You Said It: Results from the School Outreach Surveys
As you know from the last edition of InfoLine, NCBTMB has begun an outreach program in order to strengthen communications between the NCB and our stakeholder schools - you!
    With the help of NCBTMB's school outreach coordinator, Susan Scoboria, NCTMB, from January 2003 through May 2003, NCBTMB conducted nearly 100 interviews with various schools and asked questions such as: "Do your staff, faculty and students utilize technology to gather information about the NCE," "Do you feel that certification increases a consumer's confidence in their practitioner," and "What is the best way for us to communicate with you about National Certification and its programs?"

Results of the interviews include:

• A majority of schools (76 percent) said they utilize technology to gather information about the NCE.
• 64 percent of schools said e-mail is a good way to contact them with 61 percent of schools citing InfoLine as a good source
• 61 percent of schools believe there is a correlation between holding the NCTMB credential and gaining employment
• 53 percent of schools feel that certification increases a consumer's confidence in their practitioner

In addition, we also asked school directors/owners to share with us the way they support their students in obtaining National Certification. A majority of schools told NCBTMB that the first thing they do is offer a review class for the content of the NCE. Other tactics include:

• 53 percent assist students in the application process
• 70 percent have specific classroom discussions regarding national certification
• 57 percent review the handbook in class
• 52 percent help students fill out the forms
• 65 percent encourage students to sit for the exam even if it isn't required in the state

You also told us that you want more information from NCBTMB about the National Certification program on topics such as:

• Test results
• Continuing education approved provider
• Creation of the exam
• NCB's testing vendor Chauncey Group International®
• Massage and bodywork regulation
• NCE application process

Throughout future issues of InfoLine and other communications, we will continue to provide you with information to keep you informed of the issues that are relevant to you, as a NCBTMB stakeholder, and a massage and bodywork school.
    NCBTMB is continuing to conduct these interviews. If you are a school director or owner and would like to be a part of the School Outreach Program, please contact Sue Scoboria at (860) 202-5652.

(back to InfoLine Contents)

From the Chair
Garnet Adair, NCTMB

It's that time again.
Time for us to look to the future. Every three to five years, the NCBTMB reviews its current goals and sets new ones for the next few years.
    To prepare for this task, the strategic planning committee conducted a phone survey of our stakeholders and other key players to gather information that would help us with the task of revising NCBTMB's strategic plan.
    Evaluating and incorporating this information, the board of directors approved NCBTMB's new strategic plan with new goals relating to the organization and profession that will take NCBTMB into 2008.

The board also approved NCBTMB's updated core values:

• Credentialing programs serve the public trust
• Therapeutic massage and bodywork enhances health and wellness
• NCBTMB has a commitment to:
  • Integrity and ethical behavior
  • Professional excellence
  • Active participation and leadership in the future of the profession

I would like to thank the schools for all the valuable information they provided in our development of the strategic plan. I look forward to the continued relationship with the schools as we carry out our objectives in obtaining our future goals.

(back to InfoLine Contents)

Who is The Chauncey Group®?
NCBTMB partner offers a unique approach to testing

The Chauncey Group International® is the leading provider of certification and licensing examinations for professionals, businesses and government organizations and has been NCBTMB's partner in developing and administering the National Certification Examination (NCE) for more than two years.
    Testing more than 3 million candidates each year in numerous vocational fields, The Chauncey Group® designs and manages professional assessments that exceed professional testing standards and offer a broad array of services including statistical and psychometric analysis, program management and professional editing and test production.
    In order to make the NCE a valid and reliable exam, NCBTMB's partnership with The Chauncey Group has helped play a vital role to assist NCBTMB in: designing and conducting job analyses; creating performance assessments in order to link the exam to real-world massage and bodywork skills; managing candidate registration, scoring and reporting services; and administering the NCE through their testing partner Prometic®. By working with The Chauncy Group and Prometric, candidates are able to schedule the exam time to fit into their schedule and location across the country.
    "NCBTMB chose The Chauncey Group as its testing vendor because they provide the skills and expertise needed to present a fair evaluation of competency in the massage and bodywork field," said Christine D. Niero, Ph.D., executive director, NCBTMB. "Our partnership enables NCBTMB to offer a credential that is indicative of the professionalism demonstrated by its certificants – ultimately increasing the status and credibility of the massage and bodywork field."
    "The Chauncey Group understands the value NCBTMB places on certification and has worked closely with the organization to develop a sound exam that is current and reflects important trends and practices in today's industry," continued Niero.
   For more information about The Chauncey Group, visit www.chauncey.com.

(back to InfoLine Contents)

NCBTMB Will Offer New Entry-Level Certification Option
New credentials under development and expected to launch Winter 2004
As early as next winter (2004), practitioners who wish to certify in therapeutic massage therapy only will have a new option for certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
    The new credential, Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage (NCTM), will provide an additional option to the current Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB) and will recognize a practitioner's knowledge and associated competency in a scope of practice that is specific to massage therapy.
   The NCTM credential is being developed through a comprehensive process of research, review and analysis. Working with The Chauncey Group International®, NCBTMB completed job analysis studies for the NCTMB and NCTM credentials in January 2003 and is currently working to construct specifications for their respective examinations. Once the test specifications are constructed, the pool of questions that NCBTMB uses to create exam forms will be reviewed to determine the degree of support they may provide to each of the examination programs. Exam questions will then be written and reviewed by subject matter experts in the field.
   Next, NCBTMB will use current examination forms to pre-test new content areas and their associated test items. The pre-testing process allows NCBTMB to assess the efficacy of an individual test item, as well as the degree to which it contributes to measuring a candidate's knowledge. NCBTMB will also use this data to determine appropriate passing standards for the new credential.
Also going through the same process, the current credential, the National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB) is undergoing testing to ensure the validity of the exam.
   "The NCBTMB is striving to provide a variety of entry-level options to meet the individual needs of our practitioners," said Christine D. Niero, PhD, executive director, NCBTMB. "We understand the variety of interests held by practitioners and are eager to provide credentials to match them."
    An advanced level massage therapy credential, the National Certification in Therapeutic Massage-Advanced (NCTM-A) is also currently under development. Look for more details in a future issue of InfoLine!

(back to InfoLine Contents)

Steps to Success
NCBTMB to Provide Informational Materials to Schools

Through NCBTMB's school outreach coordinator, many schools have requested additional information to help them discuss the structure and format of the NCE and to have step-by-step materials to equip students with preparing for the NCE.
In response to these requests, NCBTMB has assembled a kit of informational materials and tools school administrators can use both in and out of the classroom. Items included in NCBTMB's School Education Packet include:

• A CD-Rom and hardcopy with talking notes of a PowerPoint about the National Certification exam
• A wall poster listing the 4-steps to National Certification
• A student checklist with the 4-steps to National Certification
• Flyers for students with the 4-steps to National Certification
• A timeline for administrators
• A list of suggested discussion topics
• A list of Frequently Asked Questions for students
• A list of Frequently Asked Questions for administrators

The materials will be enclosed in a folder that is designed as a place where school administrators can file additional information sent by NCBTMB. Packets will be mailed at the end of this year to school administrators.
    NCBTMB hopes that you will find this School Education Packet useful in preparing your students for National Certification and we look forward to your feedback.

NCBTMB Announces 2002 Performance for the NCE
NCBTMB recently announced the 2002 NCE statistics. During 2002, 17,340 candidates took the NCE with 12,612 candidates passing. Here are other statistics from NCBTMB on the NCE performance:

(back to InfoLine Contents)

Wondering About Your Students’ NCE Scores?
If so - then you're in luck. Through our testing partner, Chauncey International, you can now see how your students performed on the NCE in 2002 by requesting a copy of your students’ pass rate at any point during the year.
    To obtain a copy of your students’ pass rate, visit www.ncbtmb.com/important_forms.htm. Download the "Official School Score Report Request Form," mail the completed form along with a check for $25 for each report requested to:
The Chauncey Group International
C/O NCBTMB Customer Service
664 Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08540

As in the past, you can still contact the NCBTMB for a free copy of your student's pass rates once a year (or rates prior to August 2002) by sending a letter of request to:
Attn: School Pass Rate
NCBTMB
8201 Greensboro Drive
Suite 300
McLean, Va 22102

(back to InfoLine Contents)

NCBTMB
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
703-610-9015 … 703-610-9005
1-800-296-0664 (totally automated line)
e-mail: info@ncbtmb.com