a community of practitioners

How many of you are Nationally Certified?

If you are. What states are you in? and If you are not why or did you choose to go the state testing route?
I don't mean to pry I am asking since this is an important decision that I want to make as I make it again.

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kim Chamberlain,NCTMB (idowatsu) on September 23, 2009 at 1:48am

I am in California, on the rural end and the NCTMB certification I have had for the last 12 years hasn't meant much up here until now. With state certification coming CMT and LMT can only advertise this status if voluntarily going through state certification which will be costing a pretty penny. I have always advertised as NCTMB so I have no need to sign up for the states certification I only have to pay NCTMB $100 every 4 years. This is much more cost effective for me. I include bodyworker because I also do Watsu Therapy (Aquatic Bodywork)

Permalink Reply by Joan Annunziata on September 23, 2009 at 5:20am

I'm New Jersey State Certified. I don't think it necessary to pay for two certifications plus the certification from your school, too. Since I live in NJ I thought it was more important to get certified by the state I live in. Nationally Certified, hum?

Permalink Reply by Jason Day on September 23, 2009 at 8:04am

Kim,

Don't you have to include the cost for 24 hours of CEUs when you factor in the cost for certification? Certainly a lot more than $100.

Jason

Kim Chamberlain,NCTMB (idowatsu) said:

I am in California, on the rural end and the NCTMB certification I have had for the last 12 years hasn't meant much up here until now. With state certification coming CMT and LMT can only advertise this status if voluntarily going through state certification which will be costing a pretty penny. I have always advertised as NCTMB so I have no need to sign up for the states certification I only have to pay NCTMB $100 every 4 years. This is much more cost effective for me. I include bodyworker because I also do Watsu Therapy (Aquatic Bodywork)

Permalink Reply by Julia Mims Edwards on September 23, 2009 at 10:46pm

Wow you all have given so much to think about. I have even taken this information to my students to give them the opportunity to make a wise decision. Some students are chosing to become state certified and some are chosing national, because they feel that they would possibly move out of Tennessee. All of you have been fabulous. Thank You!!!!

Permalink Reply by Connie Pruitt on September 24, 2009 at 7:55am

I am Nationally Certified and my application is in for GA state license. I believe National Cert., over time, will probably be required. I sugguest, if especially if you are fresh out of school, to go for both while ALL the information is your head. In GA we are not required to take a test for state- apply and send money basically.

Permalink Reply by darlene weisberger on September 24, 2009 at 11:18am

I am in the state of Wisconsin and am nationally certified and WI state certified ... and I agree and reiterate what Kris A. said in the post above ... mainly for keeping my credibility @ the highest standard possible.

Permalink Reply by Pat Ward on September 24, 2009 at 12:22pm

I am nationally certified and practice in Illinois. The National certification test is required in order to obtain a license in the state of Illinois as they do not have their own exam (I think that is true of most states) so I figured why not get and maintain my national certification which I recently renewed. It just gives you extra credentials and with so mucn competition for clients it makes you stand apart from a lot of other therapists. Plus it is nice to have all those extra letters after your name.

Permalink Reply by Kris Angermeier on September 25, 2009 at 7:18am

I will keep up my NCBTMB as I do look at it as a way to show that I am responsible in continuing my education and letting "John Q Public" know I am dedicated and I care.

I will stop at this because I will go on and on and you dont want that. Sometimes it is hard to understand fully what an email or typed response really truly sounds like, since all we are doing is reading it. It can be misconstrued completely.

Behnam Benyamin said:

Ok, let me get this right! What's Nationally Certified? What National, what certification?
With all due respect to those who are "Nationally Certified", the last time I checked the "National Certification" is the name of the business, name of the club, IS THE NAME OF THE COMPANY for massage sake!

If your are considering yourself a THERAPEUTIC massage therapist, the education, dedication and professionalism are all a given, no matter what TEST to take in order to get your state license! You are not Nationally recognized what so ever. You are licensed for your own state IF your state requires one!

I will leave it at this because I don't what to hurt people's feelings. After all, they paid much MORE for the "Nationally Certification" test and CEUs which are forced to that 24 hr of them for double the price.( i've got over 50 hr this year anyway )

BB

Permalink Reply by Julia Mims Edwards on September 25, 2009 at 12:16pm

Ok everyone, I am currently nationally and state certified. I live in a state that has required ceu's as well as the professional organization that I am a memeber of, I am asking what others are feeling about this since I was "grandfathered in" I did take the national because I paid for it. I was exicted to have it I have not found any client that has asked me whether I was nor has it made a difference. I have had '1' person call because they found my name on the website but nothing since. I keep up with my ceu's and I work with utmost professionalism. Hence me asking who are licensed or certified. I work with several LMT's who are Straight lace Pro's and neither one is nationally certifed. I am not putting down the national i am wanting to do what is best for me and for those I work with.

Kris Angermeier said:

I will keep up my NCBTMB as I do look at it as a way to show that I am responsible in continuing my education and letting "John Q Public" know I am dedicated and I care.

I will stop at this because I will go on and on and you dont want that. Sometimes it is hard to understand fully what an email or typed response really truly sounds like, since all we are doing is reading it. It can be misconstrued completely.

Behnam Benyamin said:
Ok, let me get this right! What's Nationally Certified? What National, what certification?
With all due respect to those who are "Nationally Certified", the last time I checked the "National Certification" is the name of the business, name of the club, IS THE NAME OF THE COMPANY for massage sake!

If your are considering yourself a THERAPEUTIC massage therapist, the education, dedication and professionalism are all a given, no matter what TEST to take in order to get your state license! You are not Nationally recognized what so ever. You are licensed for your own state IF your state requires one!

I will leave it at this because I don't what to hurt people's feelings. After all, they paid much MORE for the "Nationally Certification" test and CEUs which are forced to that 24 hr of them for double the price.( i've got over 50 hr this year anyway )

BB

Permalink Reply by Les Sweeney on September 25, 2009 at 3:48pm

I am. I am in Colorado. I did it voluntarily.

Permalink Reply by Jeanette Stack on September 25, 2009 at 4:53pm

I have been Nationally certified since 2000 and am also WA state licensed. WA state required taking the National Certification exam for state licensing but did not require becoming Nationally certified. I decided that since I had to take the exam to become licensed and that WA state required CE similar to NCBTMB I may as well get the National Certification, one exam for 2 credentials.

I am glad I did. Within a year of graduating we moved to Ramstein AFB in Germany. Lucky for me the fitness center on base was looking for a massage therapist and the requirement was National Certification. I started working there within a month of arriving in Germany.

I now live in Alaska with no state licensing for massage therapist. Many here use the title "LMT" in reference to the required business license but fail to clarify this to clients, so having the National Certification sets me apart from them and it is amazing how many of my clients when asked why they called my business, they state it is because of the National Certification Credentials.

I am proud of my Nationally Certification and will remain so as long as I practice massage. I have never had any problems with them or the customer service and they always respond promptly to any inquiries I have. I personally like their standards of practice, code of ethics and CE requirements. It is proof that clients can go and verify that I maintain high standards and continue to maintain and expand on my original basic education.

I am also looking forward to their new Advanced Certification.

Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on September 25, 2009 at 5:57pm

I never was nationally certified and never will be. I would rather give up my 20 year career than take the exam and do business with them - that is how much I don't like what they are doing and what they are.I am in WA State where we had our own exam for the longest time and not even sure if we still do. I was always against national certification mainly because of the way it was started. It was starting just as I was getting started in my career. The didn't do any research or ask anyone. It was started at first because AMTA was wanting to create an exam to get into their organization. It then went to a national exam without any planning or consideration.

I am lucky to be in a state where it doesn't matter and massage has been accepted for a very long time.

Julie