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NCTMB Is it really necessary to "RE"-Certify?
I guess it would be advantageous to get put on their website, but it costs $125.00 plus a $75.00 late fee. I suppose it is just like renewing my Florida license every two years, but for some reason it bothers me. What do you think?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Wagley on
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Recertification is, first and foremost, an investment in your future. By recertifying, you are making a statement that you continue to grow and learn in your profession, and that you believe in and adhere to high Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics set by your peers. You may be interested to know that, in the month of October, NCBTMB saw more than double the number of certificants recertifying compared to October 2008. So we know recertification is growing in importance. Remember, too, that your recertification is for four years – $31.25 a year (not including the late fee). Isn’t that a worthy investment to demonstrate professional commitment?
Also consider this – historically, certificants have chosen to recertify to ensure that they are maintaining the education requirements. But in Florida, not only would they have a Florida license, but therapists would further distinguish themselves with an additional credential in a very competitive market. In fact, according to the Florida State Massage Therapy Association, as of March 2009 the state has 29,774 Licensed Massage Therapists. Distinguishing yourself as a committed and certified professional just makes good business sense.
Further, the opportunities afforded to such dedicated practitioners may be even more substantial with Advanced Certification and the potential later on for Specialty Certifications. A number of these may be in areas that are of particular interest to populations in Florida. And more and more, we are hearing that medical facilities and hospitals especially are starting to require national certification as a requisite for employment. I suppose my question could be, given the current changes in the profession and our desire to appeal to the conventional healthcare community and those who will employ us in the future .... “why wouldn't you recertify?”
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Permalink Reply by Angela Lind on
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All what you have said apply also to other health practitioners: doctors, nurses, physical therapists, etc and they have to maintain educational requirements as well.
So the question is:
Do Doctors and other health care practitioners that need a license, have to re-certify? if not, why we have to do it if we are also health practitioners?
Jennifer Wagley said:Recertification is, first and foremost, an investment in your future. By recertifying, you are making a statement that you continue to grow and learn in your profession, and that you believe in and adhere to high Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics set by your peers. You may be interested to know that, in the month of October, NCBTMB saw more than double the number of certificants recertifying compared to October 2008. So we know recertification is growing in importance. Remember, too, that your recertification is for four years – $31.25 a year (not including the late fee). Isn’t that a worthy investment to demonstrate professional commitment?
Also consider this – historically, certificants have chosen to recertify to ensure that they are maintaining the education requirements. But in Florida, not only would they have a Florida license, but therapists would further distinguish themselves with an additional credential in a very competitive market. In fact, according to the Florida State Massage Therapy Association, as of March 2009 the state has 29,774 Licensed Massage Therapists. Distinguishing yourself as a committed and certified professional just makes good business sense.
Further, the opportunities afforded to such dedicated practitioners may be even more substantial with Advanced Certification and the potential later on for Specialty Certifications. A number of these may be in areas that are of particular interest to populations in Florida. And more and more, we are hearing that medical facilities and hospitals especially are starting to require national certification as a requisite for employment. I suppose my question could be, given the current changes in the profession and our desire to appeal to the conventional healthcare community and those who will employ us in the future .... “why wouldn't you recertify?”
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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on
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Incredibly, in our state, doctors do not have to even take continuing education. Nurses do.
I personally enjoy continuing education--both getting it and teaching it as an approved provider--but I do find it truly funny that as MTs, we aren't holding anyone's life in our hands, and we have to get continuing ed (which is also an obligation of recertifying)--and doctors, who hold people's lives in their hands every day, don't have to get any. Lord help us all.
I keep my national certification current. I am also a professional member of both AMTA and ABMP. Some therapists believe that those kinds of things don't impress the public, but I disagree, and I'm relatively certain our professional credentials are responsible for the huge amount of MD and dentist referrals my clinic gets.
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Permalink Reply by Keith Eric Grant on
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Laura Allen said:Incredibly, in our state, doctors do not have to even take continuing education. Nurses do.
Laura et al.,
The system with doctors is somewhat different. Reimbursement and facility use requirements often require them to be "voluntarily" board certified by a specialty board that is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Such specialty boards have certification maintenance requirements that often include retesting periodically (7 years?). I recall a medical running friend studying for and retaking his "boards" a couple of years ago. Licensing is simply a basic, overall gateway. One of the disconnects with massage CEs, is that they are required (in some places), but not directed to maintenance of any infrequently used yet critical skills (think of CPR) nor to specific areas of guidelines, protocols, or laws that might be frequently changing.
Post licensing specialty certification could have become the picture offered by NCB, where they certify training outcomes in specific areas toward competency management--but they have never gotten there, spending time instead on activities such as suing licensing boards. Since individual states have the exclusive right and responsibility to license professions for the public interest, such suits, even if won, are not a winning strategy in the long run.
The certifications offered by the NCB were set up when far fewer states regulated massage. At that time, they offered an entry-level credential for places in which no other uniform credential existed. That is not so much the case no with more dstates regulating massage.
As to recertifying. Take a look at what the certification requires in terms of learning versus competency outcomes. Does it assure to third parties that those certified have any specific knowledge or skills that predicts the ability to do specific tasks beyond what licensing provides? How is the NCB spending the money it receives from certificants? Does that match your view of how to contribute funds to best advance the massage profession? As a 501(c)(6) (business league), the NCB is allowed to divert funds into "interest lobbying" (but not candidate support) beyond that allowed to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. They do, however, still have to file a publicly available Form 990 covering income and expenses.
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Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on
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Also Ruth, if you ever plan to teach one day you have to be Nationally Certified in order to do so. Also Nurses and PT's are requried to maintain 24 CEU's every 2 years in order to renew their Licenses. Not only do they have to take Law, Ethics, and Medical Errors, HIV same as us, they also have to take Domestic Violence, which is a fast growing problem in America.
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I just posted the second of my series of blogs on the financial health of our non-profit professio... first was on AMTA. I'm still waiting for the NCB to post their 990 on Guidestar. I will also be reporting on COMTA and AFMTE. ABMP is not a non-profit, so I'm not including them.
Keith Eric Grant said:Laura Allen said:Incredibly, in our state, doctors do not have to even take continuing education. Nurses do.
Laura et al.,
The system with doctors is somewhat different. Reimbursement and facility use requirements often require them to be "voluntarily" board certified by a specialty board that is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Such specialty boards have certification maintenance requirements that often include retesting periodically (7 years?). I recall a medical running friend studying for and retaking his "boards" a couple of years ago. Licensing is simply a basic, overall gateway. One of the disconnects with massage CEs, is that they are required (in some places), but not directed to maintenance of any infrequently used yet critical skills (think of CPR) nor to specific areas of guidelines, protocols, or laws that might be frequently changing.
Post licensing specialty certification could have become the picture offered by NCB, where they certify training outcomes in specific areas toward competency management--but they have never gotten there, spending time instead on activities such as suing licensing boards. Since individual states have the exclusive right and responsibility to license professions for the public interest, such suits, even if won, are not a winning strategy in the long run.
The certifications offered by the NCB were set up when far fewer states regulated massage. At that time, they offered an entry-level credential for places in which no other uniform credential existed. That is not so much the case no with more dstates regulating massage.
As to recertifying. Take a look at what the certification requires in terms of learning versus competency outcomes. Does it assure to third parties that those certified have any specific knowledge or skills that predicts the ability to do specific tasks beyond what licensing provides? How is the NCB spending the money it receives from certificants? Does that match your view of how to contribute funds to best advance the massage profession? As a 501(c)(6) (business league), the NCB is allowed to divert funds into "interest lobbying" (but not candidate support) beyond that allowed to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. They do, however, still have to file a publicly available Form 990 covering income and expenses.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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You don't have to be nationally certified to teach. Where did you hear that?
I think it is a waste of time to re-certify really. There isn't any proof that it helps anything. But then again I have never been certified and would rather give up my 20 year career than do so because of the shenanigans of the NCBTMB that have gone on right from the beginning.
It is about whether or not you want to support a group that is so controversial in the profession. It is about whether or not you want to support an advanced certification which is yet to be seen which seems like it would just be another nightmare for the profession. How are they going to put all the different types of massage into an advanced certification. I think they are just coming up with this a 10 years too late just to try to save their company from closing and embarassing all of the people who are certified.
How many times have you been asked if you are certified? Me never in 20 years.
Julie
www.thebodyworker.com
www.massage-career-guides.com
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Permalink Reply by Bert Davich on
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Hi Jennifer,
I read your comment supporting re-certification and advocacy of advanced certification.
Are you the Jennifer Wagley who is Director of Communications at NCBTMB ?
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Very perceptive, Bert ;-)
Bert Davich said:Hi Jennifer,
I read your comment supporting re-certification and advocacy of advanced certification.
Are you the Jennifer Wagley who is Director of Communications at NCBTMB ?
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There is no law in my state (NC) about anyone having to be nationally certified to teach.
Darcy Neibaur BS LMT NCTMB said:Also Ruth, if you ever plan to teach one day you have to be Nationally Certified in order to do so. Also Nurses and PT's are requried to maintain 24 CEU's every 2 years in order to renew their Licenses. Not only do they have to take Law, Ethics, and Medical Errors, HIV same as us, they also have to take Domestic Violence, which is a fast growing problem in America.
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I is my understanding that in order to teach in the State of Florida one has to be NCB.
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Hi Darcy,
You might want to ask Mike Hinkle about Florida requirements.
Darcy Neibaur BS LMT NCTMB said:I is my understanding that in order to teach in the State of Florida one has to be NCB.
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