The mission of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) is to foster high standards of ethical and professional practice in the delivery of services through a recognized credible credentialing program that assures the competency of practitioners of therapeutic massage and bodywork.
The NCBTMB developed the Standards of Practice to ensure that practitioners who have attained the credential, NCTMB (Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork), are aware of the existence of high standards of practice for the profession and are committed to upholding those standards. Also, the Standards of Practice are meant to assist members of the general public, including consumers, other health care professionals, and State and Municipal Regulatory Agencies or Boards with understanding the duties and responsibilities of NCBTMB certificants.
The NCBTMB developed and adopted the Standards of Practice to provide certificants with a clear statement of the expectations of professional conduct and level of practice afforded the public in, among other things, the following areas: Professionalism, Legal and Ethical Requirements, Confidentiality, Business Practices, Roles and Boundaries, and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct. Before the NCBTMB Board of Directors granted final approval of the document, representatives of the certificant population and key stakeholders of the NCBTMB ratified the Standards of Practice.
These Standards of Practice for the touch therapies profession are the guiding principles by which certificants conduct their day-to-day responsibilities within their scope of practice. These principles assure that all professional behaviors are conducted in the most ethical, compassionate, and responsible manner. Through these Standards of Practice, the NCBTMB seeks to establish and uphold the highest standards, traditions, and principles of the practices that constitute the profession of massage therapy and bodywork. The Standards are statements of enforceable guidelines for professional conduct. The Standards are stated in observable and measurable terms and are intended as minimum levels of practice to which each certificant is held accountable. Upon submission of the application for the National Certification Examination, each applicant must agree to uphold and abide by the NCBTMB Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, and applicable policies. The certificant’s failure to comply with the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice as provided herein constitutes professional misconduct and may result in sanctions, or other appropriate disciplinary actions, including the suspension or termination of certification.
NCBTMB certificants are obligated to report unethical behavior and violations of the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice that are performed by other NCBTMB certificants, to the NCBTMB and other appropriate professional associations and regulatory bodies governing the massage and bodywork profession.
These Standards of Practice reflect the NCBTMB’s clear commitment to assuring that NCBTMB certificants provide an optimal level of service and strive for excellence in their practice. This includes remaining in good standing with the NCBTMB, making a commitment, without limitation, to continued personal and professional growth through self-assessment and continuing education, seeking support from peers and experienced professionals to provide optimal service to themselves and others, serving as a mentor, and understanding and accepting that personal and professional actions reflect on the integrity of the massage therapy and bodywork profession and the NCBTMB. Each certificant is responsible for showing and maintaining professional compliance with the Standards of Practice. As the massage and bodywork profession evolves, so, too, will the Standards of Practice. The Standards of Practice are, therefore, a live and dynamic document and subject to revision in keeping with the changing demands and expectations of the massage and bodywork profession.
The certificant must provide optimal levels of professional massage and bodywork services and demonstrate excellence in practice by promoting healing and well being through responsible, compassionate and respectful touch. In his/her professional role the certificant shall:
a) adhere to the NCBTMB Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, policies and procedures
b) comply with the peer review process conducted by the NCBTMB Ethics and Standards Committee regarding any alleged violations against the NCBTMB Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
c) conduct themselves in a manner in all settings meriting the respect of the public and other professionals
d) treat each client with respect, dignity and worth
e) use professional verbal, nonverbal and written communications
f) provide an environment that is safe and comfortable for the client and which, at a minimum, meets all legal requirements for health and safety
g) use standard precautions to insure professional hygienic practices and maintain a level of personal hygiene appropriate for practitioners in the therapeutic setting
h) wear clothing that is clean, modest, and professional
i) obtain voluntary and informed consent from the client prior to initiating the session
j) if applicable, conduct an accurate needs assessment, develop a plan of care with the client, and update the plan as needed
k) use appropriate draping to protect the client’s physical and emotional privacy
l) be knowledgeable of their scope of practice and practice only within these limitations
m) refer to other professionals when in the best interest of the client and/or practitioner
n) seek other professional advice when needed
o) respect the traditions and practices of other professionals and foster collegial relationships
p) not falsely impugn the reputation of any colleague
q) use the initials NCTMB to designate his/her professional ability and competency to practice therapeutic massage and bodywork only
r) remain in good standing with and maintain NCBTMB certification
s) understand that the NCBTMB certificate may be displayed prominently in the certificant’s principal place of practice
t) when using the NCBTMB logo and certification number on business cards, brochures, advertisements, and stationery, doing so only in a manner that is within established NCBTMB guidelines
u) not duplicate the NCBTMB certificate for purposes other than verification of the practitioner’s credentials
v) immediately return the certificate to NCBTMB if it is revoked or suspended.
The certificant must comply with all the legal requirements in applicable jurisdictions regulating the profession of massage therapy and bodywork. In his/her professional role the certificant shall:
a) obey all applicable local, state, and federal laws
b) refrain from any behavior that results in illegal, discriminatory, or unethical actions
c) accept responsibility for their own actions
d) report to the proper authorities any alleged violations of the law by other certificants
e) maintain accurate and truthful records
f) report to the NCBTMB any criminal convictions regarding him/herself and other certificants
g) report to NCBTMB any pending litigation and resulting resolution related to his/her professional practice and the professional practice of other certificants
h) respect existing publishing rights and copyright laws.
The certificant shall respect the confidentiality of client information and safeguard all records. In his/her professional role the certificant shall:
a) protect the client’s identity in social conversations, all advertisements, and any and all other manners unless requested by the client in writing, medically necessary, or required by law
b) protect the interests of clients who are minors or who are unable to give voluntary consent by securing permission from an appropriate third party or guardian
c) solicit only information that is relevant to the professional client/therapist relationship
d) share pertinent information about the client with third parties when required by law
e) maintain the client files for a minimum period of four years
f) store and dispose of client files in a secure manner.
The certificant shall practice with honesty, integrity, and lawfulness in the business of massage and bodywork. In his/her professional role the certificant shall:
a) provide a physical setting that is safe and meets all applicable legal requirements for health and safety
b) maintain adequate and customary liability insurance
c) maintain adequate progress notes for each client session, if applicable
d) accurately and truthfully inform the public of services provided
e) honestly represent all professional qualifications and affiliations
f) promote his/her business with integrity and avoid potential and actual conflicts of interest
g) advertise in a manner that is honest, dignified, and representative of services that can be delivered and remains consistent with the NCBTMB Code of Ethics
h) advertise in a manner that is not misleading to the public by, among other things, the use of sensational, sexual or provocative language and/or pictures to promote business
i) comply with all laws regarding sexual harassment
j) not exploit the trust and dependency of others, including clients and employees/co-workers
k) display/discuss schedule of fees in advance of the session that are clearly understood by the client or potential client
l) make financial arrangements in advance that are clearly understood by and safeguard the best interests of the client or consumer
m) follow acceptable accounting practices
n) file all applicable municipal, state and federal taxes
o) maintain accurate financial records, contracts and legal obligations, appointment records, tax reports and receipts for at least four years.
The certificant shall adhere to ethical boundaries and perform the professional roles designed to protect the client, the practitioner, and safeguard the therapeutic value of the relationship. In his/her professional role the certificant shall:
a) recognize his/her personal limitations and practice only within these limitations
b) recognize his/her influential position with the client and shall not exploit the relationship for personal or other gain
c) recognize and limit the impact of transference and counter-transference between the client and the certificant
d) avoid dual or multidimensional relationships that could impair professional judgment or result in exploitation of the client or employees and/or co-workers
e) not engage in any sexual activity with a client
f) acknowledge and respect the client’s freedom of choice in the therapeutic session
g) respect the client’s right to refuse the therapeutic session
h) refrain from practicing under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substances (with the exception of prescribed dosage of prescription medication which does not significantly impair the certificant)
i) have the right to refuse and/or terminate the service to a client who is abusive or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substance.
The certificant shall refrain from any behavior that sexualizes, or appears to sexualize, the client/therapist relationship. The certificant recognizes that the intimacy of the therapeutic relationship may activate practitioner and/or client needs and/or desires that weaken objectivity and may lead to sexualizing the therapeutic relationship. In his/her professional role the certificant shall:
a) refrain from participating in a sexual relationship or sexual conduct with the client, whether consensual or otherwise, from the beginning of the client/therapist relationship and for a minimum of six months after the termination of the client/therapist relationship
b) in the event that the client initiates sexual behavior, clarify the purpose of the therapeutic session, and, if such conduct does not cease, terminate or refuse the session
c) recognize that sexual activity with clients, students, employees, supervisors, or trainees is prohibited even if consensual
d) not touch the genitalia
e) only perform therapeutic treatments beyond the normal narrowing of the ear canal and normal narrowing of the nasal passages as indicated in the plan of care and only after receiving informed voluntary written consent
f) only perform therapeutic treatments in the oropharynx as indicated in the plan of care and only after receiving informed voluntary consent
g) only perform therapeutic treatments into the anal canal as indicated in the plan of care and only after receiving informed voluntary written consent
h) only provide therapeutic breast massage as indicated in the plan of care and only after receiving informed voluntary consent from the client.
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