Massage, Bodywork, and Somatic Therapy Information Fact Sheet
Updated November 3, 2001
- The Act establishes a six member Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Examining Committee ( the "Committee") under the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
- This Act only applies to the certification of persons who perform Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy and not to the location where they practice.
- Once the New Jersey Board of Nursing has adopted the rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purpose of the Act, and the application(s) have been printed, the certification process will commence.It is anticipated that this process will take at least 12-18 months to complete.
- The Committee will create regulation standards for certification and establish the application process for certification under grandfathering and an application process through a standardized route.
- Even though the Board of Nursing will not actually certify an individual for at least another 12-18 months, currently the Act prohibits the use of certain titles and abbreviations appearing in advertisements and/or announcements or appearing after a name or signature.
The following titles or abbreviations are prohibited until an individual is certified by the Board of Nursing:
"Massage, bodywork and somatic therapist," "registered massage, bodywork and somatic therapist," "certified massage, bodywork and somatic therapist," "certified massage therapist," or the abbreviations "MBT," "RMBT," "CMBT," "COBT," "CMT."
- A certification received from a New Jersey massage, bodywork and somatic school does not entitle you to call yourself "certified" or use the abbreviation "CMT" until such time as you are certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
- If you are licensed in another state as a Massage, Bodywork or Somatic Therapist you must identify the state of licensure so as to distinguish another state licensure from a New Jersey State Certification.
- If you hold a National Certification as a Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapist from either the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) you must indicate the name of the certifying body so as not to be misleading to New Jersey consumers.
- The New Jersey Board of Nursing is maintaining a mailing list for future dissemination of pertinent information and updates regarding certification.
- To be placed on the Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapist's mailing list, please send your name and address to the following:
New Jersey Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 45010
Newark, New Jersey 07101
Fax: 973-648-3481
Attention: Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Mailing List
|
