First. I am exhausted
and that is because the meeting was so rich. I will be hard to pinpoint
everything that happened because I was not able to be involved in every
conversation. So many connections
necessary to understand where we are and where we go from here. As I work on
this blog there are facts, opinions, possibilities, logical directions, pros
and cons and many feelings to consider. All of this energy mixes up into the
experience. I believe that we left with more questions than answers. As I write in textbooks, the questions are
more important than the answers anyway, especially when one question generates many
answers. We do need decisions however.
Without a decision about what to do we have no direction and without
direction we cannot move.
I am typically lost in a hotel. The one where the congress was held was no
different. The unfamiliar circumstances, the dyslexic mind I have, the various
floors and ups and downs. Most know I
have been working through some major eye issues related to glaucoma and
cataracts. I am tickled that I went to a landmark, visionary meeting with
messed up vision. My world is a little
blurry, I have no depth perception, going down stairs is dangerous and I fell
twice but got up and kept going. I can
go up stairs however. Once people in attendance realized that I was acting
weird for a reason, I had appreciated and wonderful assistance. I am amazed how
exhausted I become attempting to see. This entire vision experience has an
uncanny reflection about where we are in the massage world.
I present this overview from my perspective confident that
there are typo’s and grammar issues.
Read through them. I have a bunch
of things to do today but promised this so here we go.
I arrived on Tuesday because I wanted to attend the preconference
workshops by COMTA-Commission on Massage Training and Accreditation. First was a report about COMTA in general and
then a report on a new program they are offering. I have been suggesting, whining, asking,
bitching, researching, asking, pleading and begging for some sort or recognition
for quality schools that does not bind a school to the financial aid requirements
of accreditation. I know that the
current accrediting bodies that work with massage school are just as frustrated
about having to be a gate keeping for financial aid regulations as I am. My school was accredited for many years way
back when accreditation was only accreditation. The school was accredited until
not that long ago with ACCSC. I lived
the shift from accreditation make a better school -----to you cannot be
accredited anymore because your financials will not meet the requirements you
must maintain for federal regulations. My school never participated in financial
aid but for years had to maintain compliance as if we did. I just reached a
point where I couldn’t do it anymore and it had nothing to do with the integrity
and quality of the school operations and education. It was a sad day when the people at ACCSC and
I decided that I needed to voluntarily relinquish accreditation. One of those individuals
(Chris) sat on the panel of accrediting bodies that spoke to the audience in a
different presentation. More about that later. Chris came up to me and we
chatted about the journey and it was bitter sweet.
But back to the wonderful thing COMTA has done. They will be
launching a COMTA Endorsed Curriculum program. I am overjoyed. It allows schools to demonstrate excellence
free from the burden of financial aid compliance. This program is affordable,
well thought out and stands on its own or can be a step into full accreditation
if that becomes the goal of a school. Click here to learn more check out COMTA's website.
So I am now considered an elder in the massage community.
Some may not agree and some will not like what I say. An elder is one who is
old enough to have learned from their mistakes and the mistakes of others,
developed wisdom based on formal study, experience and mentoring, can recall
the past, function effectively in the present and understands and facilitates
change for the future. I am ready to
take on that role along with other who have earned the right to have an opinion
worthy of consideration.
So here is my first statement: All massage therapy schools
should participate in one of the following COMTA programs:
!!!!!!Endorsed Curriculum: There is no excuse for avoiding
this program. ALL massage schools small
and single owner to large and corporate need to have a COMTA Endorsed Curriculum.
It is the right thing to do for the massage community right now and for the
future. Done. !!!!!
Programmatic Accreditation:
Massage Therapy education offered in a school (including community
colleges) with institutional accreditation from any of the various accrediting
bodies.
Full institutional accreditation : The main reason for this
process(in my opinion) is the add on access to federal financial aid. The entire financial aid program is a mess,
under revision and no one knows what is going to happen. But if a school is institutionally accredited
and offers massage education then programmatic accreditation is important.
I have no motivation or desire to become institutionally
accredited and will fight tooth and nail to avoid being force to be compliant
with regulation that is specifically related to financial aid.
I will be at the front of the line to work with COMTA to
have an Endorsed Curriculum because it is the right thing to do for the massage
profession now.
Next—
The Panel presentation by the Franchise industry.
Four franchise organizations were represented: Massage Envy,
Massage Heights, Elements Massage and Massage Retreat and Spa. There are many
massage related franchises but these four provided an accurate cross section of
the industry.
As presenters the range of presentation skill was ok to excellent. The focus was about what the employment based
franchise system offered to individual massage therapists and the massage
community as a whole. There is a lot of
energy around this topic as well as fear, miss information, some hype, lots of
frustration from all parties and the need to get real.
( Discloser. I have been supportive of the franchise
/employee model from the very beginning of Massage Envy. My kids have recently purchased a Massage
Green Franchise with my assistance. I have
been personally and professionally slammed on social media by a few individuals because of
miss understanding related to the franchise model and employment as a career
pathway-I will keep attempting to educate. )
Entry level massage practice has changed. The main entry into the profession is employment and the
collective group of franchise/spa organizations is the main employer. Yes often this collective group will take
graduates right out of school. Thank
goodness someone will. The model has
been employee based from the beginning.
Most abuse of massage therapist related to income comes from the
independent contractor ( IC) miss classification not franchises. The department of Labor has fixed this
problem by clarifying what constitutes an employee. It may take a while to trickle down but most
currently IC classified massage
therapist will need to either be reclassified as employees and employers will
be held accountable for federally regulated employee protections, taxes
required, and other employee mandates.
It is going to be a rough time for IC based massage therapists. I expect
that many contractors will sever this type of relationship rather than
undertake the process and burden to become employers. I think it is going to be a mess during the
transition. Massage therapist will need
to be truly self -employed or employees.
So- the problem really isn’t the franchises. It is the
confusion over the switch to massage as employment. Those of us who have been in private practice
for a long time never had the opportunity to be an employee. Until Massage Envy
entered the massage world there was very few employment opportunities. Those of us who have been in practice as a self-employed
massage therapist prior to 2002 need to realize that entry level employment-with wages is the way it is now. It
does not matter if we agree or not. A
satisfying career in massage therapy can occur as an employee where the
employer has the risk, pays the overhead, wrangles the taxes and creates the environment.
This is not the blog to again attempt to
describe the difference between self-employed and employee income. Right now I am tired attempting. I will say this. We need to stop confusing paid per massage
and thinking that is an hourly wage. I have lots of blogs on this so if
interested you can read them.
The franchise system is not perfect. There need to be some changes for sure. There is a supply and demand problem. For the first time that I can remember there
are more massage therapy jobs than massage therapists graduating from schools
to fill them. This was a major topic at the congress. Enrollment at massage
therapy schools, regardless of type of school, is WAY down. The franchise
system has NOTHING to do with enrollment.
We as a group of educators do not really know what to do about this
issue. The entry level income provided
by employment positions for massage is in alignment with the Federal gainful
employment requirements so long as entry level (500-800 hours) tuitions are no more
than $10,000. Actually the need for more
massage therapists by the franchises should support massage schools but massage
schools need to work with the Franchises.
I need to point out
that health care organization may emerge as an employer of massage therapist
and—based on current educational standards (which are fine by the way for work
in health care as a palliative approach unless a specific population is
targeted such as oncology. Problem is schools are not teaching to the
standardized curriculum set forth by ELAP) will be on the lower if not lowest
end of the pay scale. Sorry- this is
just the way it is. Annual starting wage
will be around $25,000 for a 40 hour work week and maybe some benefits.
The representatives from Massage Envy expressed a passionate
concern for massage therapist getting injured and then leaving massage. Unlike
many want to think this issue is not related the number of massage session the
massage therapist is required to do –bla bla bla. It is related to the massage
communities lack of a real ergonomics evaluation and recommendations for safe
practice for the massage therapist and the weird concept of deep tissue
massage. I have been begging, whining
and well you all know how I am a squeaky wheel for an independent, for real, by
ergonomics professionals for this type of evaluation. So since the massage
community won’t do it I publically changed to employers to do it. And I think
they just might. Let’s hope.
The panel of Accreditors was up front with the problems facing
accreditation per say and schools. There
is tremendous change occurring behind the scenes. I think we will have a better idea of how
this is all going to wash out in a couple of years. Be
aware and be prepared as these changes are hammered out and implemented. Most issues involve student debt and access
to federal money. If I were to provide
an opinion it is to avoid financial aid if you can, revaluate tuition and see
if it can be reduced so students have
access to education by paying out of pocket. Learn to be lean in your operations. Tighten your belt and hold on for a bumpy
ride.
Wednesday.
The formal opening of the Educational Congress- Very cool.
Everyone introduced themselves in 20 seconds or less-a miracle.
First Keynote Speaker James Oschman. Of all the things that are so important right
now and need immediate attention the biggest divide was over James Oschman as
one of the keynote speakers. I will say
that I think a better choice could have been made because of the potential for
division over Oschmans approach and philosophy and that this could become a
point of separation of the massage community instead of the focus on connection
and collaboration. By the way this
reflection is not so much about James Oschman and his approach and philosophy
but where the massage community is in our understanding of ourselves. I know James and he is very clear about who
he is. Massage on the other hand has a
major identity crisis. I have been
around too long to totally discount possibility and yes based on current
knowledge the keynote presented information
that was very suspect. But I got some
good laughs during the presentation and went to dinner with the non-oschmans and had a good time.
Lunch-Fantastic. Those
who planned and sustained this event have may gratitude.
The second keynote was delivered by David Lautherstein. He played is brand new traveling take apart
and put back together guitar. What a concept-innovation. Everyone was happy.
We used the Whova app and I even downloaded it myself. Cool.
Technology is here, we need to use it.
The Congressional Updates and Industry Projects panel was
next.
All the organizations represented in the front of the
room. What an alphabet. I lose track of
all the ABMP, ACCAHC, AFMTE, AMTA, AOBTA,COMTA, FSMTB, MTF, NCBTMB AND S4OM. Does any other professional have this many
letters? Somehow this just needs to be
different.
The AFTME continues to support the Teacher Standards Project
and are making progress in developing measurable criteria for educational
modules leading toward teacher certification.
There was fear masked as concern and resistance because those of us who
have been around a long time may have to learn new stuff and let go of stuff
that no longer works. It will be ok.
I am pleased that the AFMTE has been the catalyst for this
meeting. I am proud to be a founding
member and that against all odds this important organization is here to
stay. The original board will be
stepping down over the next year. Their dedication to nurturing this
organization will become a legacy.
The discussion was lively but conflict was kept in
check. The National Certification Board
hinted and then confirmed to me that specialty certifications are now in
development. Board Certification is the launch pad. Board Certification is not perfect. I have always felt and expressed that the
educational requirement for eligibility is too low. However I understand that with the way the educational
delivery is right now for entry level the credential that says “I am more than
licensed, I am no longer a beginner and I took a test to prove it” is necessary
to provide a level launch pad into specialty certification.
Elder statement alert.
Board Certification needs to be encouraged. It does have value and can be used to achieve
academic degrees if you want. More than that type of value—right now for the
profession—it is the right thing to do. Become Board Certified and encourage
graduates to strive for this credential.
I have concerns with the organizational cooperation. I still sense undercurrent without
transparency by the whole group—except the Massage Therapy Foundation-. I am frustrated with AMTA for a variety of
reasons but mostly because this organization did not support the Educational
Congress by not offering the Summit in February. This split the educators and the Exhibitors.
It is just too expensive for exhibitors and the rest of us to attend multiple
meeting. I again ask AMTA to put full
support behind the Alliance as the organization representing massage therapy education.
If the AMTA leaders will not do this then at least do not offer conflicting
meetings. To the credit of ABMP this
organization did not have their annual school forum and supported the
Educational Congress.
I also heard and then confirmed that the Federation of State
Massage Boards in in process of developing a continuing education approved
provider program. Since the Federation only
answers to the member state massage boards I guess it does not matter about the
important balance of power in the massage profession. The NCBTMB already has an approved continuing
education approved provider program in place and is working hard to clean it up
from past problems and move forward. I
have blogged multiple times about concerns with the Federation having too much
power in the massage profession. I am
very concerned about this most recent move.
I have been a longtime proponent of the MBLEX being the only exam used
for licensing and am glad that the NCB is done with licensing. However, if the
Federation’s job is licensing then it should stop at licensing. The rational I received from the Federation representatives
is that states have continuing education requirements in licensing regulation
therefor regulation of continuing education falls to the Federation. I am very concerned over the balance of power
and I think the Federation currently has most of the $$$ and way too much power.
This is going to become a real problem
if the entire leadership group does not put a stop to it.
In the middle of all of this are the Exhibitors. Their
presence paid for a lot of the conference.
The many breakout sessions covered topics related to major
issues in the profession. I attended the presentation about the MBLEX
questions. I have never had a concern
about the MBLEX exam. There is plenty of
oversite. The exam will change as the
job task analysis changes for the massage profession. The Entry Level Analysis Project (ELAP)
content will filter into the language used to create the questions. It will
take a while. Educators, the ELAP
documents are huge and overwhelming.
Just consider the work that went into the development. There is tons of information. It was quite a
process getting those documents workable.
It is not perfect but it is better than good enough. It is done. Entry level education needs to be
aligned to the ELAP content.
Most of the real work happened in the halls, at the various
individual gatherings of participants, the dinners and lunches. I cannot speak to all of those important
times accept that even in this time of technology we need to share physical
space so our hearts can touch.
Thank you, Sandy! I appreciate your comments and insights!
ReplyDeleteWonderful update! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Sandy!
ReplyDelete