Let it be known that Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCTMB) is the highest attainable and voluntary credential that a Massage Therapist and Bodywork Practitioner can obtain within the profession. It represents the uppermost level of professional commitment that is far above and beyond any entry level state or municipal licensure. By becoming Board Certified, I have not only expanded my education and work requirements but also dedicated myself to mandatory, lifelong vocational instruction, and to protocols and ethics that are in alignment with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), its governing agency.
To achieve the distinction of Board Certification, I first provided proof of the 500 hours of required curriculum and 250 hours of professional hands-on work experience. I was then vetted with an extremely thorough background check and excelled with my pass rate for NCBTMB's rigorous testing. Furthermore, every two years I must complete an additional 24 CEs, exclusively from Approved Providers, pass another investigation and formally agree to uphold the predominate "Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics" as set forth by NCBTMB.
Since qualifying I've been driven by my own initiative to diligently uphold NCBTMB's exemplary criteria, by accumulating over 900 hours of pertinent tutorials and accredited coursework, as well as more than 14 years of direct practical experience in some of the most respected and professional, therapeutic environments.
In keeping with my commitment to all-round excellence, I also opted to take and significantly pass the comprehensive National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). As California does not require any written, oral or practical examination to attain state certification, it was both personally and professionally very important for me to secure this honored benchmark of legitimacy in my chosen field of expertise.
The NCETMB is the exam created to facilitate a "national" test platform for certification, as opposed to just having each individual state's standardization, for their Massage Therapy and Bodywork Practitioners. Used for licensing by the majority of American states, the NCETMB mandates at least 500 hours of didactic massage training, that required 100 hours of classroom training in anatomy and physiology, 200 hours of lab/clinic training in massage theory and application, as well as 2 hours of massage business and ethics. The remainder of my requisite course hours were completed in related fields that included Advanced Pathology, Patient Care Assessment, Aromatherapy, Complementary & Alternative Medicine and Ayurvedic Remedies.
My Master of Science Degree in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) has afforded me the distinction of being Officially Certified in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Acupuncture and Acupressure. With it comes a considerable level of competency in both the theoretical comprehension and technical dexterity that includes, but is not limited to the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practices of invasive energetic treatments such as Acupuncture also known as Needling, as well as non-invasive modalities of Digital Acupressure, Electronic Acupressure, Cupping Therapy, Magnetic Therapy, Gua Sha, Shiatsu, Tui Na and the administration of Topical Medicaments.
After completing the required four years of full-time class work as described in the curriculum and obtained exclusively on campus, I furthered my interdisciplinary and comprehensive skills by choosing to also achieve an advanced clinical internship at one of the oldest Acupuncture clinics in the United States of America. It was there that I cultivated my proficiency in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, especially associated with The Mesomorph Body Type; otherwise known as a human's most compact and muscular body build, predominately belonging to those who diligently pursue an athletically bound career, or an exceedingly active and physically demanding lifestyle.
I received my Official Certification in March of 2005, when the successful completion of all written and practical exit examinations was achieved, and the highest standards of professional behavior had been well met. This criterion is tantamount to obtaining the MSOM degree from Samra University; the oldest, most distinguished University of Oriental Medicine in North America. Founded in 1969, Samra University became the first school of Oriental Medicine to receive full institutional approval by the California State Department of Education. The MSOM program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Schools of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Samra University is known internationally as a premiere teaching institution with a reputation that has drawn students from around the world.
I have earnestly fulfilled all of the requirements set forth by The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) for state certification. Therefore, I'm legally able to conduct my private practice as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practitioner and execute Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork as a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT).
CAMTC is a private nonprofit public benefit corporation, whose mission is to protect the public by certifying massage professionals in California that meet the requirements in the law and approving massage programs that comply with the standards for training and curriculum. Its volunteer Board of Directors is appointed by Californian cities, counties, law enforcement agencies, vocational schools, Department of Consumer Affairs, professional massage associations and other stakeholders as authorized by law in the California Business and Professions Codes.
Additionally, I am proud to have been certified to serve as a Massage Therapy Instructor in California, by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE), approved under California Education Code (CEC) Section 94915.
In this capacity, I was the Academic Director for two of the most significant Massage and Bodywork programs in schools across Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States. I supported and created curriculums, syllabuses, lecture materials, tests, massage sequences for classrooms and work sites, as well as protocols and treatments for community massage clinics. l also contributed to the success of various other vocational institutions and their students, as I taught from an introductory to graduate school level; the applicable comprehension of Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue, Asian Bodywork, Sports Massage, Geriatric and Pre-Natal Massage, Luxury and Medi Spa Services, Chiropractic Applications, Anatomy and Physiology, Business and Ethics, Pathology Considerations and Career Management.
Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) is a national membership association that delivers more than just comprehensive liability, property, general and product insurance coverage. It's tailored to meet the needs of CAM Providers, Massage Therapists and Bodywork Practitioners like me, who also demand other exceptional professional benefits, advocacy, inspiration and multi-faceted support in all aspects of the field.
I particularly appreciate having had a membership for over two decades, because of the advantages of their continuing education (CE) program, that continues to develop annually. It is now home to over 600 relevant video-based courses, yearly live seminars, monthly award-winning magazines and weekly podcasts that explore important issues and challenges that are unique to therapists from all types of disciplines.
Further qualifications include my knowledge and experience that has been gained through attaining the Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bard College, Master of Fine Arts Alumna from Yale University, Master of Science Degree in Oriental Medicine from Samra University, Tertiary Certification in Massage Therapy from California Healing Arts College, The Original Hot Stone Massage: Advanced Training by LaStone Therapy, Emotional Release Practitionership in French Release Work Method from The Unicorn Foundation and Ordination as a Minister of Body-Mind Spiritual Practices from Universal Life Church.
Currently, I am pursuing my PhD Doctorate specializing in Applied Metaphysics for Hypnotherapy, from The Institute of Metaphysical Humanistic Science.
Visit the Official Website at: ReginaRichardson.com
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