Advanced Certification: The Long-Awaited Announcement from the NCBTMB

Comment

Comment by vinny andrews on November 12, 2009 at 9:48am

I am confused by the "Advanced Certificatiion"... My understanding is that the original National Certification was to be an "ADVANCED Certification" I further understand that this was its specific purpose of it. What has happened? Why would we now need another "Advanced Certification" on top of an "Advanced Certification?"

Comment by Nancy Toner Weinberger on October 7, 2009 at 2:17pm

In regard to advanced certification in a modality, who will decide what that will be and how will all the teachers of say, pregnancy massage. for example, be brought together and give up their programs they have developed to allow the NCBTMB to set the standard? As Ruth points out, with all the service marking and trademarking, and overall protectiveness about specific ways of both delivering a specific modality and teaching that modality, I don't see this happening.

Regarding teacher certifications and training, I totally agree that there are many massage therapists and other kinds of specialists expected to do a good job teaching in massage schools with very little and sometimes no training on how to teach. This is a black eye in our profession. In North Carolina we have in our rules and statutes a requirement for teacher training that lists the pertinent topics quite nicely. A problem is that there is no qualifying standard. So, for example, one hour of training in lesson planning meets the requirement. And clearly that is not enough!

Here's the rule:
(a) The requirements in this Rule are intended to assure that instructors, as defined in Rule .0602 are
competent in the fundamental knowledge and methodology of teaching and possess a professional level
of skills, knowledge and practical experience in every subject they teach in the program.
(b) Instructors shall be trained in teaching methods, that shall include:
(1) Presentation skills;
(2) Development and implementation of lesson plans;
(3) Dynamics of the teacher/student relationship;
(4) Management of the classroom environment;
(5) Evaluation of student performance;
(6) Instructional strategies for the adult learner;
(7) Accommodations for students with special needs; and
(8) Knowledge of the school's administrative policies and procedures.

Comment by Linda Lowry on September 30, 2009 at 10:00pm

Hello Laura,

Thank you for sharing you voice and your wisdom - it has encouraged me to continue to share my voice. I too have written to the NCB, Paul Lindamood and have responded to individuals working on the Advanced Certification project through the NCB. I give Paul Lindamood a lot of credit as he responded directly to me in a very professional manner. However, I am extremely disappointed in the execution and management of this project and among other detailed questions, have posed the question, "What exactly is the point of NCB advanced certification exam(s) and why would I pay the NCB money to obtain the credential?" No one has answered this question other than to say, "there are many in the field who want this." I was also told that my comments could be better voiced by responding to surveys that the Advanced Certification Team is sending out to select people (perhaps some of the many in the field who want this?). Here is a link that I received today to a survey offered by Elizabeth Langston From: Elizabeth Langston (ELangston@ncbtmb.org)
Sent: Wed 9/30/09 6:25 PM
To: Elizabeth Langston (ELangston@ncbtmb.org)
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image001.jpg (4.9 KB)


The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) is asking all those in the profession to take part in its Needs Assessment survey for a new advanced credential. The results of the survey will help determine the direction of NCBTMB’s Advanced Certification Exam, which is slated for release mid-2010.



Since you have already shared comments or asked questions about the Advanced Certification, we want to make sure that you are specifically invited to take part in this survey. The survey will be open through October 16 – please click here to begin: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=n4xx_2bzXWiHjfAQ2RzrGqbQ_3d_3d .

For more information, please feel free to contact me.

Liz

I hope this link is helpful for anyone who wants to take a look at the questions. I am NOT a data survey designer nor a statistical analyst, just a simple, long time National Certification holder but I did not see on any page of the survey (I clicked through to read the questions and did not submit the survey) any UNBIASED questions. ALL questions seemed to me to be BIASED toward what type of Advanced Certification the survey taker would like to see (with limited answers). I did not see one question that asked if the survey taker thought the Advanced Certification was worthwhile in the first place. I did not see ONE question that asked if the survey taker agreed with what is going on with the NCB and Advanced Certification. I did not see one appropriate place to respond with free ideas or comments - perhaps that is not appropriate in a survey, I dont' know. Why would I pay thousands of dollars to pursue advanced training, obtain advanced certification with a mentor of my choice (that has been "approved" by the NCB), continue to pay more money to keep that advanced certification active with the mentor of my choice and then turn around and pay the National Certification Board to take a generalized advanced certification exam? This does not make sense to me. However, I like to see things in a fairly simple way so maybe I am missing some grand point. Does the public at large know the difference between a NCBTMB designation and a NCBTM designation? I have never been asked by one client, not one client what it means to be nationally certified let alone the difference between NCBTMB and NCBTM.
Perhaps the National Board would be better served to look at creating criteria to certify CE providers as "advanced." Perhaps the National Board would better serve the members and the public of the NCB by extending the same effort and hard work they are putting into an Advanced Certification exam into better organization and member communication for the mission already in place - certifying entry level examinations and renewal memberships. How did the NCB go from nada to Advanced Certification Exam roll out in April 2010? Did I miss the fact finding task force? Perhaps that survey will be in the mail next month when I expect to get my NCB renewal form approval from 2007 or the NCB marketing packet that I am still waiting for from 1998. Just some simple thoughts.

Comment by Steven D. Dyviniak on September 25, 2009 at 8:38pm

It seems as though the compass is broken and this ship is heading towards the rocks. Where has the focus of NCB gone since the "new" exam?

: /

Comment by Terry Craddock on September 25, 2009 at 8:28pm

To me the real question of advanced credentials is what does it bring to the table for us and the clients we serve.The privilage of saying we have advanced credentials does this provide a revenue source that we currently do not have or does it bring more money into NCB coffers? Until medicare or medicaid is willing to pay for these advanced services insurance companies are not going to be willing to pay either. that means we place a higher burden on the clients and ourselves..I for one am not interested in providing another revenue source for an organization like NCB.

Comment by michael alan on September 24, 2009 at 9:42am

written competency/training credentials have been utilized far too much to "award" certifications in a given modality as well as being used to license therapists. this is a HANDS ON healing profession. let us at the very least encourage that aspect of "competency testing" to ascertain who is privileged to practice within this field. as a part time educator i have seen far too many brilliant test takers (written) who have fallen very short in regards to their hands on skills. this is, in my opinion, a major shortcoming at the core of this field.

Comment by Laura Allen on September 22, 2009 at 4:13am

Larry--I'd say the rest of us can always learn from someone who has practiced for 40 years. Thanks for weighing in. I am definitely commenting on the MTBOK project. I don't understand the people who sit on their hands and don't vote, and don't seem to care about the legislation and professional association goings-on that affect our profession. If it affects me, you can take it to the bank that I am going to voice my opinion!

Comment by Kim Goral on September 21, 2009 at 8:54pm

I understand the need and want to prove that you are "more qualified" than your avg. therapist, but from a business standpoint, I think that is going to come more from your hands-on work than any certificate(s) you have hanging on your wall. In my 3 years of practicing, no one has ever asked me "what certifications do you have (beyond just being a trained MT)?" but many have complimented my skills and ability to treat the problem they are coming in to see me for. JMO!

Comment by Larry Warnock on September 20, 2009 at 8:09pm

I had the honor to chair one of the first job analysis task forces...after we analyzed the input from 15,000 professionals representing every faction of the profession and, once we assigned KSA's to the job analysis results, it became evident that NCB needed to start out with an entry level (which is all the certification exam was about) but that there would be a need for advanced certifications....but that never happened.

Now we have the MTBOK coming out with its initial findings...we need to argue and curse and yell about its contents...at least this group has attempted to pull the KSA's, etc together for review and comment...then we can decided how many levels of exams we need. NCB has lost it, as far as I am concerned. Their credibility and their lack of management skills might actually be a detriment to an advanced exam. but then, again, I am an old man whose been practicing for 40 years...so can be a little ornery at times.

Comment by Linda Redmond, LMBT on September 18, 2009 at 9:46am

Right on target, Laura, as always. LTY

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