Last Updated on June 13, 2024 by MASSAGE Magazine
Burr Ridge, Ill. (July 14, 2016) — The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) announced a partnership with Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York, to introduce the profession’s first Specialty Certificate in Military Veteran Massage.
The specialty will be available to all participants who successfully complete the Crouse Hospital Massage for Veterans Program (80 hours) and corresponding NCBTMB Specialty Exam. Program participants must be licensed to provide massage therapy as defined and regulated by the New York State Office of Professions. Licensees must be currently licensed and registered to practice in fields including, but not limited to, massage therapy, physical therapy, nursing and chiropractic care.
The Military Veteran Massage Specialty Exam assesses a participant’s knowledge of health care policies and procedures in relation to the Massage Therapy Scope of Practice. Questions pertain to massage therapy considerations, treatment adaptations and methodology for veterans; current medical, emotional and psychological challenges of veterans; physical and psychological presentations and massage considerations for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST) or traumatic brain injury (TBI); indications and contraindications of massage for veterans with PTSD, MST or TBI; consent and psychological pressure; delegation of authority; ethics and boundaries; self-care; and more.The Specialty Exam is now available for registration on the NCBTMB website. At time of registration, participants will be responsible for the $200 Specialty Exam fee. Upon confirmation of eligibility and payment, participants will sign up to take the Specialty Exam.
Upon completing Crouse Hospital’s Massage for Veterans Program and passing the corresponding NCBTMB Specialty Exam, participants will earn an NCBTMB Specialty Certificate in Military Veteran Massage. In addition, participants will receive a letter of verification listing applicable education and training as proof of such credentials to present to employers.
“This is a local and national effort through the dedication of several organizations, including Clear Path for Veterans, Crouse Hospital, NCBTMB, the Syracuse VA, Upstate Hospital and more,” said Steve Kirin, NCBTMB’s CEO. “NCBTMB is proud to partner with Crouse and its many affiliates through our Specialty Certificate Program to empower therapists with the necessary education and experience to provide veterans and their families with superior care—and with the credentials to prove it. We are thrilled to contribute to the advancement of therapeutic massage care for our veterans as we support their journey home.”
Crouse Hospital’s Massage for Veterans Program is partnered with Clear Path for Veterans, an upstate New York veteran resource center. “Clear Path embraced our integrative medicine model, recognizing the contributions of massage therapy, reiki, yoga and more to a veteran’s overall health and wellness,” explained Nicole Miller, massage therapy program coordinator at Crouse. “Given New York State’s CE requirement, we designed a clinically based course that would help support therapists with the knowledge and experience to provide massage therapy to central New York veterans. Throughout the development of the program, NCBTMB has provided us with helpful direction and support—serving as a great example of collaboration between service to the community and educational outreach.”
Veterans enrolled in the clinical program, which is held at Clear Path and at Crouse Hospital, represent different divisions of the United States Armed Forces, including the Navy, Army, Air Force, National Guard and Marine Corps. “The camaraderie they share among themselves provides a wonderful example of unity. They worked together to serve us; it is rewarding to work together to serve them,” added Miller.
For more information on the Crouse Hospital Massage for Veterans Program, visit crouse.org/massageforvets.
About the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (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 Program. For more information, visit ncbtmb.org.
About Crouse Hospital
Crouse Hospital is a private, not-for-profit hospital, and has been caring for generations of central New Yorkers since 1887. The hospital’s mission is to provide the best in patient care and to promote community health. Crouse is licensed for 506 acute-care beds and 57 bassinets. Crouse serves more than 23,000 inpatients, 66,000 emergency services patients and more than 250,000 outpatients a year from a 15-county area in central and northern New York. Learn more at crouse.org.
About Clear Path for Veterans
Clear Path for Veterans is upstate New York’s veteran resource center, serving as a hub of information, programs and resources. It is a welcoming community of staff and volunteers serving all veterans and their families. As a single point of contact for veterans, military members and their families, Clear Path engages, supports, and makes it easy to connect with what you need with commitment to providing a welcoming place to call home. Our in-house programs and services are diverse and rely on partnerships and collaboration. Clear Path’s focus is on restoring, reconnecting and integrating. Programs and services are innovative, adaptive and flexible to the needs of those who serve. Learn more at clearpath4vets.com.