What is considered unacceptable core curriculum content?
Unacceptable core curriculum content includes but is not limited to:
- Diagnoses (allopathic-based) of clinical conditions
- Implementation of allopathic medical/surgical procedures
- Physically invasive modalities, e.g., ear candles, intra-anal, intra-vaginal modalities, etc.
- Incorporation of chiropractic/osteopathic, e.g., ballistic, thrust oriented or other services and procedures which require additional licensure or certification, i.e., Yoga or Pilates Instructor Certification, Physical Therapy, Personal Training, Weight Training
- Prescription of herbs, nutritional supplements, and /or pharmaceuticals
- Performing hypnosis
- Performing an aesthetician facial or exfoliation of cells from the body
- Performing electrical stimulation, using electrical devices on clients or ultrasound of any kind
- Psychological counseling
- Psychic, clairvoyance, telepathic, astrology, religion and/or religious practices
- Dry needling and acupuncture
- Breaking or removing tissue from the body
- CBD Products*
- Energy work that does not involve “the application of professional therapeutic touch”
- Aura techniques
- Crystal healing
- Qi Gong or Tai Chi
- Fire cupping or any procedure that works with fire
- Breast massage as part of anything other than medical procedures or prescribed by a physician (NCBTMB does accept breast massage when learning about oncology; specifically, breast cancer procedures)
- Moxibustion
- Tongue Reading
- Erroneous, misleading titles of modalities; a description of the course must be added to the title if the modality cannot be easily deciphered by the title
- Emotional Freedom Tapping (EFT)
*How CBD products are derived may mean some products are controlled substances under federal law. There is also scarce research on the efficacy, dosing and contraindications for the consumer or a provider using CBD products.
NCBTMB has the right to reject any course content that does not adhere to federal laws and regulation, risks participant or instructor safety, and/or is not sufficiently backed up by research.
To become an NCBTMB Assigned School and receive an Assigned School Code, you must meet our minimum 500-hour curriculum requirements in Western based massage therapy education.
Non-Accredited Schools: All 500 hours of core curriculum must be live, in class with an instructor present. NCBTMB no longer accepts online learning in core curriculum for Non-Accredited programs.
Accredited Schools: NCBTMB will accept a portion of classes via Learning Management System (LMS). Click here for more information.