February 5, 2019<\/p>\n
In short, no, you no longer need them. But let’s start with some background information…<\/p>\n
Since the creation of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork’s (NCBTMB’s) Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCTMB) credential on January 1, 2013, the continuing education requirements for certification renewal have been ever changing.<\/p>\n
Aside from the initial removal of the ethics requirement, and then its reinstatement in October of 2013, the most recent change on February 1, 2019 is likely just as significant.<\/p>\n
Since the beginning of the Board Certification credential, the NCBTMB has required 3 CE hours in research. According to a post on their website<\/a> in January 2013, “Achievement of\u00a0Board Certification<\/a>\u00a0is the highest attainable credential level in the massage therapy profession. As in other professions, Board Certification serves as an additional differentiator for advanced level therapists. The Board Certified therapist will renew every two years, and incorporated in the\u00a0renewal requirements<\/a>\u00a0are three hours of research.”<\/p>\n Further, the page provides a post written by the Massage Therapy Foundation’s President at that time, Ruth Werner, stating “The\u00a0Massage Therapy Foundation<\/a>\u00a0is dedicated to the vision that the practice of massage therapy is evidence-informed, and accessible to everyone. Our mission moves us in this direction through the support of scientific research, education, and community service. We are delighted that the\u00a0National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork\u00a0recognizes the importance of research literacy for Board Certified massage therapists, and we are eager to continue this collaboration, to advance research as a cornerstone of the massage therapy profession.”<\/p>\n However, as of February 1, 2019 the Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies has confirmed with our contact at the NCBTMB that the research requirement has been removed from the list of continuing education needed for Board Certification renewal<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe Change in the NCBTMB’s Renewal Requirements<\/h2>\n