The Value and Significance of NCBTMB Certification

The National Board Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has long played an important role in advancing standards within the massage therapy profession. To better understand the purpose and impact of Board Certification, we spoke with Shelly Johnson, CEO of NCBTMB; Christopher Deery, LMT, BCTMB, NCBTMB President; and Susan Salvo, EdD, BCTMB, LMT.

Their insights offer a look at where the profession has been, where it is headed and why massage therapists choose to pursue Board Certification.

Why Board Certification Matters for Practitioners

According to Christopher Deery and Shelly Johnson:

“The NCBTMB Board Certification is a top credential in the massage therapy profession, reflecting high standards of education, ethics, and professionalism.”

Achieving this credential demonstrates a therapist’s dedication to excellence—and to advancing the profession as a whole.

For Susan Salvo, the value of Board Certification became clear while she was preparing her first expert witness report for a legal case. As she reviewed reports from experts in other professions, she noticed that each began by listing their credentials.

That’s when it clicked:

Every example she reviewed included Board Certification.

Susan realized that becoming Board Certified would strengthen her credibility in legal settings and communicate her expertise in a way professions in other fields readily understand. She describes NCBTMB Certification as a “bolstering kind of credential that carried me into a realm that I probably would not have been in.”

Today, Susan is a strong advocate for Board Certification and encourages therapists not to be intimidated by the exam. The challenge, she believes, is part of what makes the credential meaningful. She also shares what continues to motivate her:

"The motivation behind becoming Board Certified feels very similar to why I volunteer for MTF, AMTA, FSMTB, and NCBTMB. It’s not about money; it’s that inner drive to serve, connect with colleagues, and move into a new space of expertise. Whether I am studying for the NCB exam or reading a MTF case report, I’m fueled by the desire to push the profession forward and experience a deep sense of personal achievement. That's why I love being board-certified therapist and why I volunteer."

Board Certification may also be required in certain professional environments, including some Department of Veterans Affairs settings, making it a valuable credential for therapists pursuing specific career paths.

Christopher Deery describes Board Certification as an ongoing professional commitment:

He adds:

“Board Certification is a public promise… grounded in evidence and ethics. It reduces ambiguity, builds trust across disciplines, and steadily raises the floor for what professional massage therapy can and should be.”

For these leaders, Board Certification represents both a personal commitment to professional growth and a way to demonstrate the knowledge, ethics and professionalism of massage therapists to the broader healthcare community.

How Board Certification Elevates the Profession

Board Certification helps strengthen the massage therapy profession by establishing a recognized standard of excellence—one that can be understood across disciplines, particularly in health care. It demonstrates advanced knowledge, strong professional ethics and a commitment to continued learning.

Christopher and Shelly emphasize:

Susan also highlights the broader professional community that surrounds Board Certification; it connects therapists with colleagues committed to research, safety and the continued integration of massage therapy into healthcare. In this way, certification is not only about individual achievement—it can also contribute to advancing the profession as a whole.

AMTA Is Here to Support You

AMTA is committed to helping massage therapists grow throughout their careers, and Board Certification can be one step in that professional journey. AMTA offers resources that can help you prepare, including:

• Test-taking strategies
  
  
• Anatomy review materials
  
  
• A robust online CE library featuring courses on research, ethics, self-care, and advanced techniques

Whether you're pursuing Board Certification to enhance your credibility, explore new career opportunities, or challenge yourself professionally, AMTA is here to support you along the way.

Explore Board Certification requirements and exam tips