Since this post is not intended as an attack on the National Certification Board, I decided it would be okay to post it. The readership needs to weigh in on this, as they are about to undertake an important project:
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.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
September 9th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Yes, there should be some type of exam but not a general one. An exam that is specific to the modality you are now advanced in. We have already took a general exam no need to force anyone to do that again.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:57 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Zama Massage. Zama Massage said: RT @massagemag: New blog post: Advanced Certification: The Long-Awaited Announcement from the NCBTMB http://bit.ly/Wgcn9 [...]
September 12th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
[...] Read Laura Allen’s blog post on this at http://www.massagemag.com [...]
September 17th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Is this another attempt to milk more money out of the hard working core of the industry? What will be the utimate end of the game? when will there be to much interference with the commerce of our field ? Are we not already burdened with expensive CEU classes for license renewal? When will we be allowed to earn a living with out having to further pay the overseerer?
September 18th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I agree. Modality specific exams are the route to go-
-not another general exam.
September 21st, 2009 at 6:00 am
Hi, Laura,
I agree with you. An advanced general exam is a contradiction in goals. If it’s truely of value to test an advanced practitioner, it has to be specific. It has to address the standard body of knowledge belonging to that area of expertise. I can’t see studying for an exam that requires me to learn advanced techniques that have no part of my work… but a sole or general “advanced exam” would have to cover all the bases and require us to do just that.
My specialty of deep tissue bodywork on muscle imbalances, structural bodywork and improved posture requires a body of knowledge that is quite specific. Anatomy, kinesiology, reciprocal inhibition techniques, myofascial release, and more… all would be meaningless to the practitioner who focuses on relaxation.
On the other hand, I know relatively little advanced relaxation/spa work – which to my way of thinking is holistic or systemic: circulation, lymph, immune boosting, relaxation and all the techniques that reduce stress and its related problems. , Swedish, hot stone — whatever) and wouldn’t be able to pass an advanced exam on that.
Just considering the questions you’d ask of an advanced practitioner in those two areas alone makes the idea of an advanced exam – that covers everyone – an impossible proposition.
Hopefully they will listen, but NCBTMB seems more driven by economics than by service to the industry. Someone probably calculated how much they’d make with a new exam, since they’ve lost ground on the old entry level one. Let’s just make sure it doesn’t become a mandatory one!
NCBTMB is a “top down” organization I think, and not very in touch with those of us making a living everyday. Or what an advanced body of knowledge would be for a massage therapy area of expertise.
Thanks for keeping us informed!
Erica
September 21st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I belong to ABMP, but my voice still matters as I might join this one as well. I truly believe if a therapist desires a further education in a specific modality only, they should have the option.
I was intrigued by this topic, keep us informed, I appreciate it!
September 26th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Hey Laura
Thanks for your inspirational writings.
It might be nice for NCBTMB to instead focus on Ce’s and certifying instructors. They are the main board for Ce certification and could go deeper into that perhaps..
Blessings
Narayani