NCBTMB and Academy of Clinical Massage Launch Clinical Rehabilitative Massage Specialty Certificate Program

Burr Ridge, Ill. / Sisters, Org. (April 11, 2017)—The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) announced today a partnership with the Academy of Clinical Massage (“Academy”) to introduce the profession’s first Clinical Rehabilitative Massage Specialty Certificate Program.

“For decades, stakeholders and professionals in our field have been looking for some type of recognized credential that can validate the training and experience of massage therapists who treat pain and injury conditions,” explains Academy Director, Whitney Lowe. “This specialty certificate program has been uniquely designed to address this deficit.”

The program prepares professionals to work in settings that require advanced clinical skills. It offers stakeholders, such as insurance companies, employers, and clients a way to validate a practitioner’s specialized training. The Clinical Rehabilitative Massage training prepares practitioners with the essential clinical skills and advanced knowledge necessary for working with musculoskeletal pain and injury complaints. This program integrates clinical science with hands-on protocols through innovative hybrid online and classroom study.

The program has three key components:

  1. Clinical Orthopedic Massage online component (130 hours)
  2. Classroom hands-on massage training (32 hours)
  3. NCBTMB Specialty Exam

The online component focuses on key facets of rehabilitation science: anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pathology, kinesiology, assessment, clinical reasoning, and treatment planning. The hands-on courses provide advanced massage skills from a diversity of treatment modalities. For the hands-on courses, the Academy is partnering with some of the profession’s most experienced educators. Current partners include Whitney Lowe, Judith Delany, James Waslaski, and Douglas Nelson. These highly-respected instructors bring years of advanced massage training for treatment of pain and injury conditions.

“The Academy, and its Director Whitney Lowe, have a national reputation for integrity and high-quality work. With their top-notch list of partners, they are the perfect combination to spearhead this initiative,” commented Donna Sarvello, VP of Educational Support, NCBTMB. “We are thrilled to partner with this extraordinary group to bring our profession a training program and credential that will lift our highly-trained practitioners above the crowd and support them in this important area of work.”

After completing the Academy’s Clinical Rehabilitative Massage online program, the hands-on courses, and passing the NCBTMB Specialty Exam, participants will earn a NCBTMB Specialty Certificate in Clinical Rehabilitative Massage. In addition, participants will receive a letter of verification outlining the education and training they have received, which may be provided to stakeholders, such as employers.

For more information on the Academy’s Clinical Rehabilitative Massage Program and eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.academyofclinicalmassage.com/crm-program/. To qualify for the program, practitioners must have a valid massage license in their own jurisdiction and have completed an entry-level massage program of at least 500 hours.

For more information on the Clinical Rehabilitative Massage Specialty Certificate, please visit https://www.ncbtmb.org/specialty-certificates/specialty-certificates. Upon confirmation of eligibility, participants will sign-up to take the Specialty Exam. The Specialty Exam is available for registration on NCBTMB’s Exam Site. The Specialty Exam fee is only $95.

About NCBTMB

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) is an independent, private, nonprofit organization founded in 1992. The mission of NCBTMB is to define and advance the highest standards in the massage therapy and bodywork profession. In support of this mission, NCBTMB serves the profession through Board Certification, Specialty Certificates, an Approved Provider Program, and an Assigned School Program. For more information, visit www.ncbtmb.org.

About Academy of Clinical Massage

The Academy of Clinical Massage is a continuing education provider focused on innovative, comprehensive massage education in advanced, science-based clinical and orthopedic massage. Academy courses are taught by the highly-regarded massage educator, Whitney Lowe. For more information, visit www.academyofclinicalmassage.com.

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