Advanced Certification: The Long-Awaited Announcement from the NCBTMB

Comment

Comment by Missy Morphis-Jones on September 17, 2009 at 7:34am

I agree that advanced national exams should pertain to individual specialized certifications and not just another general knowledge exam. As Jan said, this would mean more to employers and clients. Clients look for therapists that specialize in certain areas for their needs just as they do when looking for doctors that specialize in areas. We don't need just another general exam with the word advanced in front of it. That doesn't mean a whole lot to most clients.

Comment by Mike Hinkle on September 16, 2009 at 4:31pm

Well, what this does, is put every phase of the massage profession having their educational levels upgraded or defined. The MTBOK is addressing the requirements for entry level. NCB is working on advanced certification and the Alliance will be organizing the teachers. Times are "a changin!"

Comment by Shawn Maria Brinza on September 16, 2009 at 3:42pm

I think this is all just Bull. We take classes and get certified in areas that we want to advance in. That makes us more knowledgeable of course than someone that hasnt taken that class. That other person in turn has taken hours of training in something else. Both are advanced therapist, in different modalities. Both already have their certifications for the extra knowledge they have aquired and both are anxious to learn more. One is not any BETTER than the other. We are all healers my friends. These political I'm better than the next guy wars have just gotten out of hand. I have had fabulous massages from students and had horrible AND expensive massages at the hands of people full of knowledge and ego,,, leaving their intent, their PRESENCE know where to be found in their work... But there form was great, and know one knew more... I believe if you want to improve the system learn to be a better teacher who is in touch with the real powers at hand. We are only the vehicles, the facilitators. We should be rejoicing that with technology of today we can all communicate with each other, healer to healer. We can talk and learn from each other, and all some seem to want todo is look down their noses at those whom THEY consider inferior....???? If your state has certified you as a therapist, you are qualified and legal... How far you advance should be your choice. We are required an education minimum every couple of years, Just because I get 200 hours instead of the twenty something required, only means my resume is longer and stronger. The therapist with less training may give a way better basic Swedish massage, because that is what they do and that is what they love.... Lets try to keep it real...

Comment by Exie Buehler on September 15, 2009 at 7:20am

I worked so hard to get certified through NCB because when I went to school it was explained to us that although Michigan did not have a state regulatory body, in those states that did, NCTMB certification was the "gold standard". I have maintained my certification and in the process been certified in prenatal massage and as a massage doula and infant massage instructor. My question is this: Is advanced certification in a specific modality "overkill" and could we be opening a "pandora's box", so to speak, by causing further division within the profession?

Comment by Angela Palmier on September 11, 2009 at 9:12pm

I've been following the posts on several sites discussing this, and the press release announcing that Chris and I are working with NCB Industry Relations. For those of you who know me personally, you must realize how difficult it's been not chiming in right away! Patience is a virtue, but not one of mine ;) Here's my two cents...

I LOVE this profession, and this blog proves my affection is valid. Thank you Laura for posting this topic, you're 110% right. We do need to weigh in, and by the responses here--it's starting to happen. Soooo many questions, and what do questions lead to? ANSWERS!
"How do you define the scope of this general advanced credential?"; "Will this change/limit practice"; "How much do we have to pay for this?" Here's the answers, in order: Not sure yet; Maybe, maybe not; not a clue. How's that for reassurance? The fact is, these questions cannot be answered now because WE, the professionals have yet to answer them. We'll get our chance, and rest assured that if there were answers now, it would be a very bad sign.
I'm no expert in exam development, how to direct this process, etc., but Liz Langston certainly is. She's on top of this and rest assured it will be done properly. Information will be posted soon, and I'm sure a way to funnel all of our "answers" will be provided as well. Then, the JTA goes out and those responses are captured as well. I, for one, look forward to this opportunity.
Lisa Curran Parenteau's comment "I have a real abiding interest in continuing to raise the bar and create meaningful standards for all massage therapists" speaks to me so clearly. I feel the same way. If we constantly strive to raise the bar, our profession will grow and we will grow as individuals. No doubt it's scary at times, change always is, but we can help direct it in those "meaningful" ways that Lisa mentioned. We, as MT's and BW's are a very large group of individuals. I've seen hundreds--no exaggeration--hundreds of emails flooding our in-boxes with ideas, support, questions, etc., and they are all unique to those who send them. This is what I LOVE about our profession. We have the freedom to be unique and make choices. Taking the "massage" out of it, when we go to our favorite grocery store, we have thousands of options. We don't buy everything the store has to sell, just what we want. What if we had the opportunity to request that store carry what we want to buy? Would we deny others the chance to make their requests because we didn't like what they wanted? Of course not. THIS opportunity to "request" is ours---we need to communicate and participate. Believe me, they are listening.
I'm just realizing that I am submitting this post on 9/11. I'd love to say that I planned it, but it just hit me this very minute. Everything I'm saying in this post talks about choice, opportunity, respect for individuality, and our right to have those choices honored. We, as a profession can come together, choose to participate, agree to disagree, and most importantly engage in a positive, meaningful way.

What a country! What a profession! I'm a licensed massage therapist, Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and darn proud of it! (The "darn" was for Laura's benefit!!! ;)

Comment by Theresa Falvey on September 10, 2009 at 3:57pm

So first I think of, not even every state has made it manditory that you have the National Certification and now they want to add another test to make you more distinguished, it doesn't make sense. Then if there is another exam/certification, what kind of continuing ed. am I going to have to do for that along with the National and being a Massage Therapist now a days is hard, money isn't always flowing in. Who is going to pay for yet more classes that, yes, would be nice to take, I am all for learning more but I just is seeming like a lot.

Comment by Laura Allen on September 10, 2009 at 1:14pm

And a wee drammie of Tullamore Dew to go with it:)

Comment by Laura Allen on September 10, 2009 at 4:34am

I think it looks fine, Rosemary. As for the voices on here, there are former volunteers; as for the people who have responded to mine and Xerlan's blogs, they include two past chairs of the NCB that are also distressed to see how things have gone there. As for my own involvement, I've been NCB since 2000 and an AP since 2002, and have dealt with them in the capacity of a school administrator starting back in 1998. The people who are critical of them are the people who have watched their downhill slide and experienced their poor service for the past few years, not just bystanders. Re the survey you just did, how can I repost that to people? It's basically the same questions I asked here to begin with, in a different form, and it was just as important to me to have them hear the actual comments people are making. I have already forwarded dozens.

They have in fact been given many chances to redeem themselves. You should go back and read my blogs for the past two years to get a little history, and before that, Cliff Korn has written a lot in Massage Today; the Ramblemuse, Eric Grant, started writing about them in 2002. This is not some new development. This has been brewing for most of the past decade.

Comment by Rebecca B Adams on September 9, 2009 at 5:33pm

I agree Laura. It just seems like a way to get more money. We have to take responsibility for our own growth and training. We are professionals. As long as we are conducting ourselves ethically, we don't need babysitters. The only way to stay in business is caring, effective therapy. And we all have something to bring to the table - that's why there are so many different ways to use the different techniques! I am really leaning toward supporting the Massage Federation. If we get a standard in place, so that more states will offer reciprocity, what is the use for a National Certification? It's just more money.. With the MBLEX, you pay for your test, and that's it. You don't have to renew a certification and pay more money to have a certificate saying you passed a licensing exam.. They are taking a truly beneficial occupation and tying our hands with more red tape..

Comment by Laura Allen on September 9, 2009 at 4:20pm

Rosemary,
I have suggested that they do a survey....seeing as how they think I'm Satan incarnate up there, I think I'm being generous enough by asking the question and forwarding them the answers ;-). This blog is posted all over the place and many more are reposting it. I'm gathering as many of those comments as I can to send to them. They've already decided on the beta exam launch date etc, regardless of what the JTA outcome is....sort of seems as if they've already decided it, but I hope not. I'd like to know how many therapists are participating in the JTA, it needs to be thousands, and 20 people writing test questions doesn't amount to diddly squat, in my opinion.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page