Since the early ‘90’s, the NCBTMB exam has been the Gold Standard for testing exams in the field of Massage Therapy.  As a national exam, it has reflected the high standards that have been developing within the massage industry in the area of education, massage curriculums, and programs within massage schools, along with having an influence upon the direction our industry has been proceeding.

 

In the past years, the NCBTMB has had some of the most outstanding leaders in the massage field as Chairmans of the Board of Directors, who have helped to keep the exam on track with the high ideals in the quality of knowledge and professional ethics we hope all massage therapist work to maintain.  These leaders, along with the organization, have been like a “lamp-light” on the path to guide those of us wanting to achieve higher standards in performance to become better therapists and teachers.  This instilled in each of us who took the exam and passed, a sense of pride in the achievement; to be able to tell the world that we are Nationally Board Certified in our chosen profession.

 

I had the opportunity to serve on several committees in writing and maintaining the quality of the exam.   I’ve served on the Item Writing Committee, the Item Review Committee, and for 11 1/2 years on the Exam Review Committee.  In being on these committees, I had the honor to work with some of the more intelligent, knowledgeable, and experienced educators I’ve ever been with........in any field, not just massage.  Each time I met with these people, I came away more knowledge in not just areas of massage theory and application, and western sciences, but more important, in the area of personal interaction between specialist working to achieve a mutual goal; to insure that the exam was the most accurate, up-to-date, clear, precise, and fair as humanly possible.  During the days we were together, we worked our butts off to make sure each question had multiple references, and met all the educational, statistical, and testing service standards of being a “good” question.  I was very proud to be on these committees and a volunteer with the NCBTMB.  But, over the last few years, forces have come into play that have begun to crack and erode the NCBTMB to something to be ashamed of.  Politics, personal agendas, and personal gain have taken the place of what were the main goals of the organization.

 

We’ve seen an Executive Director being fired without notice, leading to a lawsuit being filed against the NCBTMB.  A Chairperson of the Board (the same one who fired the Executive Director) removing 2 Board members without due process, not following the By Laws for removal of a Board member.  A new Executive Director (entitled CEO), resigning shortly after taking the position, without a clear explanation as to why, only citing “personal reasons.”  Re-instatement  of the 2 Board members who were removed, and the dismissal of the Chairperson from the Board.  The Chairperson of the Exam Committee becoming an employee of one of the committee members, and allowing that committee member to run the Exam Committee to their purpose.  Said purpose being to force terminology only found in their text books to be place on the exam and on the Advanced Exam.  These terms are not widely used by the profession, nor or used in A&P courses in universities and colleges around the country.  But having them on the national exam would force massage schools around the country to purchase this persons text books.  Hummmmm?  You think they might have a personal motive here? The Chair then removed all members of the Exam Committee who displayed opposition to the use of these terms on the exam, thereby clearing the way for the committee member in question to take control of the exam.  

 

And finally, having a Board member ordering volunteers of NCBTMB, especially members of the Exam Committee, not to speak to anyone regarding issues with the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), especially anyone with the FSMTB, like someone from their Board of Directors.  Stating that all questions should be addressed to a Board member, or themselves, and you are to only believe what you are told by the Board of Directors.   You are NOT, under any circumstances, to look into things yourself, or do any investigation on your own.  You will be given all the info you need to know.  Kinda sounds like Gestapo tactics:  not allowed to discuss issues with the opposition, not allowed to think for oneself, told to only get info from the Board.  Because I informed this Board member that I wouldn’t be told who I could speak with,  and what I’m allowed to say, I was removed from the Exam Committee.

 

All of this seems to me to be major conflicts of interest, political posturing, and greed for personal profit.  Especially with having a committee Chair being an employee of a committee member and being allowed to remain as Chair.  What happened to why the NCBTMB was founded in the first place?  Why have a national exam and set national standards only to have it corrupted by those seeking control of the organization and financial gain?

 

Ever since the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards was formed the NCBTMB has been running around trying to prevent states to adopt the their exam over the NCE (National Certification Exam) out of fear of loosing states that had been using the NCE to now drop it in favor of the MBLEx.  Of course, the Federation has been saying that their exam is for State Licensure and not National Certification, all the while stating on their website that their exam is the “other National Exam.”

 

I’m sure there has been inappropriate behavior along with power struggles ocurring on both sides.  But my concerns here are to express my disappointment  and dismay in the actions of the NCBTMB to allow a small number of people within the organization to seize political control, allowing them to use their influence to force good hard working volunteers out of committees for fear of having these volunteers resist their plans to take over, all the while, the Board of Directors doing nothing. We are witnessing the cracking and eventual falling apart of something that was once good, and definitely needed in the massage profession.  

 

Though the NCE is still the better of the two exams, the NCBTMB has allowed itself to fall from a high state of professionalism into one of deception and personal gain.  Dignity and Integrity appear two concepts that have become rare within the organization.   How will this affect the exam?  What will the exam become?   What will the Advanced Exam be like?  Well, these are questions we should all ask ourselves.........and the NCBTMB.