OAKBROOK TERRACE, Illinois (April 7, 2011): The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) announced today the results of its Advanced Practice Job Task Analysis (JTA) survey to inform the development of the new National Certification for Advanced Practice (NCAP) exam. Nearly 10,000 massage professionals responded to the JTA survey invitation, with nearly 90 percent of the eligible respondents having worked in massage and bodywork for more than 5 years. Respondents represented all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The report can be accessed online at www.ncbtmb.org/advanced_certification.php.
The survey asked practitioners to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities that an advanced practitioner must possess. More than 93 percent of the eligible respondents indicated that the survey completely or adequately covered the tasks performed in their work in therapeutic massage and bodywork. The results released today will be used to create a test blueprint known as test specifications, to define the information for which the NCAP should test, and determine the degree of importance that should be placed on each content area.
“The National Certification for Advanced Practice has been called for by the massage profession and will be based on input from practitioners themselves,” said Elizabeth Langston, Director of Exam Development at NCBTMB. “The NCAP Task Force is comprised of Subject Matter Experts who will use the results of the JTA survey to develop the test specifications.”
Completely voluntary, the NCAP will build upon the educational, experiential and ethical requirements of NCBTMB’s current National Certification*. Certificants who earn the advanced credential will be nationally recognized for possessing the critical thinking skills necessary to function in complex situations. In addition, they will be relied upon for their ability to work in a team environment utilizing treatment plans based on evidence-based outcomes.
“The Advanced Certification can open more doors for massage professionals to enter into the traditional healthcare community,” said Paul Lindamood, CEO at NCBTMB. “It will also help employers across all employment settings and consumers alike identify practitioners who have a higher level of experience and expertise. It has the potential to transform the industry and provide opportunities that have never existed before.”
The development of the NCAP exam will be in strict compliance with the accreditation guidelines established by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and in accord with the most recent edition of the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.
To learn more about the NCAP, visit the Advanced Certification section of NCBTMB’s website at www.ncbtmb.org . Or contact NCBTMB Director of Exam Development Elizabeth Langston, CAE, at 630-652-0482 or elangston@ncbtmb.org.
* Eligibility requirements apply to sit for the NCAP exam. Initial applicants wishing to test must be NCB certified or provide proof of having passed a psychometrically valid exam for entry-level licensure; document professional massage/bodywork experience and/or education; complete continuing education requirements; and be free from sanction or permanent revocation from NCBTMB or any local, state or federal regulatory body.
ABOUT NCBTMB
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) was established in 1992 as an independent, nonprofit organization fostering the highest standards of ethical and professional practice in the delivery of therapeutic massage and bodywork through two recognized credentialing programs. NCBTMB examinations are currently accepted or recognized in statute or rule by 38 states plus the District of Columbia. There are nearly 90,000 professionals with NCBTMB certification. NCBTMB’s certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.