On Jan. 28, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) announced its partnership with the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) to offer students the chance to earn a Specialty Certificate in Massage Therapy for Integrative Healthcare. This certificate of distinction gives massage therapy students an advantage among health care employers. And, CCBC is one of only two colleges nationally to offer this opportunity to its graduates.
The Specialty Certificate in Massage Therapy for Integrative Health provides students with the education and experience needed to enter into the medical and allied health arenas and work in collaboration with fellow professionals as part of an integrative health care team. Once CCBC students complete their associate of applied science in massage therapy, they are automatically eligible to sit for the NCBTMB Specialty Exam. Successful completion of the exam is a testament to a student’s knowledge of health care policies and procedures in relation to the massage therapy scope of practice.
“This specialty certificate is a game-changer for our students,” said CCBC Massage Therapy Director Robin Anderson. “Health care facilities are finally recognizing the important role massage therapists play in the overall health of a patient—managing pain, reducing stress and more. The Specialty Certificate in Massage Therapy for Integrative Health shows employers our students not only have the technical skills, but also the knowledge base in health care policies to be a valuable member in any health care team.”
“As the National Certification Board, we recognized the need in our profession to produce meaningful credentials integrative health care teams nationwide would recognize and respect—especially given the country’s current emphasis on non-pharmaceutical means for pain relief,” commented NCBTMB CEO Steve Kirin. “CCBC has a program that truly exemplifies all the core competencies to succeed in this specialty area and more. Together, NCB and CCBC offer students a true career pathway with the education, experience and credentials to set them up for success in the integrative health care arena.”
To forge the partnership with NCBTMB, CCBC’s massage therapy program had to meet specific criteria to include ensuring students mastered and were familiar with massage techniques, proper patient bolstering and movement, safety and sanitation practices, medication knowledge, HIPAA laws and more. They also had to provide students with an internship or shadowing opportunity within a medical facility. As an addition to the NCBTMB requirements, all CCBC instructors are board certified, a major advantage for any massage therapy program.
To learn more about CCBC’s Massage Therapy program, call (443) 840-1780.
To learn more about the Specialty Certificate Program in Massage Therapy for Integrative Healthcare, email info@ncbtmb.org.
About NCBTMB
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) is an independent, private, nonprofit organization founded in 1992. The mission of NCBTMB is to define and advance the highest standards in the massage therapy and bodywork profession. In support of this mission, NCBTMB serves the profession through Board Certification, Specialty Certificates, an Approved Provider Program, and an Assigned School Code Program. For more information, please visit ncbtmb.org.
About Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, more than 63,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers.
CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction and transportation. CCBC is nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies, among the nation’s top associate degree producers, and designated as a Military Times Best College 2018.
CCBC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.