From the Chair
Garnet Adair, NCTMB

Safety.

It's one of the things that you continually think about as you prepare your students to enter the field of massage and bodywork.
    When a graduate becomes Nationally Certified, it adds one more level of protection for the consumer's safety. National Certification ensures that practitioners who have obtained the credential possess core skills, abilities, knowledge and attributes needed to provide safe and competent services.
    In creating a certification that is the highest professional credential in the field, NCBTMB has made sure that there are several checks in place to ensure that Nationally Certified practitioners are qualified to provide safe therapeutic massage and bodywork services.
    In addition to meeting strict eligibility requirements and successfully passing the National Certification Exam (NCE), Nationally Certified practitioners must adhere to NCBTMB's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Putting the safety of consumers first is one of the core tenets of the National Certification program.
    NCBTMB's Code of Ethics requires practitioners to uphold professional standards that protect the integrity of our profession and safeguard the interest of our individual clients. Nationally Certified practitioners pledge to provide their clients with the highest quality of care under this code.
    Providing the highest quality of care entails understanding a client's current condition and as such, safety concerns are the driving factor behind client assessments and intake procedures. According to NCBTMB's Standards of Practice, Nationally Certified practitioners should conduct accurate needs assessments and develop plans of care with their clients, updating the plans as needed when applicable.
    For instances where massage and bodywork is not safe, the NCBTMB's Code of Ethics dictates that practitioners acknowledge the limitations of and contraindications for massage and bodywork and refer clients to appropriate health professionals when necessary.
    These elements of NCBTMB's National Certification program are just a few that provide safeguards for consumers who seek out massage and bodywork therapies from Nationally Certified practitioners.
    As we begin to celebrate National Massage Safety Week 2004, which is March 21st - 27th, it is important to remind your students of the role ethics, standards and National Certification play in keeping their services safe.

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National Massage Safety Week 2004
Massage Works Out • March 21-27

WHAT:
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) annually hosts National Massage Safety Week to educate consumers about the importance of seeking massage services from a credentialed provider and to educate practitioners about the value consumers place on credentials.
    The theme of National Massage Safety Week 2004 "Massage Works Out," highlights the benefits of integrating massage therapy into exercise. NCBTMB will provide consumers with a fact sheet on exercise and massage and a safety checklist of questions that consumers should ask before receiving a massage.
    During National Massage Safety Week 2004, NCBTMB will also release research results conducted for NCBTMB by Harris Interactive. This survey will highlight consumer perception of the relationship between massage and exercise.

WHEN:
March 21-27, 2004

WHY:
Massage can benefit everyone from the elite athlete, the weekend warrior, the casual athlete, the team player, the walker, the runner or the gym-goer. Benefits of integrating massage into a exercise routine can include: improved range of motion; preventing injuries to muscles and tendons; increasing energy and endurance; promoting endorphin release to reduce pain caused by constricted muscle fibers; and maintaining good physical condition, which can help improve overall performance.
    As more and more consumers seek massage to complement their exercise routine and overall health, NCBTMB's goal is to continue to educate consumers about the benefits of massage and the importance of seeking services from a Nationally Certified practitioner.

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Ten Ways Your School Can
Celebrate National Massage
Safety Week
Massage Works Out • March 21-27

1. Hold a National Massage Safety Week kick-off event at your school and invite key members of your community to get free massages while learning about the benefits of incorporating massage into an exercise plan.
2. Sponsor a community walk/jog and offer free massages to all participants, along with handouts on the benefits of massage.
3. Create a display on massage safety (including your school's logo and contact information) and work with your local library, grocery store and/or community center to educate consumers about massage safety.
4. Partner with different businesses in the area (spas, gyms, massage private practices) to hold a career day for your students on the different places they can work after graduation.
5. Develop a handout (or use the enclosed materials) and emphasize the importance of massage safety to your students by holding a "Massage Safety Workshop".
6. Exhibit at/participate in local health or exercise related fairs to explain the benefits of massage therapy and the importance of safety. Use this opportunity as a way to recruit potential new students.
7. Invite local fitness enthusiasts and professionals (sports coaches, dance teachers, aerobics instructors, personal trainers, etc.) to your school to learn about the benefits of massage, how it can help their students or clients and/or massage as a second career.
8. Give a "Massage Safety" award to a student who exemplifies massage safety and consumer protection.
9. Attend your community's town hall meeting to announce National Massage Safety Week and distribute materials on massage and exercise.
10. Offer to do a workshop at an area health club or gym to educate athletes on the benefits of massage and how it can help relieve sports-related stress.

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The Portfolio Review Process–
An Alternative for National Certification Exam Eligibility
The portfolio review process is an alternate method for NCBTMB candidates to become eligible to take the National Certification Exam (NCE). This process allows applicants who have not completed 500 in-class hours of formal training at a state-licensed school to submit a portfolio to NCBTMB demonstrating their equivalent training and experience.
    NCBTMB introduced this alternative option to meet the needs of candidates who have achieved the relevant training and work experience needed to become eligible in a way that does not meet the requirements of the traditional application process. These candidates may include massage students who have transferred schools, therapists who have studied massage outside of the United States and/or those who have studied at schools not state-licensed.
    To gain NCE eligibility through the portfolio review process, candidates must complete course work and/or training in the following three areas:

Section One: General Knowledge Areas
Minimum of 100 hours of supervised in-class hours required
This section includes any courses taken in the subject areas of human anatomy, physiology and/or kinesiology.

Section Two: Core Knowledge Areas
Minimum of 200 supervised in-class hours required
This section includes courses whose subject matter falls under therapeutic massage and bodywork. Specifically, the courses must concentrate on the theory, assessment and application of massage therapy.

Section Three: Adjunctive Knowledge Areas/Related Education and Training
200 hours required
This section includes courses that expand the practitioner's knowledge, skills and abilities by directly reflecting or building upon the foundation set by the courses that fall under Section Two, Core Knowledge Areas.

    For a detailed description of relevant course subject matter, please refer to the National Certification Examination Content Outline, which can be found in the July 2002 Portfolio Review Handbook for the National Certification Examination.
    After these sections have been completed, candidates must take the following steps to apply for eligibility:

1. Complete the application form in the Portfolio Review Handbook.
2. Complete the Portfolio Review Education/Training Worksheet.
3. Complete the Eligibility Determination Forms.
4. Make three legible copies of the completed application and submit the original and copies to NCBTMB.
5. Save copies of all application materials for your records.

    Once the application and portfolio are submitted, within six to eight weeks the NCBTMB Eligibility Panel will assess applicants' training and experience. Applicants will then be notified of their status via letter and if deemed eligible, they will have up to three months to take the NCE.
    For complete information on the Portfolio Review Process, refer to the July 2002 Portfolio Review Handbook for the National Certification Examination or visit NCBTMB's Web site at www.ncbtmb.com.

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Marketing Corner – How to Keep Your Students Coming Back
Are you missing out on possible ways to grow your school's enrollment?

With more than 75,000 Nationally Certified practitioners in the U.S., there is a large group of massage and bodywork practitioners continually looking for continuing education credits to apply towards recertification. And chances are, they're right in your back yard and are already familiar with your school.
    The following five quick tips can be used by your school to jump-start marketing efforts to target this group and expand your bottom line:

• Hold an alumni open house and use the event to showcase continuing education courses offered by your school.
• Develop an electronic newsletter to send to prospective students with information on curriculum and school events.
• Get graduates thinking about continuing education. Send a "continuing education check-up" postcard that reminds them about the importance of continuing competence and education.
• Find the news and promote your school's expertise. Work with your local and community newspapers to have stories written about what makes your school exceptional/unique/interesting.
• Encourage instructors to use speaking and publication opportunities as a platform to promote the school. Instructors who speak at conferences/events or write for trade publications help spread the word about your school's expertise and credibility.

States Value National Certification

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NCBTMB Classroom in a Box–
Hot Off the Press
The kit is here! The NCBTMB Classroom in a Box kit has been mailed to schools and we hope you find it to be a useful resource for teaching your students about National Certification.
    The kit, launched at the Council of Schools Annual Meeting in January, was designed to be an ever-expanding source of information on National Certification that you can use both in and out of the classroom. In this first installment, you’ll find Folder 1, which contains an informative poster, a video about National Certification, sample checklists for students to use when applying for certification, discussion topics, frequently asked questions about certification and a CD-Rom presentation.
    New Folders of information will be mailed to you throughout the year to be added to the kit, so watch your mail for new installments!

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Certification Application Checklist
Here is a checklist for your students to use before they send in their application for the National Certification Exam.

Required documents include:

Signed and completed application for the National Certification Examination in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork

Current photograph (passport style, attached to the application form)

Photocopy of current government issued identification with photograph

Official sealed school transcript (sent directly from the school where training was received)*

Notarized copy of Diploma or Certificate of completion

Personal check, cashier's check, money order or credit card information

The application will be processed within one to three weeks and your students will then receive either an Authorization to Test or an Incompletion letter.

*For education/training schools that do not issue an official school transcript, the Verification of Education form may be used.

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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