The California Massage Therapy Council has existed for just 2 short years. Within that time over 20,000 massage therapists have reaped the benefits the CAMTC certification has offered. The best benefit in my opinion is the flexibility to work in more than one city or county and not have to get multiple permits to do so.

At one time I would have had to get 3 permits to work in 3 cities that were 5 minutes from my door step. The cost would have been in the thousands, and would cut into my profit margin severely.  Since I’ve been CAMTC certified I have gladly only paid for my certification and business license and been perfectly happy spending the extra money on myself!

So why am I writing about this now? It’s time to recertify! I just received my notice in the mail. In the 2 years since I received my certification over 30,000 therapists have applied for CAMTC certification.

Another reason is that Assembly Bill 619 just passed and was signed into law by the Governor of California. There are several changes implemented with this bill, but one of most importance to CAMTC certified therapists is that you are now required to use the name on your certificate and your certification number on any and all advertisements you use. You must also display your name and certification number at your place of business.

For more information on AB 619 go to www.amta-ca.org and click on the State Legislation tab. If you are interested in recertification or want to get more information on being CAMTC certified; go to www.camtc.org . Now I’m off to fill out my application and continue to utilize the benefits of my CAMTC certification!

John Lambert, CAMTC #278

Left to Right: Beth McNeill, Linda Rikli, Tiahna Skye, Jen Jhanda, Raquel Rodriguez and Ron Peat. AMTA Schools Summit NHI Panel

Several audience members expressed difficulties trying to place graduates while dealing with often slow state licensing processes.  NHI representative and California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) Board Member Joe Bob Smith explained how this wasn’t a problem in California since programs like NHI could help students apply for certification to work while they were still in school.  Michael McGillicuddy from Florida and Sally Hacking from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) shared their perspectives on the matter and encouraged everyone in attendance to get involved in their local legislation.  It was agreed that many lawmakers still need to be educated about the massage profession and the role of schools.

Some attendees raised the issue of training students with English as a second language.  Cynthia Ribeiro, NHI’s Advanced Curriculum Coordinator and AMTA President-Elect, shared her story of coming to America from Brazil and succeeding as a massage therapist.  Most all schools, like NHI, welcomed the challenge of training a diverse student body.

The purpose of the panel was to encourage all schools to share their best practices as a way of raising the bar for massage therapy education as a whole.  In addition to some of NHI’s wisdom, participants also got to experience a couple of NHI rituals including the chi pat and the infamous “Whoosh!”.  Ron Peat closed the two-hour session with words of wisdom that he often shares with students: 1) the only failure is the failure to participate, and 2) if you can’t be on time, be early.

This annual summit, held this year in San Francisco, gathers massage school owners, directors, and personnel from across the country to discuss their challenges and successes as well as the future of massage therapy education.

Nathan Luczynski, Ahmos Netanel and Lynda Solien-Wolfe at the NHI Studio City Expert Panel

What’s wrong with simply working alone?  Isn’t that what being your own boss means?  Yes and no.  Selecting your clientele, setting your own schedule, and potentially generating higher earnings are all perks of having your private practice. 

But what about business issues that arise?  Marketing costs, bookkeeping expertise, client retention, and learning new massage techniques can all be challenging on your own, especially when time and money are short.

So why not tap into the collective knowledge of those who have been and are currently in your shoes?  The problems you face are rarely unique.

There are numerous ways to get involved.

• Participate in local massage events.  National Holistic Institute often hosts free classes and events like Expert Panels (pictured above) for the massage community.
• Join a professional association like the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP).  Here you can link with other members, receive regular updates on the profession, take free or reduced-cost continuing education courses, access insurance coverage, and much more.
• Attend massage therapy gatherings like the California Massage & Bodywork Convention or the AMTA National Convention to be held this year in Portland, OR.  Mingle with old and new friends while wandering through exhibitors’ booths and taking continuing education classes.
• Join your local AMTA unit.  The Los Angeles/South Bay Unit, for example, holds many of its meeting and classes at convenient locations like NHI’s Studio City campus.  Volunteering with your local unit is a great way to market yourself while improving the massage therapy profession in your area. 
• Volunteer for local sporting events.  A recent blog about the NHI Sports Massage Team highlights some of the potential sports opportunities around.  These events allow you to practice your skill on actual athletes, witness different techniques from other massage volunteers, gain new clients, and often raise money for charitable causes.
• Take continuing education classes.  Look to local massage schools like National Holistic Institute for classes that will increase your skills, which means increasing your business.

As 2011 starts, hopefully you will make a resolution for the benefit of you and your massage career to pursue at least one of these networking tips.  Who knows the possibilities that await!

First, Massage Today reports the breaking news that Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed AB1822.  Sponsored by the California Police Chiefs Association, this bill originally would have eliminated state-recognized certification.  In its diluted final draft, it would have added two law enforcement officials to the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) Board, an unprecedented act for a professional board in the state of California.  The bill will need 2/3 vote to pass now, a bar it’s unlikely to achieve.  The governor’s veto recognizes the size, voice and respectability of the massage therapy profession.  Click Here for the full article.

Also in the news, the Los Angeles Times ran a story about how a single massage can boost the immune system.  This story appeared in several media outlets and highlighted research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.  Click Here for the full article.

Thanks to the many individuals and organizations whose support of research and lobbying help make better working conditions for all massage therapists.

A vote could come any day, so we must ACT NOW!

• An email can be sent to all Senators through this link – http://www.massagetoday.com/bill1822/stop_ab1822.php
• Here is the latest news story about what’s going on – http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14280

 In writing to the Senators, please highlight the following points: 

• Vote NO on AB 1822!
• Legitimate massage therapists have a right to work without being looked upon as criminals.
• State certification protects the public better than the previous patchwork of local ordinances.

Everyone, please write in; tell a hundred of your closest friends to write in; and let’s keep state certification alive and strong!!

On September 1, 2009, California joined 42 other states in providing state-wide regulations for the massage therapy profession.  National Holistic Institute celebrated this tremendous achievement by hosting a series of Grad Nights at all of our campuses.  The purpose of these events was to help our graduates understand and apply for the new California State Certification.  Over 230 grads attended – and we’re only 1 month into State Certification!

Thanks to Placement Manager Allison McLeod Budlong and her amazing Placement Team, attendees were able to complete their applications, get their Livescan fingerprints taken, and obtain their school transcripts all on-site.  Some even got a complimentary chair massage!  A wide range of graduates turned out, spanning from the beginning of this month all the way back to 1990.  It thrilled the staff to re-connect with so many former students and, for newer staff, to put faces with all the names from emails and phone calls.

Seeing so many grads come together brought life to NHI’s motto of “Helping People Have Work They Love.”

For information on the new California State Massage Therapy Certification, please visit http://www.camtc.org/.

Neal Delaporta, NCTMB Chair (left) and Paul Lindamood, NCTMB CEO after the CAMTC meeting on April 27, 2009

Neal Delaporta, the Chair of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, graduated from National Holistic Institute Group 3 in 2001.  He moved from Connecticut to California to attend NHI.  “I didn’t undertake that move lightly because there were good massage schools nearby in Connecticut,” said Delaporta.  “I pretty much knew when I walked through the door that NHI was the place for me.  I saw the way the program was set-up – it was perfectly balanced – and it was a great decision for me.”

Neal was in California on Monday, April 27, 2009, to attend a meeting of the newly formed California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) implementing California statewide certification.  The CAMTC is considering the NCTMB’s national certification exam as one of the methods by which a massage therapist could receive a certification in California.

The NCTMB provides a national certification that is held by 91,000 therapists across the U.S., including 5,000 in California.  Overall, the national and California exam passing rates are in the high 60 percent range, but over 80% of NHI graduates pass the national exam on the first attempt.  Excellent work NHI graduates!

NHI Owners Mason Myers & Tim Veitzer

Mason Myers, co-owner of the National Holistic Institute, hopes his new role on the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) will help cut through the governmental red tape that has plagued professional massage therapists in California.

Appointed by the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) to voice massage education issues, Mr. Myers was elected treasurer during the Council’s inaugural meeting on February 19, 2009.  He will work alongside appointees from the California chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, (AMTA-CA); Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP); California counties, cities, colleges, and Department of Consumer Affairs; as well as other affiliated parties.

“State certification will provide California massage therapists a more practical and affordable solution than the current patchwork of local licensing.  Ensuring the same standards for all therapists across the state will further elevate the reputation of the massage profession and improve consumer confidence,” declares Mr. Myers.

The California Massage Therapy Council is a non-profit organization ordained by the State of California to oversee the issuance of state-wide massage therapist certifications.  State certifications will begin being issued sometime after September 1, 2009.  Stay tuned to this blog for more information as that time approaches.