What is the NCETM?
The national massage certification is called the NCETM. What is it all about? National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork administers the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) to massage therapists who have completed coursework and hands-on instruction in an accredited massage therapy program. The exam is a prerequisite for licensure in certain states or localities, including some cities and counties. The NCETM is organized into five sections: General Knowledge of the Body Systems; Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology; Pathology; Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork–Assessment; Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork–Application; and Professional Standards, Ethics, and Business and Legal Practices.
The General Knowledge of the Body Systems portion of the NCETM contains questions about the:
- Integumentary
- Skeletal
- Muscular
- Nervous
- Endocrine
- Cardiovascular
- Lymphatic
- Urinary
- Respiratory
- Gastrointestinal
- Reproductive, and energetic (chakras, meridians, etc.) systems
- Medical terminology.
Nineteen percent of the test focuses on Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology. This section contains questions on anatomy such as muscular groups, attachments, and fiber direction; tendons; connective tissue; ligaments; joint structure; and meridians. Also included are questions on physiology such as physical response to stress, nutrition, and the connection between the mind and body. Kinesiology questions are on individual muscle actions, muscular contraction, and movement patterns.
The Pathology section, 13 percent of the test, is composed of questions about:
- Etiology
- Contagions
- Terminology
- Emotional states
- Life stages
- The effects of trauma
- Physiological healing
- Acute and chronic illness and pain
- Terminal illness
- Drug interactions
- Supplements
- Eastern and Western medical approaches.
The section on Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork–Assessment is another 16 percent of the NCETM. This section addresses questions about sensory, energetic, and intuitive assessment methods, as well as range-of-motion and somatic assessments. The section on Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork–Application is assigned 24 percent of the exam. The questions in this section involve theory, methods, and massage and stretching techniques.
The final section, Professional Standards, Ethics, and Business and Legal Practices, is 12 percent of the NCETM. These questions are concerned with professional boundaries, communication, client referral, legal parameters, record keeping, business practices, and the code of ethics.
Free sample test questions are available to help familiarize oneself with the NCETM.