From the Desk of Les Sweeney, President, ABMP

ABMP recently learned of the proposed launch of the USA Massage Resource Association (USAMRA), a membership association created by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). According to a memo to the NCBTMB Board of Directors, it is NCBTMB’s intent to enter the association marketplace and offer “a robust membership package including insurance and much more-all designed to strengthen the value of NCBTMB by virtue of its relationship with usamra.org.”

We want to share our perspectives on this development and take the opportunity to restate our commitment to you and to the massage and bodywork profession.

ABMP feels it is entirely within NCBTMB’s prerogative to try to find an audience for a new membership association. We are firm believers that any group or entity has the right to compete in the marketplace. After all, ABMP was in a similar position in 1987, when AMTA was the only professional membership organization then serving the field.

That does not mean, however, that we think NCBTMB’s decision to form an association is in its best interest as an organization, or that their doing so will benefit the profession. Birthed by AMTA 18 years ago, NCBTMB was created for the purpose of offering voluntary certification to massage therapists who subscribed to and met high standards of preparation, knowledge, and ethics. Seduced by the attraction of multiplying significantly the number of individuals taking an examination NCBTMB developed, NCBTMB moved into a vacuum, encouraging states to adopt their National Certification Exam for use as a required entrance exam into the profession, even though their exam had not been designed for that purpose. Within the past three years, a new organization-the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards-emerged (with an initial loan from ABMP) and developed the MBLEx, a true entrance examination that quickly garnered the support of both ABMP and AMTA as the entry exam of choice for our profession.

Both ABMP and AMTA have publicly expressed support for the value of voluntary certification and have encouraged NCBTMB to re-concentrate its energies on serving that original purpose. NCBTMB has resisted that advice, instead aggressively litigating and lobbying to retain a place in entry-level testing and now seeking a new mission to provide professional association services.

While defending NCBTMB’s right to try such a new initiative, ABMP believes that NCBTMB has not earned the right to merit your professional membership affiliation. At the core, what should an effective professional membership association provide its members? You have told us

• quickly responsive, knowledgeable service to all constituents, whether your request for help is simple or complex;
• practice development assistance;
• first-rate communications, in print and online, to keep you abreast of new developments in massage knowledge; and
• comprehensive liability insurance protection backed by an experienced staff present to support you should a claim be filed against you.

NCBTMB can secure some sort of insurance, but lacks experience in administering such a program. Their experience in providing practice development and educational content communications is highly limited. As to basic service responsiveness, NCBTMB’s record is widely considered by the massage profession to be deplorable. Stories of no live person to answer the phone, timely respond to an inquiry, or provide knowledgeable information are legion. NCBTMB has changed the content of their examinations without giving either the massage education community or state licensing boards opportunities for meaningful input. Does this sound like an organization with the skills to be your chosen professional membership association?

Throughout ABMP’s 22-year history, our focus has been on constantly improving the value of your membership. Liability insurance is an integral part of ABMP membership and an important element of any massage therapist’s practice. But as we like to say at ABMP, it’s only part of the story. Membership includes an award-winning magazine, valuable publications and business resources, a robust (and also award-winning) website, legislative and regulatory advocacy, top-notch service, and an opportunity to be heard. Through 1,000-plus Massage & Bodywork articles, curriculum and instructional supports for schools and students, and frequent webinars, ABMP has earned wide respect as a contributor to the advancement of massage knowledge and teaching.

Sometimes providing quality customer service is as simple as making sure someone answers the phone. ABMP has built its reputation over 22 years-one phone call, one conversation, one member at a time. When an ABMP staff member does not immediately have an answer to your inquiry, she quickly finds out and communicates the answer to you. No bull. No pretensions. Honest acknowledgement of what we do and don’t know.

It’s not generally ABMP’s style to toot its own horn. Perhaps the idea of an organization with demonstrated weakness in customer relations thinking they can better provide professional membership association services got my Irish up! We welcome competition and have learned through experience interacting with AMTA that we can constructively work with them on issues of common concern to the profession even while vigorously competing for members. If NCBTMB moves forward to form USAMRA, we hope to continue to support their certification and continuing education approval activities. Rest assured though: ABMP will work hard to keep you as a member and to ask you to encourage others to share your membership choice.

Thank you for listening; most importantly, thank you for your loyalty to ABMP. We intend to merit your continued support.

Regards,

Les Sweeney, NCTM
President, ABMP