1982 – Council of Schools, Founded in 1982, was an independent forum for massage therapy school owners, administrators, and faculty to communicate. While independent, the council worked closely with the AMTA, as it was the largest massage association of that time. And in 1999, the COS made the choice to officially become the AMTA Council of Schools with hopes to expand and become more effective for the massage profession as a whole.
1983 – AMTA Membership Entrance Exam (MEE) 1983 Agenda Item: III.C.3 May 1993 Page 1 Submitted by Kate Jefferey
Membership Entrance Exam Full Document on Archive.org
“At recent National Board meetings, suggestions have been made about eliminatiing the MEE; the Membership Qualificaitons Subcommittee was charged with studying the issue for this report.
A brief history of the MEE is in order. In 1983. M.Hungerford, the National Education Director at the time, initiated the MEE as a means for people to test into the AMTA. Next, in 1984, Bob King as National Education Director revised the MEE. At the time there were approximately 15 AMTA-approved curriculum Schools in the country, meaning many people who had learned and were practicing massage but did not have the opportunity to attend such schools could still demonstrate their competence and be granted membership to the AMTA. The introduction and administration of the MEE at this time promoted the growth of the AMTA. At the time of the creation of the exam and throughout the years it has been modified/improved there was no formal attempt to consult expert exam-designerd to ensure psychometric validity. Being used “as an entry into a professional organization-NOT into a held of employment, the exam did not and does not HAVE to be psychometrically exact.”
1990 – AMTA creates National Massage Therapy Awareness Week™ (NMTAW)
1990 – AMTA creates the Massage Therapy Foundation which was first called the AMTA Foundation – http://www.amtafoundation.org/ (archive.org link)
AMTA Membership March 1990 – 12,000
1992 – AMTA creates COMTA – The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
1994 – In 1994 COMTA became an independent affiliate of AMTA, operating separately and under its own mission, policies and procedures. In 2004 COMTA became a completely independent organization. COMTA’s Commissioners are an elected body of volunteers who make final decisions regarding COMTA standards, policies, and the granting of accreditation to schools and programs that apply for accreditation.
1997 The first AMTA National Massage Therapy Awareness Week took place in 1997 www.archive.org
1999- In 1999 an independent council of schools, which long had a relationship with AMTA, decided to become part of AMTA and the AMTA Council of Schools. Currently, there are some 480 School members of AMTA
1999 – (Oct Press Release)
AMTA Membership Passes 40,000 San Antonio, TX — The largest and oldest professional association of massage therapists, the American Massage Therapy Association, announced today at its National Convention that its membership has officially passed 40,000.
“This is an exciting occasion to celebrate at our national convention”, said Adela Basayne, AMTA President. “The growth of our association in the last few years has paralleled the rapid acceptance of massage by the public. We are delighted that the public is learning the value of massage and that qualified massage therapists recognize the benefits of being part of AMTA.”
AMTA’s membership has more than doubled since 1994 and now has members in 30 countries. In 1990, membership was approximately 12,000.
The association, started in Chicago in 1943, includes professional massage therapists, students enrolled in recognized, 500-hour minimum massage schools, qualifying massage schools, and organizations and individuals who support the association’s efforts. AMTA’s mission is to develop the art, science and practice of massage therapy in a caring, professional and ethical manner in order to promote the health and welfare of humanity.
All AMTA Professional members have demonstrated a level of skill and knowledge through education and/or testing. New Professional members must be graduates of training programs accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA); be graduates of AMTA Council of Schools member-schools; be Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork; or have a current AMTA-accepted city, state or provincial license. AMTA has a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for its members.
The association also helps consumers, medical professionals and personal care services find qualified, professional massage therapists nationwide, through its Find A Massage TherapistSM national locator service. The free national locator service is available via AMTA’s Web site at www.amtamassage.org and toll-free at 888-843-2682 [888-THE-AMTA]. AMTA Archive.org
2000 – AMTA Consumer Survey Fact Sheet
Approximately 20 percent of Americans continue to say that the primary reason they don’t get a regular massage is that they are too busy. This figure has varied little since 1997, with 20 percent giving this reason this year, 21 percent in 1999, 18 percent in 1998, and 24 percent in 1997. People understand its benefits, but say they are too busy to take the time to get a regular massage.
Almost one third of adults (29 percent) say that medical reasons would motivate them to get a massage. [Some medical reasons include: muscle soreness/stiffness/spasm (10 percent); to reduce pain (6 percent); for injury recovery and rehab (4 percent); for wellness and prevention (2 percent); greater joint flexibility or range of motion (2 percent); or because of a medical prescription or physician recommendation (2 percent).]
Twenty percent report that they would seek therapeutic massage for relaxation and 10 percent say they would seek massage for stress reduction.
Membership March 2002 – 46,000
2002 – AMTA publishes the Business of Massage Book
2002 – Article in Parade magazine October 13 issue of Parade magazine
Sept 4 2004 – AMTA Foundation changes it’s name to the Massage Therapy Foundation.
2006 – Press Release from archive.org AMTA makes a statement regarding defining medical massage.
| For Immediate Release | Media Contact: |
| March 27, 2006 | Ron Precht |
| 847-905-1649 |
Is AMTA Defining Medical Massage?
Evanston, IL (March 27, 2006) — The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) would like to clarify for everyone in the massage therapy profession that it has no plans to define the term medical massage. AMTA’s Board of Directors continues to be concerned about the potential for a definition of medical massage to restrict the practices of massage therapists. AMTA believes discussion needs to continue among all stakeholders in the profession to verify definitions for a variety of massage therapy terms.
AMTA believes all massage is therapeutic. Clearly, medical massage may include, but not be limited to intended purpose and outcomes, massage as part of a treatment plan determined by a licensed healthcare professional and/or practice setting. However, it’s important to point out that empirical evidence hasn’t been provided to support or refute the concept of medical massage as a distinct area of specialization within massage therapy practice. This would be a necessary step if the profession tries to define it.
In 2005, an AMTA volunteer workgroup examined how the term medical massage is being used. They examined published definitions of the term used by many of the groups that give certifications in medical massage; surveyed AMTA members on their views of the term (816 members participated); collected input from about 30 other massage therapists (not all AMTA members), who have a strong interest in medical massage issues, through emails, phone calls and letters; and held a hearing at AMTA’s Albuquerque convention to get more member input on the term. The workgroup reported its research to the AMTA Board in December 2005.
AMTA will continue to gather information on use of the term medical massage and has already participated in discussions with some of the stakeholders in the profession regarding the potential for defining it.
With more than 55,000 members, the American Massage Therapy Association works to serve its members and to advance the massage therapy profession through ethics and standards, public education, and promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all 50 states. The association is directed by a volunteer Board of Directors, chosen through a national election and encourages members to participate through its 52 chapters.
2009 – AMTA provided more than $500,000 to support research and the work of the MTF and more than $4 million from 2000 through 2009.
2009 – In late January at the Council of Schools annual meeting and leadership conference, COS members expressed a desire to retain independence from the AMTA, stating concerns of member schools being underserved and council members as ineffective under the AMTA control. In that meeting, a motion was made to establish the COS as an independent nonprofit organization. The motion made by council member Iris Burman was adopted by a majority vote of the member schools. News Brief: AMTA Board of Directors Disbands Council of Schools By Editorial Staff Massage Today 9/23/2009
2009 – AMTA announces the end of the Council of Schools. to make way for the Alliance of Massage Therapy Educators
According to alliance Executive Director Rick Rosen, the birth of the new group occurred only after six months had elapsed since the Council of Schools adopted a motion to begin separating from the AMTA and to reform as “an independent and autonomous non-profit organization.” With no action taken on the part of the council, education leaders took matters into their own hands and launched the alliance, he said
2009 – Alliance for Massage Therapy Education created. AFMTE is an independent educational organization comprised of a six-member leadership team including Iris Burman, Su Bibik, Stan Dawson, Eugenie Newton, Rick Rosen and Pete Whitridge
2015 – Press release. September 3, 2015 archive.org
“At its August meeting, the AMTA Board of Directors voted to change association bylaws related to the election of the national board and the titles of the board members. The new election process will follow what is becoming a common procedure for elections by national associations.
Beginning with the fall election, members will be presented with a slate of highly-qualified, proposed new board members, selected by a national commission for their knowledge and experience with AMTA at both the chapter and national levels. Through this simplified process members will find it easier to demonstrate their support for a team of highly-qualified volunteers, all of whom will be called “Directors”.
Watch your email and the AMTA website for detailed information on the election of the new board of directors this fall. You will receive your election ballot, including a link to vote online, via email beginning November 16.”