National Certification for Massage Therapy

February 18, 2012 Julie Onofrio Licensing and Legislation

National Certification for Massage Therapy is offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. (NCBTMB). The problem though is that this does not really mean that you can practice anywhere in the US with just taking one exam. There is no “National Certification” in massage that will allow you to practice in any state.

Each state has different laws regarding the practice of massage and each has a different number of hours of education requirements. The number of hours of training needed varies between 500-1000 hours of training and even within that requirement are variations in the number of hours of each specific area of training making it even more confusing. For example: in WA state the required number of hours of training is 500 hours to take the test and become a licensed massage practitioner in WA. (From the WA State Board of Massage)

130 hours of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology including palpation, range of motion, and physics of joint function. There must be a minimum of 40 hours of kinesiology.
50 hours of pathology, including indications and contraindications.
265 hours of theory and practice of massage, to include techniques, remedial movements, body mechanics of the practitioner, and the impact of techniques on pathologies. A maximum of 50 of these hours may include time spent in a student clinic. Hydrotherapy is to be included when consistent with the particular area of practice.
55 hours of clinical/business practices, minimally to include hygiene, record keeping, medical terminology, professional ethics, business management, human behavior, client interaction and state and local laws.
Certification in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Four contact hours of training in HIV-AIDS in the following six topics: Etiology and epidemiology; Transmission and infection control; Testing and counseling; Clinical manifestations and treatment; Legal and technical issues; and Psychosocial issues. Training can be obtained from local community hospitals and colleges.

The NCBTMB requirements are:

A minimum of 500 hours of instruction as follows:
125 hours of body systems (anatomy, physiology and kinesiology)
200 hours of massage and bodywork assessment, theory and application, in-class and supervised
40 hours of pathology
10 hours of business and ethics (minimum of 6 hours in ethics)
125 hours of additional instruction in an area or related field that theoretically completes the massage program of study
Graduate of a NCBTMB Assigned School Code with a current valid transcript submitted to NCBTMB

So more hours of pathology and anatomy are required by the WA State Board of Massage than for the so called National Certification in Massage meaning that if you want to be licensed in WA State you will need more hours than what the NCBTMB requires.

In New Mexico, the basic number of hours required is 650 with a specific number of hours in each of the following (from the New Mexico Board of Massage):

(650) hour program in massage therapy training. The massage therapy training must meet the following minimum curriculum requirements:

165 hours minimum of anatomy and physiology, to include:

physiology;

anatomy;

kinesiology; and

forty (40) hours minimum of pathology.

150 hours minimum of training in massage therapy as defined in 16.7.1.7 NMAC.

The massage therapy training shall include contraindications of massage therapy.

A minimum of 100 hours of hands on training must be completed before the student is allowed to begin a clinical practicum as defined in 16.7.1.7 NMAC.

75 hours minimum of general instruction to include.

business;

hydrotherapy;

thirty (30) hours minimum of professional ethics;

four hours of first aid; and

four hours of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Electives may include:

additional massage therapy;

related hands-on modalities;

additional anatomy and physiology;

clinical practicum (not to exceed 150 hours);

counseling;

herbology;

homeopathy;

nutrition;

breathing and stretching techniques;

theory; and

other courses with prior board approval. See 16.7.4.14 NMAC for instructions.

So with such variations in the number of hours required by each state, to have a true “National Certification” would mean that each state would need to change the number of hours of training required.

Currently, if you want to practice massage in another state than the one that you were originally licensed in, you need to fulfill the requirements of that state. Some states do have reciprocity already set up because they know the requirements of other states will meet their requirements.

There are also three different licensing tests being used by the states. The NCBTMB offers two different tests and the Federation of Massage State Boards offers another. You will have to find out what your state excepts and fulfill those requirements for massage licensing.

Find out more about becoming a massage therapist.

Careers in Massage

National Certification in Massage Therapy

History of National Certification in Massage