Comments on: Advanced Certification: The Long-Awaited Announcement from the NCBTMB

By: Lara Narayani

Lara Narayani — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:44:41 +0000

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

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:38:57 +0000

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!

By: Erica Bliss Winston

Erica Bliss Winston — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:51 +0000

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

By: Lesly Lewandowski

Lesly Lewandowski — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:33:23 +0000

I agree. Modality specific exams are the route to go-
-not another general exam.

By: Dan Dutcher

Dan Dutcher — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:01:47 +0000

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?

By: Can the NCBTMB be saved? « www.thebodyworker.com

Can the NCBTMB be saved? « www.thebodyworker.com — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:57:35 +0000

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Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:57:59 +0000

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By: Lynn Bukowski

Lynn Bukowski — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:38:43 +0000

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.