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 Board Certification, I provided proof of the 500 hours of required curriculum and 250 hours of professional hands-on work experience. I was also vetted with an extremely thorough criminal background check, and I excelled with NCBTMB's qualification of rigorous testing. Furthermore, every two years I must complete an additional 24 CEs from an Approved Provider, pass another background check and formally agree to uphold the "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 predominate standards by accumulating more than 1,000 hours of pertinent coursework and 15 years of direct practical experience, only in the utmost of professional environments.
In keeping with my commitment to all-round excellence, I have also passed the comprehensive National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB).
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 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 the non-invasive modalities of Digital Acupressure, Electronic Acupressure, Cupping Therapy, Magnetic Therapy, Gua Sha, Shiatsu, Tui Na and the administering of Topical Medicaments.
I received this commendation in March of 2005, when the successful completion of all written and practical exit examinations was achieved, and the recognized standards of professional behavior had been well met. This criterion is obligatory 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 fulfilled all of the requirements set forth by The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). Therefore, I'm legally able to conduct my private practice as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practitioner and engage in the business of 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.
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. Additionally, l 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 much more than just great liability insurance and continuing education courses and certificates. It's designed for CAM Providers, Massage and Bodywork Practitioners like me, who demand inspiration, exceptional professional benefits, advocacy and multi-faceted support in all aspects of the field. In my opinion, its comprehensive program of liability and business property insurance, sets an example for others to follow. Tailored to truly meet the needs of a variation of Holistic Therapists and Bodyworkers, the policy included in membership offers "occurrence form" coverage, meaning professional, general and product liability coverage with the highest limits available, plus no additional charge for Additional Insured Endorsements and no "shared member" aggregate, like some other associations.
I particularly appreciate having had my membership for over two decades, because of the additional advantages of their continuing education (CE) program, that continues to develop annually. It is now home to over 600 pertinent video-based courses, yearly live seminars, monthly award-winning magazines and weekly podcasts that explore the current issues and challenges that are unique to therapists from all types of disciplines.
Further qualifications include knowledge and experience that has been gained through acquiring 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, Original Hot Stone Massage: Advanced Training from LaStone Therapy, Emotional Release Practitionership in the French Release Work Method from The Unicorn Foundation and Official Ordination as Reverend of Body-Mind Spiritual Practices from Universal Life Church.
I am currently pursuing my PhD Doctorate, specializing in Applied Metaphysics for Hypnotherapy, from The Institute of Metaphysical Humanistic Science.
Visit the Official Website at: https://ReginaRichardson.com
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