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AMTA & ABMP Responses to NCBTMB Announcement
Once again, our professional membership organizations have spoken, and once again, the NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork) is not paying heed. I reported back on June 25 that the NCB has a new initiative in the works to expand their scope from a certifying body into a membership organization.
ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals) was the first to respond, and AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) has now followed suit in expressing their concern that this is a move that is not in the best interest of our profession.
There is no little irony in the fact that the NCBTMB was in fact started by AMTA, who initially gave them a $250,000 loan to get off the ground. The NCB is now going to be a direct competitor of the organization that gave birth to them to start with. Talk about a show of gratitude…that kind of thing happens all the time in the corporate world; someone leaves a company and starts up their own competing firm. That’s free enterprise at work, but I don’t think such actions have been as common in the world of professional associations and non-profits.
The NCB hasn’t released details yet, but they have indicated they will be offering liability insurance and other member benefits. I don’t think AMTA or ABMP has any worries about a mass defection of their membership to the NCB. For one thing, both AMTA and ABMP have a reputation for good service and timely response to their members, and many people take a lot of pride in belonging to one or the other or (like me) both. For another, as more and more states adopt the MBLEx as the path to licensure, it’s entirely possible that fewer people will be taking the national certification exams. If they would get on with the business of offering advanced certifications, that tide might turn, but for now, they seem to be swimming against it.
As I indicated in my previous post, the NCB also appears to be swimming against their own mission statement, which is to define and advance the highest standards in the profession through a recognized credentialing program. This latest move has nothing to do with that, as far as anyone can tell. And as Les Sweeney, president of ABMP pointed out, the NCBTMB has no experience in administering an insurance program, nor have they been known for their efficiency in running their own program in recent years, although the leadership does claim that their service has improved of late.
AMTA, ABMP, and the FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) have repeatedly made the statement that they all recognize certification as a cornerstone of the profession. It appears that the NCB doesn’t get that message, nor do they reciprocate in honoring the value and mission of our professional organizations. This initiative seems deliberately contrived to make it clear that they have no intention of coming to the table. In fact, it seems like they’re determined to take over the whole picnic. According to the American Medical Assocation, obesity is unhealthy.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals) was the first to respond, and AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) has now followed suit in expressing their concern that this is a move that is not in the best interest of our profession.
There is no little irony in the fact that the NCBTMB was in fact started by AMTA, who initially gave them a $250,000 loan to get off the ground. The NCB is now going to be a direct competitor of the organization that gave birth to them to start with. Talk about a show of gratitude…that kind of thing happens all the time in the corporate world; someone leaves a company and starts up their own competing firm. That’s free enterprise at work, but I don’t think such actions have been as common in the world of professional associations and non-profits.
The NCB hasn’t released details yet, but they have indicated they will be offering liability insurance and other member benefits. I don’t think AMTA or ABMP has any worries about a mass defection of their membership to the NCB. For one thing, both AMTA and ABMP have a reputation for good service and timely response to their members, and many people take a lot of pride in belonging to one or the other or (like me) both. For another, as more and more states adopt the MBLEx as the path to licensure, it’s entirely possible that fewer people will be taking the national certification exams. If they would get on with the business of offering advanced certifications, that tide might turn, but for now, they seem to be swimming against it.
As I indicated in my previous post, the NCB also appears to be swimming against their own mission statement, which is to define and advance the highest standards in the profession through a recognized credentialing program. This latest move has nothing to do with that, as far as anyone can tell. And as Les Sweeney, president of ABMP pointed out, the NCBTMB has no experience in administering an insurance program, nor have they been known for their efficiency in running their own program in recent years, although the leadership does claim that their service has improved of late.
AMTA, ABMP, and the FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) have repeatedly made the statement that they all recognize certification as a cornerstone of the profession. It appears that the NCB doesn’t get that message, nor do they reciprocate in honoring the value and mission of our professional organizations. This initiative seems deliberately contrived to make it clear that they have no intention of coming to the table. In fact, it seems like they’re determined to take over the whole picnic. According to the American Medical Assocation, obesity is unhealthy.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
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Comment
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Comment by Dennis Gibbons on July 14, 2009 at 6:46am
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sometimes ones ego drives the discussion. NCBTMB needs to understand that they too serve a purpose and that they should not try to become something they are not. as someone who has worked with both organizations the FSMTB has much more organization and understanding of the direction Massage Therapy needs to take in this country. The MBLEx is a much more standardized test for entry level therapists and because of their ability to work with all of the member states, they will have a much more complete test. NCBTMB I believe should start to standardize continuing education for massage therapy and raise those standards. There is room for both organizations, but they need to find their strength and build on that. Thanks for listening.
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Comment by vinny andrews on July 13, 2009 at 2:29pm
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"You go girl..." Honestly, I could not agree more with your post. Of course they wouldn't want to "come to the table." I am sure they perceive themselves as above and beyond others in this just as they have for years in their examination monopoly. It seems to me that the NCBTMB is simply spoiled by their long time monopoly. And they long ago wandered beyond the mission by lobbying efforts to become the required exam for licensing everywhere...when their own original mission included that they were specifically NOT for that purpose. No wonder then they now want to launch a professional organization. Arrogant to the extreme, they bully and abuse whoever gets in their way. Is it any wonder they filed suit in Florida recently to keep their hold on licensing there? And they've threatened schools with withdrawal of their precious "certifications" for nonsense. .
Bring on MBLex, and rid the massage profession of this
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