ever evolving.
As far back as 3000 BC, massage is mentioned in Chinese medical books; and the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Indians all have documented accounts of its use for health and wellness. In 1917, the U.S. Surgeon General formally established massage therapy as a rehabilitation process for soldiers wounded in WWI. Recent advances and continuing research into massage are expanding its role within evidence-based medicine and integrative healthcare. In many ways, it is almost as though the massage and bodywork profession has come full circle, returning to a time when it is accepted within a medical environment.
In my own practice, I interview many massage therapists and have recently been asked:
- How can I prove to the world I know what I am doing?
- What can I do to be better at my job?
- I want to be respected by other healthcare professions. Why don’t they see how much we help people?
I must say, I did not hear these types of concerns five years ago. I believe these thoughtful questions indicate a need for massage practitioners and organizations to come together to support, enhance and advance the profession. It will take commitment and hard work on all our parts to make an impact, but with your help, I think we can do it.
NCBTMB has spent the last several years shoring up the foundation of our non-profit organization and building a team of individuals to serve the needs of the massage and bodywork community. This year, as NCBTMB moves in to its 19th year, I would like to share where we are – and what the future has in store.
Development of Advanced Certification and Professional Career Pathway
The National Certification for Advanced Practice (NCAP) exam is well along in its development. Soon massage and bodywork practitioners will be able to distinguish themselves as professionals possessing advanced knowledge, skills and abilities. Those who earn the credential will be relied on for their ability to work in a team environment using treatment plans based on research-informed outcomes. Advanced Certification is the next step on the profession’s career pathway – followed by the development of Specialty Certifications.
Dedication to raising ethics and standards through compliance
Only through National Certification is an applicant required to uphold a strict national Code of Ethics. If a consumer suspects that a violation has been committed, NCBTMB’s Ethics & Discipline program will receive the complaint, review the case and discipline the practitioner if they are found to be in violation. Nothing could be more important in these times of illegitimate therapists threatening to devalue our profession.
We offer the only public, documented investigatory process for identifying and sanctioning schools and certificants operating outside ethical boundaries. In fact, most regulated states have requested to receive monthly reports from our School Compliance and Ethics & Discipline departments. Our work with law enforcement officials and board representatives on investigations in numerous states is making great progress in filtering out fraud, diploma mills and instances of human trafficking.
Improvement of Education and Continuing Education
NCBTMB credentials recognize dedicated professionals as possessing the knowledge, skills and abilities to practice safely and competently. This serves not only the reputation of the profession, but the reputation of schools and continuing education providers as well. We are launching new Approved Provider and Assigned School programs and initiatives to further strengthen the profession and our credentials.
NCBTMB’s mission is to define and advance the highest standards in the profession, which is why we welcome you to work with us as we continue to promote and enhance massage therapy and bodywork in this country.
Alexa Zaledonis, LMT, CPT, NCTMB
Chair, NCBTMB |
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