In my quest to gather information to become more knowledgeable about my profession, a Certified Massage Therapist, I have had some questions about the subject of grandfather clauses and national certification I found a great article in the December 2012 issue of ABMP’s ‘Different’ Strokes’ that I just read two days ago that I would like to share, as I know that information in our profession can be confusing at times. If you are an ABMP member, you can find this same information on page 9 of the December issue.
Clarification on Grandfathering
“The term grandfathering relates to the qualifications required to obtain a license, typically in the time frame when new licensing laws are being implemented. The grandfathering qualification for licensing is intended to be used by existing practitioners so they can qualify for a license to practice by meeting less rigid qualifications. For example, lets say a state enacts a 500-hour education requirement in its new massage licensing law. Existing practitioners may have years ago when schools were less formal, but this doesn’t mean they are not qualified to practice. Their education, training, and experience all count and should be factored in when the state decides to license the profession.”
“Grandfathering qualifications eventually expire, and then all new practitioners are required to meet the same entry-level standard (e.g., a minimum of 500 hours formal education and passing an exam) in order to qualify for a license.”
“Grandfathering does NOT mean you don’t have to apply. Everyone must sbmit an application if he/she plans to practice massage therapy in a state the requires licensure.”
On the same page, you will find this information regarding certification, which is very important to understand:
Certification is Voluntary, State Licensing is Mandatory
“Another frequently asked question relates to confusion surrounding national certification (myself included). We’ve had some members tell us they thought that if they are ‘nationally certified’ by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) they DON’T have to obtain a state license (for the state they wish to practice in). This is absolutely not true. National certification is completely voluntary-a state license to practice is MANDATORY. There is no such thing as a ‘national license.’ This was news to me, as I have been planning to become ‘nationally certified’ for over a year!
ABMP wants to make clear to ALL therapists that you should not let ‘anyone convince you that it is OK to practice massage in a state that requires a license to practice massage with only a National Certification Certificate. It is not OK.” (ABMP ‘Different Strokes’ – the voice of ABMP, November/December 2012 issue, p. 9) So save your money for your state licensing, your insurance, etc. Once you have all of that, by all means, go for the National Certification. I still intend on doing so, but I am very thankful to have found this article which points out that there is ‘no National Certification’.
I personally would like to work with U.S. Veterans, and I see from the groups I am involved in on LinkedIn that there are several others who would like to as well. I have found a resource recently that I believe may help the general ‘civilian’ to understand the military ‘mindset’, and it is FREE, always a price that fits into any business budget! It is http://www.aheconnect.com/citizensoldier/default.asp. This course takes you through different components which help you to understand the different mind set that a veteran may have, which I am finding very useful, as I want to be as informed as possible so that I can create a safe and sacred healing place for those who return who need help. The organization that I have chosen to volunteer with is www.vhhfa.org, whose motto is ‘Skills, not Pills’.
If you are a holistic practitioner, whether it be a chiropractor, a CMT, LMT, yoga instructor, etc. and you are interested, please visit their website and fill out a volunteer form.
Body Blessings for a Healthier You 