The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has undergone several serious upgrades over the last few months, not the least of which is a brand new website, career management site and blog. However, perhaps the most important change for our massage therapy family are those made to their recertification requirements. Those changes went into effect on January 1st of this year and have a significant impact on massage therapists across the US.
So What’s Changed?
The old system called for therapists to hold “National Certification”, with a continuing education requirement of 48 hours every 4 years. The new system calls for members to hold “Board Certification”, and your CE requirements are now 24 hours in a 2-year cycle.
Board Recertification Requirements
To recertify as a Board Certified Massage Therapist, practitioners must:
- Pass a thorough national background check.
- Maintain a current CPR certification.
- Hours for CPR training may not be counted toward your 24 hours of Continuing Education required for recertification.
- Re-affirm commitment to the NCBTMB Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
- Re-affirm commitment to the NCBTMB Anti-Trafficking Pledge.
- Complete 100 hours of documented hands-on experience.
- Complete 24 hours of Continuing Education classes:
- 3 hours of the 24 hours must be in ethics.
- No more than 4 hours of the 24 hours may be in self-care.
- No more than 4 hours of the 24 hours may be in courses less than 2 credits.
You may submit your 24 hours of continuing education and 100 hours of work experience for recertification up to one year prior to your certification expiration date.
HomeCEUConnection.com has tons of great courses to help you meet these new requirements quickly, conveniently and, more importantly in an affordable way. We have some great new courses and are continually adding awesome new Seminar-On-Demand (video) courses. We recommend the video-based courses for massage therapists, with all their technique demonstration goodness!
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So, my understanding is I don’t need to take an ethics course for the National very but I do for the state of Michigan, correct? Also I have been certified as a lymphodema therapist with well over 100 hr cont education credits so my con’t education is complete, correct? Anything else? I should be good?
Hi Dennis,
Thanks for submitting your questions! You need 24 hours of CE credits every 2 years for your NCBTMB renewal. This includes 3 hours of ethics and 3 hours of research.
The Michigan rule states:
“An applicant for license renewal who has been licensed for the 3-year period immediately preceding the expiration date of the license, shall accumulate no less than 18 hours of continuing education (CE). At least 1 hour of CE shall be earned in the area of pain and symptom management and at least 2 hours of CE shall be earned in the area of professional ethics or boundaries.”
Let us know if you need further information or have additional questions.
Have a great day!
***Check your National and State boards to verify license renewal requirements
I would like to check what I need to do to be a massage therapist again?
Hi Charlaine,
What state are you licensed in? Did you have NCBTMB certification?
I am licensed in state of Nebraska and they go odd years,, is there a way to move my certification period so it will match the time frame,, I am also certified through amta.
Hi Shayla,
You will need to contact NCBTMB to discuss your recertification period. You can contact them via the web at https://www.ncbtmb.org/contact/, via phone at 1-800- 296-0664, or email at info@ncbtmb.org.
However, you do have two full years to complete your NCBTMB continuing education – so you can take your 24 CEs within a 2-year time frame. You can use promo code “NCBTMB224” to save on your CEs. View courses here: https://www.homeceuconnection.com/continuing-education-course-catalog
Have a great day!
Once I receive my CPR certification, I don’t ever have to renew it right? Massage therapists only have to do it once??
Hi Amanda,
Thank you for submitting your question!
CPR certification typically requires a renewal. I would check with your state Board and your employer to verify if you need to re-certify once your initial CPR certification expires.
Have a great day!
I let my license expire many years ago. I was nationally certified. What is the process to get my license active again? Do I need to go through schooling again? I also lived in a different state than I am currently at.
Hi Shawna,
Thanks for reaching out. I would recommend that you contact NCBTMB directly to inquire about the steps needed to reinstate your license. You can contact NCBTMB here: https://www.ncbtmb.org/contact/
Have a great day!
I would like to know what I would have to do to be recertified. I havent used my certification since 2011 as my husband is military and we moved frequently
Hi Amy, thanks for submitting your question! You should contact NCBTMB at 1-800-296-0664 or email info@ncbtmb.org to discuss your options. For more info, visit: https://www.ncbtmb.org/certificants/renew/
Have a great day!