Comments on: HOME STUDY CONUNDRUM

By: Erik Dalton

Erik Dalton — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:02:47 +0000

Good news from NCBTMB Board Directors and Volunteers,

I wanted you to be aware of the fact that we are releasing a statement – on industry blogs and to the media and APs – regarding NCBTMB’s Education/Kinesthetic Policy.

NCBTMB Announcement Concerning Distance Education/Kinesthetic Policy

Suspending instructor/proctor requirement for home study and DE programs

The definition and delivery of continuing education (CE) continues to evolve rapidly in this country, and NCBTMB is committed to ensuring that its policies reflect current standards and best practices.

With this objective in mind, NCBTMB’s Continuing Education Committee met in 2007 and proposed that distance education (DE) for kinesthetic (hands-on) programs require an instructor to be “present” for the final assessment of acquired skills. This policy was developed with the intent of serving the best interests of Approved Providers, certificants and consumers, and included a 3-year grace period for pre-existing courses and completed CE hours.

Based on input from the profession – as well as enhanced DE delivery methods – NCBTMB’s Board of Directors will re-visit this policy during its Q4 Meeting. Until a final decision is reached and communicated to the profession, NCBTMB is suspending its instructor/proctor requirement for home study and DE programs.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Wagley, Director of Communications, at jwagley@ncbtmb.org or 630-652-0483.

A step in the right direction. Congratulations to the NCB Board for such a rapid response to this issue ~ ERIK

I’ll let you know when a final decision is reached. Thank you.

Paul R. Lindamood

CEO

By: Angela Palmier

Angela Palmier — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:58:10 +0000

Hello everyone!

Followed this thread—-notified the appropriate people at NCB and they are reviewing this as we speak. I’m certain that information regarding this issue will be coming very, very, very soon.

Thank you so much for bringing this issue forward and please feel free to contact Industry Relations at NCB via email for other “Industry Concerns”

Angie Palmier = apalmier@ncbtmb.org
Chris Alvarado = calvarado@ncbtmb.org

Respectfully,
Angela Palmier
Industry Relations

By: Erik Dalton

Erik Dalton — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:24:03 +0000

Totally agress Jennifer and there is currently a petition to alter NCBTMBs ruling on this subject at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/reverse-or-modify-ncbtmbs-decision-to-remove-online-courses

Am on my way out the door to teach in Atlanta and then on to the AMTA National Convention in Orlando. Will resume discussion in two weeks….best to you…ERIK

By: Jennifer Muller

Jennifer Muller — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:49:28 +0000

I love the home study programs that I have done so far. I took a course which did provide a dvd of the techniques and I think it is much better then taking a hands on class. If I have questions or want to review, its easy to watch the video. If I take a hands on course I’m left with only what I can remember. I think the idea of not accepting those home study courses is just hindering those of us who have a passion for learning, but do not have the funds to travel to larger cities to find decent CE classes.

By: Zac

Zac — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:57:48 +0000

This upsets me.. Has anyone started a petition? All this will do is increase costs of CEU programs, and make them much more difficult to finish. I would travel to another state for Erik’s or Myers program but only for the satisfaction of completely their programs, and receiving their certificates of completion not some silly ceu’s. My primary concern with all these continuing education ceu programs is that they do not have enough live video! In fact that is my concern with all related ecucated programs including live classes. Having video presentations is probably the most important part of ones educational investment NCBTMB should of required live workshops or a live video broadcast. Say 1 day of group classroom or 2 days of group interaction over a live broadcast, and save that to video too! Put specifications on broadcast feed quality, etc.

Did NCBTMB create this new policy without community feedback? I never heard of it until now.

We are in a new age for education! Online classrooms are gaining momentum and are proving to be just as effective, especially when there is online interaction, video presentations, etc. You can do everything online that can be done in a physical classroom. “except for maybe a physics/chemist lab”

By: Erik Dalton

Erik Dalton — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:43:43 +0000

Well said Dan…It appears there is a movement afloat to do just that.
However, NCB has just announced the hiring of a new managerial staff that may bring about much needed change….and, hopefully…some common sense.

By: Dan Dutcher

Dan Dutcher — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:24:48 +0000

It’s a shame. When organizations become like government agencies and begin to run amuck with no one to control those who are trying to control us. Their attempts should be minimally invasive to the people they serve. Maybe we as a body politic should pull the plug on those who have seemingly become obsessed with their own powwer they imagine they have. D

By: Erik Dalton

Erik Dalton — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:18:31 +0000

I couldn’t agree more Kristine.

We’re starting a petition that may be taken seriously by NCB…or not…we’ll see. Lot’s of emotion surrounding this issue.

I think NCB’s decision was a “knee-jerk” reaction to some of the complaints about the the quality of home-study courses they’d approved. Probably never thought it out or they’d have never come to such a ridiculous conclusion…thx.

By: Kristine Rose

Kristine Rose — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:28:13 +0000

After my quick read of this article, I have come away with the idea that even though I am a qualified and experienced massage therapist, I will no longer be allowed to use home study material with visual teachings. Is this correct??? I am a visual learner. I often review my modalities by watching a visual.
This will totally stop my home study learning. I cannot learn/fine tune technique without a visual and I would venture to say many learn the same way.
I value hands-on classes in learning new techniques. I understand this. We should never be an oonline school for basic learning. BUT when fine tuning or taking a review study for my benefit and the benefit of CEUs for renewal, I need the visual. When I live in a rural area, how do I afford traveling for every class?

By: Erik Dalton

Erik Dalton — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:49:30 +0000

People like you Ken are what cause educators like me to maintain a frantic pace of writing, researching…and traveling (against my wife’s better judgement). I too have collected many mentors over the years. During the very first class I took with Philip Greenman at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1992, I said to myself…this is who I want to be when I grow up. But I soon realized he’d probably forgotten more than I would ever know.

People like Greenman, Rolf, and Janda have offerd a challenge to be the best therapist I can be and I’m blessed to be a small part of the greatest profession on the planet. Keep the passion bro…