2011 – ABMP and the six other national massage organizations—what came to be called the Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations (“Coalition,” for short)—assembled to identify key aspects of massage practice that were candidates for improvement. Entry-level education content and portability emerged as the top two opportunity targets. The Coalition aimed to work by consensus, with different organizations taking the lead on different issues.
Coalition Statement Proposal from FSMTB(PDF):
“Our Coalition initially convened in 2011 to identify and address opportunities to advance the massage therapy profession. Two senior leaders from each organization participated in that initial meeting and three subsequent meetings.
Consistency and Portability
In a healthy profession, effective improvement requires candor in acknowledging current imperfections. When our group of organizations initially assembled, we began by naming and prioritizing professional challenges that required attention. Emerging at the top of the list were two concerns:
- Inconsistent quality, depth, and focus of entry-level massage therapy education.
- Lack of licensure portability (professional mobility).
Why these two? Numerous participants referenced observed knowledge and skill deficits among many recent school graduates and expressed concern that a resulting potential increase in inconsistent quality massage experiences could dull public enthusiasm for seeking massage therapy. Uncertainty about education quality and how to evaluate transcripts from unfamiliar schools, combined with inconsistent entry-level examinations utilized by different states, impairs state massage board confidence about approving licenses for practitioners moving to a new residence state.”
2012 – ELAP is a research project initiated by the Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations in March 2012. The project goals were to define knowledge and skill components of entry-level education and recommend the minimum number of hours schools should teach to prepare graduates for safe and competent practice in the massage profession.
The organizations that made up The Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations include:
Alliance for Massage Therapy Education (AFMTE)
American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)
Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA)
Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)
Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF)
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
Recommended minimum hours schools should teach graduates was found to be 625 hours. Please click the buttons below to learn more about ELAP.” From FSMTB Website
2012 – Press Release from ABMP:
“The group’s purpose, to come together to address the previously identified concerns of the profession and explore how to collaborate in that work, laid the foundation for the conversation. The issues identified at the first meeting were revisited and each organization updated the group on its individual focus and projects. The highest priorities included: Portability, Consistency of Practice Standards, Entry Level Education, Continuing Education, Discipline/Licensure (Safety/Public Protection), and Certification”
2013 – MASSAGE COALITION PREPARING DATA ON ENTRY LEVEL EDUCATIONJanuary 14, 2013 MASSAGE Magazine
“The primary purpose of the ELAP is to address concerns regarding inconsistent standards and outcomes in massage education. ELAP work group members are educational subject-matter experts recruited from throughout the U.S. to map out a realistic, evidence-informed and quantified description of content and skill qualifications, according to a coalition press release.
Other of the coalition’s goals include improved portability for massage licensure, a model practice act, more consistent accreditation standards for schools, and better support and training for massage therapy educators, according to the press release.
The ELAP is the first project supported by the seven organizations to address these educational concerns.
Those organizations are the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, American Massage Therapy Association, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation, the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, the Massage Therapy Foundation, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.
“We seek a thriving massage therapy profession that enhances the health and well-being of clients throughout the United States,” the press release stated. “In an environment of cooperation between these groups, we see the potential to advance the massage therapy profession as a whole.”
2/04/2014 – AFMTE News on the ELAP
12/16/2015 COALITION OF NATIONAL MASSAGE THERAPY ORGANIZATIONS MEETS ABMP News
“The Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations met December 4 in Chicago to continue dialog on a variety of issues facing the massage therapy profession. The coalition comprises seven organizations participating on an equal footing, in an atmosphere of mutual participation and respect. Two representatives from each of the organizations participated in the daylong conversation.
Seven topics were on the agenda and each organization provided an update on their organizational initiatives. Topics for discussion included: FSMTB Model Practice Act, Continuing Education Oversight, Accreditation & Recognition/Massage School Landscape, Polaris Project/Human Trafficking, and identification of topics and issues for ongoing discussion.
The coalition agreed that future conversations would likely include focus on the following:
- Continuing Education Oversight
- Human Trafficking
- Teacher Standards Project”
December 16, 2015 – AFMTE News. The Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations met December 4, 2015 in Chicago, IL to continue dialog on a variety of issues facing the massage therapy profession. The coalition comprises seven organizations participating on an equal footing, in an atmosphere of mutual participation and respect. Two representatives from each of the organizations participated in the daylong conversation.
Seven topics were on the agenda and each organization provided an update on their organizational initiatives. Topics of discussion included: FSMTB Model Practice Act, Continuing Education Oversight, Accreditation & Recognition/Massage School Landscape, Polaris Project/Human Trafficking, and idintification of topics and issues for ongoing discussion.
2015 – COMTA announcement
“Seven topics were on the agenda and each organization provided an update on its organizational initiatives. Topics for discussion included: FSMTB Model Practice Act, Continuing Education Oversight, Accreditation & Recognition/Massage School Landscape, Polaris Project/Human Trafficking, and identification of topics and issues for ongoing discussion.”
2015 – ABMP statement: “Seven topics were on the agenda and each organization provided an update on their organizational initiatives. Topics for discussion included: FSMTB Model Practice Act, Continuing Education Oversight, Accreditation & Recognition/Massage School Landscape, Polaris Project/Human Trafficking, and identification of topics and issues for ongoing discussion.
The coalition agreed that future conversations would likely include focus on the following:
- Continuing Education Oversight
- Human Trafficking
- Teacher Standards Project”
05/26/2022 –ABMP News “After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, ABMP was grateful to spend two days in Denver, Colorado, hosting members of the Massage Therapy Leadership Coalition. ABMP, along with representatives from the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education (AFMTE), the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), and the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), had robust discussions regarding the Massage Therapy Licensing Compact that will support massage therapists’ mobility, the potential for ABMP’s new Cornerstones instructor development product to advance quality massage therapy education and standards for educators, and therapist empowerment regarding addressing sexual solicitation and assault perpetrated upon massage therapists. We look forward to continuing conversations and regrouping with all of the Coalition members in 2023.”