AMTA is your advantage. Here is some information about how we are working to advance the massage therapy profession.
The American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) is the oldest and largest national, non-profit association representing the massage therapy profession in the U.S.
- AMTA was founded in 1943
- AMTA has 56,000 members
- AMTA has chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- AMTA is governed by an elected National Board of Directors.
AMTA plays an important role in ensuring high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of massage therapy
AMTA develops and re-examines guidelines for the ethical practice of massage to keep them current and to reflect needs of the profession and the consumer. AMTA has a Practice Standards document, a Code of Ethics and behavioral guidelines for its members. Such standards help to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for all who seek the benefits of massage.
To advance the profession over more than six decades, AMTA fostered and created a variety of organizations that are cornerstones of a profession, related to certification, accreditation, licensure and research. In 2009, the association recognized the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx), created by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, as the best choice for a state licensing exam that can lead to portability of massage practice.
In 1992, AMTA initiated the creation of the independent National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), which is recognized by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies. More than 90,000 massage therapists have been nationally certified.
The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) was first established by AMTA in 1989 to uphold AMTA’s principles of ethics and professionalism in all phases of career training and professional development. Operating independently, COMTA is a recognized accrediting body for massage therapy schools and programs.
AMTA promotes and provides for continuing education in the profession
AMTA requires its Professional Members to provide evidence of continuing education in the massage field. Through the AMTA National Convention, conferences and workshops, and through online resources, it provides continuing education and networking opportunities for massage therapists. AMTA’s educational events feature prominent researchers and educators in the massage profession.
AMTA's 51 chapters provide additional continuing-education conferences and workshops at the regional and local levels.
AMTA is a key contributor to the advancement of the art, science and practice of massage therapy
AMTA created the AMTA Foundation (a tax-exempt, public charity) in 1993 to fund massage therapy-related research, community outreach and educational scholarships. Now called the Massage Therapy Foundation, it has awarded nearly $1 million to research and community service projects since its inception. AMTA continues to be its primary benefactor, contributing more than $500,000 annually to foster the work of the Foundation and massage therapy research.
AMTA convened massage therapy stakeholders in 2008 to develop a massage therapy body of knowledge. The objective was to determine the competencies of an entry-level massage therapist (knowledge, skills, abilities) and a definition of massage therapy, including scope of practice and terminology. This initiative became a collaborative effort within the profession, which produced the first Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge released to the profession in May 2010.
AMTA has always fostered a legal and legislative climate supportive of the practice of therapeutic massage. The association’s national government relations program seeks fair and consistent licensing in all states. AMTA’s state chapters play a vital role in the process of achieving AMTA’s legislative goals, through ongoing interactions with state legislators and regulators. In the past decade, the number of states regulating the profession rose from 29 to 43, with Montana and Michigan achieving licensing laws in 2009.
AMTA has approved public position statements on various aspects of massage therapy and the massage therapy profession. These positions are asserted by the association to advance massage practice, research and integration of massage into health care.
Through AMTA’s National Massage Therapy Awareness Week®, the last full week of October, AMTA actively promotes therapeutic massage and the massage profession to the public and the medical/health care community.
AMTA’s website provides the public with accurate information about the benefits of massage therapy, recent research on its efficacy and a means to locate qualified massage therapists.
AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist® national locator service helps consumers and medical professionals find qualified massage therapists in their area
AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist national locator service is available through its website and via telephone, toll-free at 888-843-2682. There were more than 730,000 searches for AMTA massage therapists through the service in 2009.
AMTA’s Mission
The mission of the American Massage Therapy Association is to serve AMTA members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy.
June 2010