The Value and Significance of NCBTMB Certification

The National Board Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has long been a defining force in shaping the massage therapy profession. To better understand the purpose, history, and impact of board certification, we spoke with Christopher Deery, LMT, BCTMB, NCBTMB, President; Shelly Johnson, CEO of NCBTMB; and Susan Salvo, EdD, BCTMB, LMT, NCBTMB.

Their insights reveal not only where the profession has been—but also where it is headed, and why more massage therapists are choosing to become board certified.

A Brief History of NCBTMB

NCBTMB was founded in 1992 by five organizations that recognized the need for a national exam to unify standards across the emerging landscape of massage licensure. As more states introduced licensing requirements, it became clear that the profession needed a reliable, psychometrically sound exam to ensure competency.

Though NCBTMB’s original exam became a licensing tool for many states, its intended purpose was always broader: to support excellence and professionalism in massage therapy. When the MBLEx and other standardized exams were later adopted for state licensure, NCBTMB was able to return to this mission.

In 2013, the organization launched its Board Certification—a voluntary national credential designed to signify advanced skill, knowledge, and professional commitment. This certification continues to set a benchmark for excellence within the profession.

What Board Certification Involves

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.”

To become board certified, practitioners must:

• Hold a valid state license (or proof of graduation from an NCBTMB Assigned School where licensure isn’t required)
  
  
• Pass a criminal background check
  
  
• Agree to uphold NCBTMB’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
  
  
• Pass the Board Certification Exam

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

Why Certification Matters for Practitioners

For Susan Salvo, the decision to pursue certification became clear when she was preparing her first expert witness report for a legal case. While reviewing reports from other professions, she noticed that each expert began by listing their credentials.

That’s when it clicked:

“Experience is not expertise.”

Every example she reviewed included board certification.

Susan realized that becoming board certified would strengthen her credibility in legal settings and help communicate expertise in a way other professions immediately understand. She also notes that NCBTMB certification is 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 certification. She urges therapists not to fear the exam—difficulty is part of what makes the credential meaningful.

Board certification is also required in certain environments, including some Department of Veterans Affairs settings, making it a valuable career asset.

Christopher Deery echoes this sentiment:

“To me, Board Certification is more than a credential—it’s a conscious, ongoing commitment to how I practice, how I make decisions, and how I relate to the larger health care landscape.”

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 both leaders, certification is both a personal commitment and a signal to other professionals that massage therapy is a legitimate, respected, evidence-based discipline.

How Certification Elevates the Profession

Board Certification strengthens the entire field by setting a recognized standard of excellence—one that’s understood across professions, particularly health care. It sends a powerful message: this therapist has advanced knowledge, strong ethics, and a commitment to ongoing learning.

Christopher and Shelly emphasize:

“Seeking Board Certification sets a therapist apart in a competitive field. It builds trust with clients, employers, and other health care professionals… It can open doors to advanced opportunities.”

Susan adds that certification connects therapists with a community dedicated to research, safety, and advocating for massage therapy’s integration into health care settings. It aligns practitioners with others who not only believe in the value of massage therapy—but who work to move the profession forward.

Tips for Preparing for the Exam

As a contributor to the BCETMB exam, Susan offers valuable advice for test-takers:

• Master key terminology. Understanding field-specific vocabulary helps you interpret exam questions with confidence.
  
  
• Study Bloom’s Taxonomy and cognitive load. Knowing how questions are framed at different cognitive levels can strengthen your test strategy.
  
  
• Use NCBTMB’s online resources. The website provides a detailed content outline and practice exams—essential tools to help you succeed.
  
  
• Set yourself up for success. Get good rest, take the exam in the morning, and avoid cramming the night before.

AMTA Is Here to Support You

AMTA is committed to helping massage therapists advance their careers—and board certification can be a powerful step in that journey. We offer a wide range of resources, 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, expand your career opportunities, or simply challenge yourself professionally, you don’t have to navigate the process alone.

Learn more about how NCBTMB Board Certification can help you elevate your practice and the profession.