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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals:
Advancing professionalism through practice support, ethical standards, legislative advocacy, and public education. |
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Membership Options and Fees
ABMP members include a diverse array of massage, bodywork, somatic and skin care professionals. While "massage therapist" is the title most commonly used by our members, others practice reflexology, neuromuscular and movement therapy, Shiatsu, Reiki, other energy work, or one or more of numerous other practice specialties. Regardless of your area of specialization, ABMP offers membership choices to fit your personal circumstance. Choose what's right for you! Certified Membership ($229 annually) Certified Members enjoy our highest level of membership. In addition to liability insurance coverage ($2 million per incident coverage), Certified level members receive an enhanced listing on Massagetherapy.com's online referral service, a CD of photos and marketing materials for their own business uses, priority processing, a unique wall certificate, and use of the ABMP Certified Therapist designation (ABMP Certified Massage Therapist, ABMP Certified Bodywork Therapist, or ABMP Certified Somatic Therapist). Certified level members also receive our standard member benefits, including ABMP's publications (Massage & Bodywork magazine, ABMP's Successful Business Handbook, and more), a certificate of insurance, ethics certificate, insurance guide, e-mail and website accounts, a host of online marketing and business management tools, and membership identification. In order to maintain the Certified level of membership, 16 hours of continuing education are required every two years. Both levels provide $2 million per incident in liability coverage. Eligibility Requirements If you practice in a state that regulates massage and bodywork (check state requirements):
Professional Membership ($199 annually) Professional level members receive our standard member benefits, including liability insurance coverage ($2 million per incident coverage), ABMP's publications (Massage & Bodywork magazine, ABMP's Successful Business Handbook, and more), a certificate of insurance, ethics certificate, insurance guide, e-mail and website accounts, a host of online marketing and business management tools, and membership identification. Eligibility Requirements If you practice in a state that regulates massage and bodywork (check state requirements):
Practitioner level members receive our standard member benefits, including liability insurance coverage ($2 million per incident coverage), ABMP's publications (Massage & Bodywork magazine, ABMP's Successful Business Handbook, and more), a certificate of insurance, ethics certificate, insurance guide, e-mail and website accounts, a host of online marketing and business management tools, and membership identification. Eligibility Requirement Only available if you practice in a state that does not regulate massage and bodywork. A minimum of 100 hours of massage education from an approved program Optional Skin Care Coverage(additional $30/year for Certified Members; $60/year for Professional/Practitioner Members If you are a massage therapists as well as an esthetician, meeting all state requirements, you may elect "Optional Skin Care Coverage" to cover both aspects of your practice. There is an additional cost of $30 for Certified level members; Professional and Practitioner level members can include Optional Skin Care Coverage for an additional $60. For more information, visit www.ascpskincare.com. As a condition of membership, practitioners must be in compliance with state requirements. Other Choices Students, please contact ABMP or your school for separate information about ABMP's fantastic value Student Membership. And, for those of you temporarily suspending your practice, you might consider a Supporting Membership to keep informed about developments in the profession. Call us at 800-458-2267 for further details. Exceptional Insurance Smart practitioners realize that, while being named in a lawsuit is unlikely, it's not worth risking your career. In this sue-happy age, even when you've done nothing wrong, it's expensive to defend yourself. Why chance it, when excellent protection is so affordable? Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals offers protection with the profession's best value in liability coverage. Ours are the highest aggregate coverages available - $3 million professional liability (malpractice), another $3 million general liability (slip and fall), and yet another $3 million products liability (for example, adverse reaction to a lotion). And these coverages protect you wherever you work. Also included is legal defense coverage, $100,000 premises fire damage coverage for renters, and no charge for obtaining an additional insured endorsement (AIE) if requested by your employer or landlord. All this is covered by your basic membership fee. And, unlike the product offered by some other providers, the insurance included with ABMP membership is occurrence-form coverage, to protect you from late-filed claims. It's not inferior claims-made coverage that expires when your membership does. While no one else offers such a comprehensive package, we know you can find barebones insurance coverage elsewhere. That's why you need to consider ABMP's greatest strength: helping our members. If you need additional insurance information, or if you want to add an AIE, we're here with prompt support. If you're unfortunate enough to experience a claim, you can expect knowledgeable, empathetic assistance from our staff experts. In most instances, we can help expedite rapid resolution of your claim. Fact is, just knowing your ABMP team is ready and able to support you lets you focus on what's most important - building a successful career. Responsive Personal Service You have more important things in life than communicating with your professional association every day. But when you do need something - to join, renew a membership, obtain information, or get help on a career challenge - you want to talk to a knowledgeable, caring human being. Now. Not tomorrow, not next week, but right now. ABMP understands. And when you need us, we pay for the call. We know the field, and we've been helping members since 1987. Nothing pleases our professional, friendly staff more than finding an answer to a member query, calling the member, and hearing, "I'm really surprised you got back to me so quickly!" We treasure each of our 59,000+ members and echo the caring and compassion you bring to your work. That's why our credo is expectmore. Try us. Compare our attentiveness to what you've experienced with other associations. Find out why 57 percent of respondents answered "ABMP"* when asked, "Which association best serves the interests of its membership and the profession?" (The second place association received only 15 percent of the votes). *June 2001 poll conducted by Massage Today Is our approach unique? Hardly. We simply understand that ABMP's primary purpose is to serve the needs of individual members, not to waste energy engaging in internal politics. You may find indifference or distraction elsewhere, but not here. We're focused on providing excellent service and exploring ways to add value to your ABMP membership. Period. That's the essence of what our expectmore philosophy is all about. Call us. We'll be delighted to talk with you. E-mail Privacy Policy ABMP respects your right to privacy. This is why we will only use your e-mail address to send informative membership information. We do not give away or sell member e-mail addresses to any third party. Every e-mail you receive from us will include the following note: This e-mail message is direct from Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), your member organization. Occasionally, ABMP will send e-mails to inform you of legislative updates and special ABMP promotions, or to obtain feedback on how we can better serve you. Please note: ABMP does not release your e-mail address to any outside party. If you prefer not to receive any promotional e-mail messages from ABMP, simply reply to this message with unsubscribe in the subject line. Massage & Bodywork magazine and Different Strokes newsletter 
Massage & BodyworkMassage & Bodywork magazine is a bimonthly journal for a national audience of massage, bodywork, and somatic professionals. Each issue (included as part of your membership) offers in-depth article on subjects important to the practicing professional and the layperson. The latest research, historical perspectives, massage techniques, business information, professional trends, and a variety of regularly featured columns keep Massage & Bodywork readers in touch with their work, their clients, and their health. Here’s what a few readers say: “Massage & Bodywork is an invaluable tool for me on many aspects of our profession.” “I find the articles very enlightening and conducive to the continuation of my education. “Thank you so much for a professional and informative magazine for massage therapists.” To learn more and to view articles from the most current issue, visit www.massageandbodywork.com.
Different Strokes This bimonthly member newsletter is sent as a supplement to Massage & Bodywork magazine. Different Strokes regularly features association news, legislative updates, business education tips, contributions from and profiles of ABMP members, updates on the wide range of benefits available to ABMP members, and much more. Business Management/Marketing Publications and Tools 
Successful Business HandbookPractitioners and instructors give rave reviews for this premier guidebook to building and sustaining a practice. The Successful Business Handbook (SBH) provides information crucial for any practice, including comprehensive information on starting a practice, managing financial health, good business basics, marketing and advertising, business management, working with physicians and medical insurance, self-care, precautions, and a variety of resources. 
Massage MarketplaceMassage Marketplace is an extensive listing of massage, bodywork, skin care, and spa suppliers. The dynamic website, www.massagemarketplace.com, and accompanying print catalog (distributed to ABMP members in July 2008) are easy-to-use reference guides for individuals looking for the products and services needed for their practices. Many of the advertisers grant special discounts to ABMP members. 
Body Sense magazineBody Sense magazine is a vital, attractive tool to boost your client education efforts—a way to say thanks while encouraging healthy living behavior. Published twice each year in a compact 40-page format, Body Sense recognizes the consumer’s knowledge of bodywork and is designed to reflect what your client wants to learn about his field. Additional copies of Body Sense can be ordered by ABMP members for $1 per copy (half the non-member price). Learn more and order at www.bodysensemagazine.com. ABMP.com Through ABMP's website, www.abmp.com, members can renew their membership, update their information, access marketing and client education materials, regulatory requirements, legislative developments, business management tools, and hundreds of educational and business articles originally printed in Massage & Bodywork magazine. Features include:
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Massage & Bodywork Professionals
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