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, Approved Providers, and Assigned Schools.

The Journey to the Board Certification Credential

NCBTMB’s history is inspiring to us, not just because it changed the course of our profession, but because it was—and still is—created and led by massage therapists committed to excellence in their chosen profession.

Highlights of our history all massage therapists should know:

• 1988: AMTA Board members, along with several of our esteemed authors, massage therapists, school owners, and leaders of the profession, began to brainstorm the needs of our profession. At this time, only a handful of states regulated massage therapy—which meant that in several states, someone could dream about becoming a massage therapist and decide the next day to open a business. Despite their good intentions, these therapists did not have the necessary training to help the public heal.
• 1990: The AMTA Board of Directors invited a handful of massage therapy professionals to create a test that would help with reciprocity throughout states. With this test, massage therapists would prove they had graduated from a formalized massage therapy program. Most importantly, the test would be accepted in the few states that regulated massage therapy. Successfully passing this test would show a higher understanding of massage therapy, as well as how to work with the body.
• Mid-1990: Soon after, this same group contacted NOCCA to follow proper certification guidelines—and even hired a Psychometrician to ensure the test would be measured properly. The NCETMB was the first psychometric test for the massage therapy profession.
• 1991: Massage therapy school owners nationwide came together to write and edit test questions.
• 1992: The first test was delivered in 1992 by pen and paper in 40 different locations. Over 5,000 massage therapists took the first test—proof that this test was something worth fighting for.
• Mid-1992: The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork is founded and National Certification credential created. The main purpose of creating this credential was to create reciprocity throughout the United States.
• 2005: State board members from 22 states come together to talk about aligning the profession and creating standard licensure requirements. This organization, the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), creates an entry level licensure examination to create reciprocity throughout the country, the MBLEx.
• 2013: NCBTMB introduces the Board Certification credential, the highest voluntary credential in the massage therapy profession.

• 2014: NCBTMB agrees to no longer offer licensing examinations to the public, focusing exclusively on Board Certification, Approved Providers, and Assigned Schools.

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  Code of Ethics

  Revised October of 2008

  Copyright 2007 National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork

  NCBTMB certificants and applicants for certification shall act in a manner that justifies public trust and confidence, enhances the reputation of the profession, and safeguards the interest of individual clients. Certificants and applicants for certification will:

  1. Have a sincere commitment to provide the highest quality of care to those who seek their professional services.
  2. Represent their qualifications honestly, including education and professional affiliations, and provide only those services that they are qualified to perform.
  3. Accurately inform clients, other health care practitioners, and the public of the scope and limitations of their discipline.
  4. Acknowledge the limitations of and contraindications for massage and bodywork and refer clients to appropriate health professionals.
  5. Provide treatment only where there is reasonable expectation that it will be advantageous to the client.
  6. Consistently maintain and improve professional knowledge and competence, striving for professional excellence through regular assessment of personal and professional strengths and weaknesses and through continued education training.
  7. Conduct their business and professional activities with honesty and integrity, and respect the inherent worth of all persons.
  8. Refuse to unjustly discriminate against clients and/or health professionals.
  9. Safeguard the confidentiality of all client information, unless disclosure is requested by the client in writing, is medically necessary, is required by law,  or necessary for the protection of the public.
  10. Respect the client's right to treatment with informed and voluntary consent. The certified practitioner will obtain and record the informed consent of the client, or client's advocate, before providing treatment. This consent may be written or verbal.
  11. Respect the client's right to refuse, modify or terminate treatment regardless of prior consent given.
  12. Provide draping and treatment in a way that ensures the safety, comfort and privacy of the client.
  13. Exercise the right to refuse to treat any person or part of the body for just and reasonable cause.
  14. Refrain, under all circumstances, from initiating or engaging in any sexual conduct, sexual activities, or sexualizing behavior involving a client, even if the client attempts to sexualize the relationship unless a pre-existing relationship exists between an applicant or a practitioner and the client prior to the applicant or practitioner applying to be certified by NCBTMB.
  15. Avoid any interest, activity or influence which might be in conflict with the practitioner's obligation to act in the best interests of the client or the profession.
  16. Respect the client's boundaries with regard to privacy, disclosure, exposure, emotional expression, beliefs and the client's reasonable expectations of professional behavior.  Practitioners will respect the client's autonomy.
  17. Refuse any gifts or benefits that are intended to influence a referral, decision or treatment, or that are purely for personal gain and not for the good of the client.
  18. Follow the NCBTMB Standards of Practice, this Code of Ethics, and all policies, procedures, guidelines, regulations, codes, and requirements promulgated by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.