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February 27, 2013
Dear Colleagues:
A White Paper circulating
in professional and social media circles proposes the creation of a new
organization to approve continuing education providers. FSMTB has not
indicated support for such a move and would like to correct certain
assumptions pertaining directly to the FSMTB that are made in the paper.
The most important reason
for regulating the massage and bodywork profession is to ensure public
protection and consumer confidence without unduly restricting the ability
of licensed, professional therapists to make a living. To better address
needs in the area of license renewal, the FSMTB was directed by a vote of
its members (State boards and agencies that regulate massage and bodywork
therapy) to develop and deliver a solution.
To
do this, FSMTB looked at research and listened to experts, including
consumers, educators, and the therapists themselves.
Our recommendation was published in October 2012 in a paper
called "Standardized Licensure Renewal Recommendation for Continuing
Professional Competence".
Standardized Licensure
Renewal Recommendation
Here's
what we believe is fair and reasonable to ensure competent licensed
professionals and protection for the public they serve.
Licensed
massage and bodywork therapists will be required to complete six (6)
hours of license renewal requirements annually. At least three (3) of the
six hours must meet the State-sponsored Ethics and Professional Practice
course requirements that specifically address content pertaining to
public safety. The remaining three (3) hours could be exchanged for
certain Professional Development Activities, including but not limited to
meeting accredited certification standards, community service, and
research.
We further believe that it
is preferable for all six hours of the license renewal requirements to be
in the Ethics and Professional Practice areas, thus eliminating the need
for therapists to engage in other activities or classes in order to renew
their license. The rationale for limiting the licensing renewal requirements
to the Ethics and Professional Practice areas is to ensure that
therapists have standardized, current knowledge necessary for safe and
competent practice. Additional activities and classes, though beneficial
and encouraged, should not be required for re-licensure.
Recognizing that there will
be a transition phase as the profession progresses, we will establish
standards for acceptance of other Professional Development Activities for
licensure renewal, such as attaining certifications and attending
professional conferences. Again, these activities are to be encouraged
but are beyond what should be required to maintain a license.
Our goal is to create
easily accessible online courses each year on the topics that matter to
the State boards, not just to address complaints or sub-standard
practice, but to focus on issues such as ethical concerns and therapist
safety. Our intent is not to compete with agencies already providing
certifications or CE, but to ensure adequate attention to our area of
emphasis, Ethics and Professional Practice.
For those without access to
computers we are considering live classes at events where therapists
already gather. We will select experts to work with our licensing boards
to create the best courses and we encourage your participation.
For States that already
have CE requirements, the FSMTB will establish Standards to assist States
in determining Professional Development Activities that are acceptable
during the transition. We are not proposing that we approve CE Providers,
Instructors or Courses; instead, we are concentrating on an alternative
solution to address the needs of the regulatory community and the
therapists.
Considering licensure, we
must keep in mind that a license does not reflect that a therapist is
brilliant, enthusiastic, nice, or possesses a healing gift. Licensure
demonstrates that a therapist has met basic professional standards and is
entitled to legally practice.
Licensing boards:
-work for the public, not the
profession.
-are created to regulate the
profession, not elevate it.
-cannot require a double standard -
education for experienced professionals that is different from that of
entry level therapists.
-must provide the public with an avenue
to address harm.
-ensure only that a licensed therapist
meets standard competency levels to receive or renew a license.
In summary, our
role and intent is to work with State boards to protect and to serve the
public while at the same time offering a simplified, standardized and
relevant solution for therapists.
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