New Blood at the NCBTMB

The NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork) has announced that Angela Palmier and Christopher Alvarado are joining the NCBTMB as Industry Relations Specialists. In my opinion, that's the first positive action they have taken in a while, and I hope it is a sign of better days to come for the NCB.

Both Palmier and Alvarado have long involvements with the massage profession and with AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association). Both have served as presidents of the Illinois Chapter. According to the press release, their mission will be to strengthen relationships within the industry, including peer groups, educators, and regulatory agencies.

Christopher Alvarado states, In my new role at NCBTMB, I hope to be a unifying force in the field.” I sincerely hope that is the truth.

AMTA, ABMP (Association Bodywork & Massage Professionals), and the FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards), while acknowledging that national certification is a cornerstone of the profession, have all expressed the hope that the NCBTMB would recognize the place of the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) as the path to initial licensure, and get on with the task of offering advanced certifications.

In the past few years, the NCBTMB has been more well-known for their poor service to stakeholders, their interference in state governance, their negative campaigns against the Federation and the MBLEx, and their internal personnel problems than they have for being a presumed valued part of our profession.

Palmier and Alvarado are both intelligent and dedicated, and I feel very safe in saying they have the best of intentions. As Industry Relations Specialists, I hope that they will convince the powers that be at the NCB that suing state boards is not the way to foster friendly relations. Such actions don't endear you to the boards or the licensees, for that matter. Referring to ABMP as "just an insurance company" is not the way to foster friendly relations. Putting out a press release saying that AMTA's decision to endorse the MBLEx was based on passion instead of the result of careful consideration is not the way to foster friendly relations.

Palmier says in the press release that "The old NCB is missing in action, and the NCB of the present and the future is alive and well!" I hope that proves to be true. One thing is certain, Christopher and Angela have a huge task in front of them to try to undo some of the damage that has been done. I wish them well, and will be reporting on their progress.