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Advanced Certification: The Long-Awaited Announcement from the NCBTMB

The NCBTMB announced today in a press release that the organization is getting on with the task of offering an advanced certification examination, with a target date for the exam to start beta testing in April 2010.

While I applaud any effort from them towards that at all, the issue here is that I think they're a little off target, before they get started. I have heard input from hundreds of therapists who would be interested in gaining an advanced certification in their area of expertise, such as Medical Massage, Oncology Massage, Maternity Massage, and so forth. I haven't heard anyone say they would line up to take a general type of exam. Furthermore, since the day the MBLEx was introduced, the NCB has propagated their existing exams as the hallmark of advanced knowledge, even though in reality it is an entrance-level exam, so they've kind of lost ground by way of their own press.

I think it is of the utmost importance for the massage community to weigh in on this before this Job Task Analysis gets off to a big start. The NCB has reportedly assembled a team of 20 experts in the field to lead this effort that is to take place in November.

I will forward all answers to this on to the powers that be at the NCB. PLEASE weigh in: Would you be interested in taking a modality-specific exam, and if so, in what area of expertise would you seek that advanced certification?

OR would you be interested in taking a general advanced certification exam that just designates you as an advanced professional?

Does either of these work for you? Come on, people, we need for our voices to be heard on this one.

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Comment by Gloria Coppola on September 8, 2009 at 5:36pm: All great points. I agree! yes they need to be specific. how much do we have to pay for this? So many fees everywhere nowadays. I don't personally feel a written exam proves anything. I've seen many Certified (?) from NCB and I know many LMT's that don't know how to give an adequate treatment, let alone specific- even tho they claim so. Lots more has to be done and established. I'm not willing to take an exam for this at this point. I have been a member since it's very first inception. Quite frankly, no one ever asked for my credentials, considered the NCB certificate for anything and other than frustration from NCB communication, I don't know what they did for me.I've paid alot of money to them over the years and I'm not interested in paying and "advanced" fee. I continue my education because I am dedicated to the field. I am my "overseer". Competence needs to be governed by the individuals providing these trainings, not the NCB, if anyone?

Comment by Mike Hinkle on September 8, 2009 at 5:12pm: I'm with Jan. There needs to be a lot more explanation and input from the therapists and stakeholders. What are the advantages and aspects that could hurt the profession? At what cost is it to the working therapist now? Will this change or limit their practice? I agree with Laura too,"We need for our voices to be heard on this one."

Comment by Kathy Renee Robb-Cohen on September 8, 2009 at 5:09pm: It seems to me that additional exams are to establish legitimacy (as is the entrance exam), and that legitimacy is actually gained through the workshops we take to BECOME advanced. Our reputation is our real legitimacy, and no exam is going to adequately ascertain a degree of advanced professionalism as they are word based and not hands on. I don't get excited about another exam, generalized or specific. Advanced classes, now,... that I get excited about!

Comment by Jan Schwartz on September 8, 2009 at 4:06pm: It seems that most health and wellness related fields have specialties IN something as you mentioned in your blog. How do you define the scope of this general advanced credential? I don't see much value in a general advanced certification, but I can get excited about specialized certifications--I think they would mean more to employers and to clients.

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