NOT BECAUSE I HAVE
TO-BECAUSE I WANT TO.
As I monitor the massage profession’s response to important development
I find it interesting that some push back is occurring around the confusion
about what a massage school or massage practitioner has to do vs a choice about
what individual and school and other stakeholders HAVE to do verses WANT to
do for professional development.
The only thing a massage educational program HAS to do is be incompliance with state
laws regulating education
The only thing a massage therapist HAS to do is be licensed in the state or jurisdiction in which you
practice. (minus the few state that still do not license)
MASSAGE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS –WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO.
The ELAP (Entry-Level Analysis Project) finial report in
available at elapmassage.org. Those
responsible might WANT to use these documents
to complete a curriculum review and make changes where it is appropriate. It is time for standardization of entry level
curriculum and yes the ELAP content is not perfect but is more than good
enough. Massage therapy schools and
educational program have an obligation to prepare graduates for their future
(not the past) of massage professional practice.
MASSAGE TEACHERS—
The ELAP documents can guide us in the content that we
should be teaching. As massage educators
we should WANT to advance our skills
both in content as presented in the ELAP document in entry level education and
for continuing education we should WANT
to make sure the content is as evidence informed as possible and not blatantly
invalid and at least logically explainable in terms of current knowledge of
anatomy and physiology. We should WANT to disclose when we are working
from our own opinions and strive for student to leave with skills they can use
to expand their ability to be a lifelong learner. We should WANT to expose myths and continuingly
update our own knowledge.
This goes for textbook authors in the profession as well and
I am one. My textbooks reflect ELAP
content well but during my next revision cycle I will have content to upgrade,
minor changes in terminology and always updating research. I WANT
to do this. And if I am a responsible
author I HAVE to do these things.
TRANSITIONING TO BOARD CERTIFCATION
No one HAS to be
Board Certified but during this time of rapid shifts in the massage profession
I would hope you would WANT to
support professional development with this credential. I know the NCBTMB has had it’s problems. I have been involve with these issue with the
NCBTMB since it’s inception. The past issues do not mean that the current
direction is wrong. In fact it may
actually be the very best thing for NCB and the massage profession. I do encourage you to become board certified
and at the same time demand accountability from the organization. The current
board of directors has a big mess to clean up. It will take time. Please be part of the solution. Professional development requires a
certification process. We have the organization
so let’s work to make it serve the massage community.
The BOARD CERTIFICATION CREDENTIAL provided by the National
Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork launched in January
2013. This new credential requires fulfilling additional qualifications,
including more education, hands-on experience and a background check. There is
an exam that reflects the advanced level of practice. The intention of this
process is to provide validation of professional development beyond entry level
education and practice. By increasing
educational requirements and including a work experience component Board
Certification is a way for a massage professional to validate that they support
ongoing learning and professional advancement.
Those who were previously certified with the old national
certification process have an opportunity to transition to Board Certification
without taking the test. By December
31, 2016 the transition process to Board Certification for those who were
previously nationally certified under the old system will be complete. From that point on to be board certified
massage professionals will need to meet all eligibility requirements and pass
the exam. Those who have not been
previously certified under the old NCBTMB system will have to meet all
requirements and take the Board Certification exam. Here is a link to the
knowledge content expected for Board Certification
http://www.ncbtmb.org/sites/default/files/files/NCBTMB%20Massage%20Therapist%20Job%20Analysis%20Report_V2.pdf.pdf
New Certification Test Specifications are found on page
21. For more information see
http://www.ncbtmb.org/board-certification/board-certification
COLLEGE CREDIT
AWARDED TOWARD A MAJOR IN MASSAGE THERAPY BACHELOR’S DEGREE.
No one HAS to pursue
a college degree but some may WANT
to. Especially
educators.
Why would you WANT
an academic degree? I can think of lots
of reasons such as additional validation for professional development, addition
of skills over and above massage application including business and leadership,
and maybe most important to me- teacher development. I think we can agree that the massage
educators need access to advanced training in the form of associate’s and
bachelor’s degrees. AND IT IS AVAILABLE –WOW--------.
An associate’s degree is typically based on 2 years of
college level study (60 credits). Some
community colleges and technical schools offer a diploma level massage training
that can be advanced to an associate’s degree by adding general education
courses and other massage related courses. This is really good and becomes a
launch pad for the next step--- a bachelor’s degree.
In December 2013, a partnership with Sienna Heights
University and the NCB was announced for the new NCBTMB Board Certification to
be used for college credit.
A Bachelor’s Degree
in Massage Therapy is available.
NCBTMB Board Certificants are awarded 33 college credits
toward the 120 credits required to achieve this degree. A 45-credit major in
Massage Therapy is established through Board Certification and completing 12
credits of cognate/major-related study at Siena Heights. The 12 credits are designed
to assist with the business/human relations aspects of a successful massage
career. The entire degree requires 120 credits, 33 of which are awarded with
proof of Board Certification. Additional transfer credit up to 90 credits total
can apply toward the degree. Students may need only 10 courses (30 credits) to
complete their degrees. Siena Heights
University offers upper-division courses in areas such as leadership and
management, organizational behavior, marketing, health care management,
professional communication, social science, liberal arts, and more. These are
areas that have been identifies as the most lacking in current massage
education. This is a real monetary value for board certification for those who
want to take advantage of the opportunity.
Sienna Heights University is progressive and open to work with the
massage community like they have with other occupations and health professional
since the 1970s. If you have an associate’s degree in massage therapy for
example, that can be another way to establish the massage therapy major. AND—YOU CAN COMPLETE YOUR DEGREE ON LINE!
The Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (BAS) is a career-oriented degree
designed for professionals with allied health or technical training. This degree is a BAS in Massage Therapy. WOW.
This is a very exciting development for me because I have
had a relationship with Sienna Height University for over 22 years for credit
transfer from my massage theory school and now massage professional all over
the country through the online program can take advantage of this career
pathway.
For any additional
information on Siena Heights University, please visit www.sienaheights.edu.
So all—I hope that for the future of massage therapy as many
an possible will WANT to move
forward with career development.
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