Professional Organizations and Associations
Below are listed some of the primary professional organizations and associations of the massage therapy profession.
American Massage Therapy Association®
The American Massage Therapy Association® represents more than 55,000 massage therapists in 27 countries. The AMTA works to establish massage therapy as integral to the maintenance of good health and complementary to other therapeutic processes; to advance the profession through ethics and standards, certification, school accreditation, continuing education, professional publications, legislative efforts, public education, and fostering the development of members.
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
The National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) is the only national certifying group of massage therapists in the United States. Board Certification is the highest voluntary credential attainable in the massage therapy and bodywork profession indicating a distinct level of achievement beyond entry-level licensure—including completing more education, hands-on experience, and a background check. Currently, over 34 U.S. states use it as a requirement for their state license. For a complete description of what this certification means to you, the consumer, read the NCBTMB Consumer Information guide here.
International Association of Healthcare Practitioners®
The International Association of Healthcare Practitioners® (IAHP) is a league of healthcare professionals dedicated to the use and exploration of innovative therapies. The organization was formed to provide a united voice in the field of complementary healthcare-one heard by legislative bodies, insurance regulators, the public, and other healthcare providers. Its founder is John E. Upledger, who originated and developed the CranioSacral Therapy modality.
IAHP members include medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, doctors of chiropractic, doctors of Oriental medicine, naturopathic physicians, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, dentists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, speech and language therapists, massage therapists and other professional bodyworkers.
The American CranioSacral Therapy Association
The American CranioSacral Therapy Association (ACSTA) is a professional member organization dedicated to the research, development and advancement of the science, art and practice of CranioSacral Therapy as defined by developer John E. Upledger, DO, OMM. It is the only craniosacral association recognized and endorsed by Dr. Upledger and The Upledger Institute. Membership is open to all CranioSacral Therapy practitioners and proponents of the modality.
