1958 – American Association of Masseurs Masseuses (AAMM) becomes American Massage and Therapy Association (AM&TA)
1983 – AMTA removes the & to become AMTA
“The “&” was dropped in 1983, reinforcing the identity of the unified profession as massage therapy. The term therapy was defined generally as promoting good health and encompassed the whole range of applications envisioned by Ling over a century earlier. The title massage therapist was readily understood by the general public, and helped give the field legitimacy as a health profession. ” Patricia Benjamin. Brush up on the history of the massage profession.”
1983 : M. Hungerford, the National Education Director of AMTA at the time, initiated the Membership Entrance Exam (MEE) as a means for people to test into the AMTA. Membership into AMTA required massage therapists to have graduated from an AMTA approved school. At the time there were only 15 approved schools in the US making it difficult to attend. The MME was created to test incoming members who were unable to attend an AMTA approved school. The MEE was not a psychometrically valid exam. It required a hands on test which was difficult to administer as testing was subjective. (From May 1993 Action Item: Examination of the AMTA Membership Entrance Exam submitted by: Kate Jeffery).
1988 – A revised mission statement was adopted: “The mission of the American Massage Therapy Association is to develop and advance the art, science and practice of massage therapy in a caring, professional and ethical manner in order to promote the health and welfare of humanity.” archive.org
AMTA Leadership: Robert K. King 1986-1990 President.
1989: The intentions of the exam changed from being an AMTA entrance exam to a national exam. (From May 1993 Action Item: Examination of the AMTA Membership Entrance Exam submitted by: Kate Jeffery).
April 1989: Sixty massage therapists signed and sent a joint initiative to AMTA to halt the certification process until more information could be gathered on its necessity for the profession; this request was rejected by AMTA. AMTA Hands On. Winter 1989
1988: The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) officially authorized and funded the National Certification Program for Massage Therapists. AMTA loaned $150,000 to create the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) and a steering committee, with the money paid back by the end of 1996. At this time, there was no research conducted to determine if such a certification was needed for the profession. Hands On Fall 1989
December 1989: A Steering Committee was appointed for the National Certification Program for Massage Therapists by the AMTA National Board of Directors. Over 2,000 “Update” report cards, representing a 23% response, were returned by December 5, 1989, regarding interest in certification. . AMTA Hands On. Winter 1989
1989: AMTA creates the Commission for Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA)
In 1980, AMTA had only 1,400 members, but grew to 8,500 by 1990 archive.org
1990: AMTA created the National Certification Board for Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) See also:: The History of NCBTMB
1990 – First AMTA Executive Director hired in October, 1990 archive.org
January 1990: AMTA voted to have members remove the word “certified” from their membership certificates, replacing it with “this is to verify that (Name) is an active member…”. Hands On. 1990
December 1990: “A National Study of the Profession of Massage Therapy/Bodywork” (the Job Analysis Report) was conducted by Knapp and Associates for the Council of National Certification Program for Massage Therapists. This report aimed to establish a valid national credential, enhance professional respect, and provide self-regulatory guidance.
1990 – Massage Therapy Foundation created by AMTA to further research in the massage profession.
1990s – AMTA saw the need to be an ever more important voice to protect the interests of massage therapists and to ensure protection of the public. AMTA became an influential force advocating for and representing the massage therapy profession. Governmental bodies, leaders in healthcare and national and local news media increasingly turned to AMTA as the resource on massage and as the organization that represents the profession. The association developed ongoing contacts with and often fruitful relationships with medical associations (including the American Medical Association), and many governmental agencies. In the 90s, AMTA provided testimony to national presidential and congressional bodies that gathered information on the efficacy of massage and the standards for the profession. In the first decade of the 21st century, AMTA made great strides in building relationships with the healthcare community, and specifically with government and professional organizations within health care. It sought to improve opportunities for massage therapists who choose to work in health care and positively impact public health and policy through information about the benefits of massage therapy. The association began providing regular information to government agencies and healthcare associations about the benefits of massage, supported by a growing body of research. archive.org
1992 – A Strategic Plan was first established in 1992 to guide AMTA’s direction, and the volunteer leadership has updated it frequently to keep plans current with rapidly-changing issues in the profession. AMTA Bylaws were reformed and streamlined. Chapter Relations Program was established in 1992 to support chapter officers, by providing them with information, training and other services. archive.org
1993: AMTA proposes that they drop the MEE and phase it out by Dec 1994. They sent a survey to 120 members in New Hampshire and 18 people responded. (From May 1993 Action Item: Examination of the AMTA Membership Entrance Exam submitted by: Kate Jeffery).
Elliot D. Greene 1990-1994 AMTA National President
November 1994: The NCBTMB incorporated separately from the AMTA.
1994 – After California earthquakes in 1994, the association began organizing means for its members to offer massage to responders after disasters. This became formalized as the Massage Emergency Response Team® (MERT®), implemented through AMTA chapters. MERT responders volunteered to provide massage to workers following floods, storms and other natural disasters. archive.org
April 1995 – The Washington State legislature adopted the every category of provider mandate in RCW 48.43.045. The statute was to be effective January 1, 1996. This set the precedent that massage could be covered by health insurance. It was created because the WA Insurance Commissioner at the time, Deborah Senn made it so. She had an assistant, Lori Belinski now Lori Grassi who was a massage therapist. See the full history of integration and the timeline of events ending in a Supreme Court Decision making it so.
End of 1996: The initial $150,000 loan from AMTA to create the NCBTMB was fully paid back.
1996 – A Policy Manual was developed. archive.org
Virginia H. Anthony-Barrow 1994-1996 AMTA National President
Scott P. Lamp 1996-1997. AMTA National President
E. Houston LeBrun 1997-1998. AMTA National President
1997 – AMTA began promoting National Massage Therapy Awareness Week® as a means to better inform the news media and the public about the efficacy of massage and the professionalism of AMTA massage therapists. The association built National Massage Therapy Awareness Week (NMTAW) into the most effective campaign to educate the public about massage therapy. archive.org
1997 – AMTA also commissioned the first annual consumer survey on attitudes and usage of massage therapy. The results of the survey are released annually and have become the most consistent gauge of massage usage and consumer attitudes on massage. archive.org
1997 – Launch of AMTA’s Web site. archive.org
August 1999: Representatives from various state massage regulatory agencies met to establish the National Alliance of State Massage Therapy Boards (NASMTB) which eventually led to the creation of FSMTB. See also: the history of FSMTB
Adela T. Basayne 1998-1999. AMTA National President
Adela Basayne, President
Houston LeBrun, Immediate Past President
Maureen Miller, President Elect
Maureen A. Moon (Miller) 1999-2000. AMTA National President
Oct 1999 – Membership reaches 37,000
Membership numbers and categories grew through the years. In 1946, the only two membership categories were Active and Honorary. Associate Members were admitted in 1961, Student Members in 1966, Auxiliary Members in 1973, and an International Status category was added in 1987. With only 1,400 members in 1980 and 4,500 in 1986, growing to 8,500 in 1990 and 22,500 in 1994, the AMTA has expanded to more than 37,000 today. archive.org
Dec. 1999 – AMTA Bylaws
Steven C. Olson 2000-2001. AMTA National President.
2001 – AMTA began supporting the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC), whose mission is to direct the national healthcare agenda towards a health-orientated, integrated system, ensuring all people access to safe and regulated conventional, complementary, and alternative healthcare professionals. The association then became a member of the Academic Consortium of Complementary and Alternative (ACCAHC), created out of IHPC to provide a network of national CAM educational organizations and agencies to promote mutual understanding, collaborative activities and interdisciplinary healthcare education. archive.org
Oct, 2001 – Survey Confirms: Massage Increasingly Sought for Health and Medical Reasons and Healthcare Providers Referring More Patients (archive.org)
2001 – After the devastating events of September 11, 2001 AMTA members showed their commitment to service and well-being through MERT. Hundreds of AMTA members volunteered through MERT to provide massage to responders at the sites in New York City, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. AMTA and its chapters coordinated efforts with the American Red Cross, the Pentagon and the FBI, bringing massage relief for months to those who worked first to save survivors and then to those responsible for cleanup. After this experience, the association shifted MERT coordination directly to its chapters, to ensure quick, locally-oriented responses to disasters. archive.org
Carolyn Talley Porter 2001-2002. AMTA National President
2002 – AMTA has held an annual Chapter Volunteer Orientation Program (CVOP) near the National Office to train chapter leaders on their volunteer responsibilities.
2002 – AMTA contributed a report on massage to the White House Commission on CAM Policy. It reached out to the American Medical Association (AMA) to work toward future clarity on use of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes for massage therapy and partnered with representatives of the American Hospital Association to research the use of massage therapy in hospitals. AMTA now has a representative to the AMA on its CPT Health Care Professional’s Advisory Committee. This gives the association representation on the committee to review CPT codes associated with massage therapy. It also ensures AMTA is consulted when codes are edited or introduced that relate to massage therapy. Ongoing relationships with national organizations like the National Institutes of Health have allowed AMTA to reach important audiences who impact health care. archive.org
2003 – AMTA Future Directions https://web.archive.org/web/20040803112905/http://www.amtamassage.org/about/AMTAfuture.html
The National Board of Directors of the American Massage Therapy Association spent the past year analyzing the association’s goals, processes and programs. They reflected on the association’s history, where they feel the profession should go in the future, how massage is currently viewed by the public and how they want the public to view it. The AMTA National Board acknowledged and studied information gathered about all of AMTA’s stakeholders – practitioner members, massage schools and educators, researchers, state governments and regulators, the healthcare community, employers, and the public.
Because of the way AMTA is structured and organized, it is bound not only by its own core ideology, but by some legal requirements. It is required to promote the common interests of the massage therapy profession. AMTA must work to improve the business condition of the industry in general, as well as the interests of its members. That is the association’s responsibility as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit association.
During AMTA’s 60th anniversary celebration in Richmond, VA in October 2003, their member-elected National Board approved AMTA’s Future Directions. This decision includes descriptions of AMTA’s core ideology, its envisioned future and their updated strategic plan. These three beacons provide direction to the future of both AMTA and the profession for the long and short term.
Acknowledging that AMTA is incorporated to advance the profession, the Board agreed that:
- Its Mission, Core Purpose and Core Values represent AMTA’s Core Ideology
- AMTA’s Big Goal and Vivid Description represent AMTA’s Envisioned Future
- Goals, Objectives, Fiscal Year ‘04/05 strategies represent AMTA’s Strategic Plan.
How did the Board arrive at the Core Ideology?
What are AMTA’s Big Goal and Vivid Description?During the summer of 2003 the draft ideology, envisioned future and strategic plan were posted online for members’ and other stakeholders’ comments. There was overwhelming agreement with the intended direction. Following this feedback, the Board assigned a workgroup of volunteers to review individual comments, to tabulate results and to craft final recommended statements for the Board’s approval. Those statements were approved and became effective in October 2003.
AMTA used a planning model that looks at four planning horizons:5 – 10 years for the critical factors
3 – 5 years for strategic planning
1 – 2 years for action planning
It is the AMTA National Board’s intent to annually review issues impacting the profession and the association, to fine tune the current strategic plan. Every three to five years input from stakeholders will be requested and used in shaping a new strategic plan.
As it has for the past 60 years, AMTA’s work on behalf of the profession and its members will continue to provide leadership to the whole profession.
Brenda L. Griffith 2002-2004. AMTA National President
2003- AMTA Representative Appointed to AMA CPT Committee
Evanston, IL – The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has received confirmation of its nominee, Whitney W. Lowe, NCTMB, as a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) CPT Health Care Professional Advisory Committee (HCPAC). His term is effective immediately and will expire June 2006.
2004 -COMTA officially separated from AMTA
2004 -The mission statement was again updated to reflect the focus of the association – “The mission of the American Massage Therapy Association is to serve AMTA members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy.”
2004 – AMTA finalized a process to publicly express the views of the association on aspects of massage therapy through official statements. The process empowers AMTA members to research and propose position statements that would express the position of AMTA on these matters. Proposals are reviewed for accuracy and clarity, and presented for debate by the AMTA House of Delegates (HOD). If a position statement is approved by the HOD, it immediately becomes the official view of the association. archive.org
The HOD approved the first AMTA position statement in 2006, “It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association that massage therapy can be effective for stress relief.” By the close of the decade a total of six position statements had been approved by the association.
2004 – Volunteer Connections. Starting with an online volunteer database in 2004, AMTA created a formalized program in 2008 to organize this spirit of giving in productive ways. archive.org
2005 – Katrina and Rita touched many lives, including AMTA members. After the storms, AMTA provided a Practitioner Member Rebuilding Kit to help members whose practices were destroyed by the storms. Members in the affected areas were offered membership dues relief or sent the Rebuilding Kit of products donated by leading companies, to help them get started again. The association also opened its online Career Center to all, offering free listings for open massage therapist jobs throughout the country and for members to post their resumes. archive.org
2005 – A Volunteer Development Program was begun to match the skills and time commitments of potential volunteers with work AMTA needs at the national and chapter levels. archive.org
2005 – AMTA began occasional advertising on major internet search engines Google.com and Yahoo.com. The following year, the board of directors voted to expand advertising to consumers through major national magazine ads and websites and search engines. AMTA now has ongoing advertising on Google.com. The advertising program immediately boosted users of AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist® national locator service by 73 percent and members began to hear from new clients who had seen AMTA’s ads. archive.org
2005 – AMTA Discusses Education Standards with Invited Guests (archive.org)
New Board, National Committee Chairs Complete Orientation Evanston, IL – The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) held a half-day discussion March 12 on the importance of having a recognized set of baseline education standards for the massage therapy profession. Included in the discussion were representatives from 15 AMTA Chapters and 11 invited guests who have a history of involvement in the major developments of the profession and knowledge of the key components of massage therapy education, accreditation and regulation. [See attached list of invited guests]
Full Press Release: Ron Precht.
AMTA Discusses Education Standards with Invited Guests – https://web.archive.org/web/20060302173010/http://www.amtamassage.org/news/032505.html
New Board, National Committee Chairs Complete Orientation
Evanston, IL – The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) held a half-day discussion March 12 on the importance of having a recognized set of baseline education standards for the massage therapy profession. Included in the discussion were representatives from 15 AMTA Chapters and 11 invited guests who have a history of involvement in the major developments of the profession and knowledge of the key components of massage therapy education, accreditation and regulation. [See attached list of invited guests]
“The more we discussed the question,” said AMTA President Mary Beth Braun, “the more it was clear why AMTA needed to host this discussion. We heard many points of view and had a very frank discussion of the issues involved in both education standards and in determining a scope of practice for the profession.”
In preparation for the meeting AMTA compiled background information on the body of knowledge needed to practice, the nature of both accreditation and education standards, and how standards are viewed in other professions. The decision to hold this first meeting derived from legislative conversations with the National Certification Board, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA), Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), and discussions with other USDE-recognized accrediting agencies of massage institutions and programs. Several agencies had advised that, while COMTA has established its own accrediting standards, the profession doesn’t appear to have a set of agreed-upon education standards that can be used as a baseline for education of entry level or advanced beginner massage therapists.
This meeting was a first step in a process that AMTA expects will broaden the participants involved in establishing the massage therapy profession’s baseline education standards. The attendees decided that there is no thorough, comprehensive scope of practice for the field and that the Body of Knowledge needed to practice is not consistent or articulated. Based on a consensus of the group, AMTA’s Board of Directors agreed that AMTA will serve as the catalyst for a larger industry meeting designed to develop a plan for the creation of a massage therapy Body of Knowledge, to include core terminology, scope of practice and baseline competencies. AMTA also agreed to provide resources needed to support this initiative.
AMTA will invite representatives from NCBTMB, COMTA and the Massage Therapy Foundation to join its representative in organizing a project team to plan future discussion on the issues. The team also will develop a broad list of other stakeholders to invite to further discussion.
Governance Highlights March AMTA Board Meeting
AMTA’s March Board of Directors meeting was preceded by a day of orientation for board members and a day of national leadership training. The orientation was designed to help Board members review their responsibilities and volunteersunderstand AMTA processes and how they can be most effective in their roles as national volunteers.
Also preceding the meeting was an open house at AMTA’s National Office for national leaders, visiting chapter leaders and industry representatives. The visit gave many their first glimpse at AMTA’s new office (as of September 2004) and provided opportunities for them to meet with staff, who assist volunteers in their work for the association.
At its meeting on Saturday and Sunday, the Board accepted recommendations from the Planning Committee to more clearly define aspects of AMTA’s volunteer workforce structure that should make the association more nimble and better able to wisely use its resources, especially human resources. The Board also revised its investment strategies to include a mix of long term, medium term and short term investments. Long term investments are for association needs projected for 6 to 10 years in the future. At the same time, the Board re-evaluated its long-time policy of how much money to keep in reserve and reduced the requirement from 75% of operating expenses to 65%. The figure of 75% had been developed when the association was small, yet rapidly growing. At that time, it was determined that good business practice indicted the larger reserve might be necessary to protect AMTA from unforeseen financial difficulties. Based on outside, volunteer and staff recommendations, the Board feels the 65% reserve is sufficient and that it will allow the association to use the released funds to invest in delivering more value to AMTA members.
AMTA’s Board of Directors will have its next face-to-face meeting in June 2005, immediately following their retreat. Each year the Board holds a retreat to review the association’s year end performance, the strategic plan, the organization’s support and role in the direction of the profession and how to provide more value to members. These discussions guide the Board’s future decisions.
###
AMTA Mega Issue Discussion
How important is it for the profession to have a recognized set of baseline national education standards? If it is important to have such standards, what should be AMTA’s role in their development?
March 12, 2005 – Invited Guests:
Barbara Bollmann, Boulder College of Massage Therapy
Nancy Dail, Downeast School of Massage
Mary Ann DiRoberts, Muscular Therapy Institute
Bob King, Chicago School of Massage Therapy
Steve Kitts, Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy
Ruth Marion, Health Works Institute
Michael Martin, Georgia Career Institute
Carole Ostendorf, Lakeside School of Massage Therapy
Dawn Schmidt, COMTA Commissioner
Bob Lehnberg, NCBTMB
Elizabeth McIntyre, NCBTMB
Mary Beth Braun 2005-2007 -AMTA National President
Feb 2005 – AMTA Massage CPT Code Proposal to be Reworked
Evanston, IL (February 8, 2005) – The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has withdrawn its first proposal to the American Medical Association (AMA) requesting two new evaluation and re-evaluation insurance codes be added to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code book. The chair of the Healthcare Professionals Advisory Committee (AMA HCPAC), recommended AMTA revisit the proposal, because it “did not demonstrate that the clinical efficacy of the service/procedure had been well documented.” Therefore, AMTA’s Special Committee on CPT codes will be developing an action plan to meet criteria for a revised recommendation to HCPAC.
2005 – Profession Has Yet to Define Medical Massage Says AMTA
(Evanston, IL – April 22, 2005) – The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Board of Directors is writing to state boards regulating massage therapy advising them that the massage therapy profession has not yet agreed upon a definition of the term ‘medical massage’. The association believes that information on this term and the issues surrounding it are unclear for massage therapists, massage schools, regulators, employers, healthcare facilities and the public.
https://web.archive.org/web/20051026071741/http://www.amtamassage.org/about/standards.html
Standards of Practice Document:
Purpose Statement: These American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Standards of Practice were developed to assist the professional massage therapist to:
- provide safe, consistent care
- determine the quality of care provided
- provide a common base to develop a practice
- support/preserve the basic rights of the client and professional massage therapist
- assist the public to understand what to expect from a professional massage therapist
This document allows the professional massage therapist to evaluate and adapt performance in his/her massage/bodywork practice. The professional massage therapist can evaluate the quality of his/her practice by utilizing the Standards of Practice in conjunction with the Code of Ethics, the Bylaws and Policies of AMTA, and precedents set by the AMTA Grievance, Standards, and Bylaws Committees.
2006/07 – Bylaws were reviewed and streamlined again to ensure efficient operations. archive.org
2006 – The HOD approved the first AMTA position statement: “It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association that massage therapy can be effective for stress relief.” By the close of the decade a total of six position statements had been approved by the association. archive.org
2006 – Job descriptions for volunteer positions began to be developed and approved by the national board. The association also began requiring volunteers to sign a code of conduct agreement to protect the volunteers and the association from legal risks, and to affirm that volunteers carry out their duties and responsibilities with care, loyalty and obedience. archive.org
March 21, 2006: The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) declared the National Certification Exam of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) legally defensible after another organization (FSMTB) questioned its constitutionality.
AMTA Believes Use of NCE in State Licensing is Legal (archive.org)
(Evanston, IL (March 21, 2006) — Recently, the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) announced its opinion that use of the National Certification Exam (NCE) as a necessary component for state licensing may be an unconstitutional delegation of authority by the state to an independent third party. As a result of the research and findings of the law firm of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, LLP, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is confident that state boards are legally within their rights to delegate administration of a massage exam as part of their licensing process.
May 2006– AMTA News Release. Ron Precht. AMTA Government Relations Program Aimed at Consistent Licensing https://web.archive.org/web/20080517121139/http://www.amtamassage.org/news/050806release.html
AMTA Government Relations Program Aimed at Consistent Licensing Evanston, IL (May 8, 2006) – The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has begun a centralized government relations program to seek fair and consistent licensure of massage therapy in all states. Through this program AMTA wants to work to overcome the current patchwork of massage therapy regulations and exemptions.
2006 – AMTA’s Board of Directors made a commitment to support the assembly of a body of knowledge for the profession. The association began a process to convene massage therapy stakeholders who regularly contribute to the profession’s body of knowledge through their use of commonly-recognized research techniques to participate in a body of knowledge study. The board determined that “for the profession to advance in recognition, acceptance, professional knowledge and practice, a more complete body of knowledge needs to be stated in clear and meaningful ways. We believe the profession can best accomplish that through this study.” See archive.org
January 2006 – AMTA released its first summary overview of the massage therapy industry, based on research from a wide variety of sources. Archive.org
January 2007, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) began hosting a series of four meetings to explore the possibility of the massage therapy profession’s leadership organizations working together to develop consensus around definitional and scope issues – what is typically called the Body of Knowledge (BOK) for a profession. This group, initially started by AMTA, was comprised of over a dozen entities that included bodies from the accreditation, certification, education, regulatory, advocacy and research arenas. In July of 2008, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) joined the group along with several organizations representing accreditation and other bodywork, movement and somatic disciplines. Today, key stakeholder organizations have chosen to move forward. The others elected to not participate in subsequent meetings. The groups that elected to discontinue participation have been kept apprised of the group’s progress and will have further opportunity for input at a later time.
The continuing participant organizations transitioned into an autonomous Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge Stewardship group comprised of representatives from each of the following six organizations: American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), AMTA-Council of Schools, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).”
2008 – Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge created which is a compendium of what an individual must know and/or be able to do, to successfully work in a specific field – massage therapy. Welcome to the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge Project. This effort has been guided under the direction of the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) Stewards. The MTBOK Stewards consist of representatives from the American Massage Therapy Association, AMTA-Council of Schools, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, Massage Therapy Foundation, and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
2008 and 2009 – Nearly 1,100 AMTA members volunteered for 118 service activities. The association has collaborated with major non-profit charities providing the gift of massage, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, American Heart Association, Special Olympics, American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Make-a-Wish Foundation. archive.org
Leena S. Guptha, D.O. 2007-2008. AMTA National President
See also: Developing, Maintaining, and Using a Body of Knowledge for the Massage Therapy Profession. A Body of Knowledge needs to be updated regularly.
2009 – AMTA conducted its election of its national board of directors via electronic vote, fostering member participation and making more information about candidates available to members. archive.org
June 30, 2009: News broke that the NCBTMB was launching a membership organization called the USA Massage Resource Association (USAMRA) to “strengthen the value of NCBTMB” by offering insurance and other benefits, automatically including its 91,000 certificants. They were also offering discounts on pizza and oil change services.
July 2009: The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) expressed “disappointment” in the NCBTMB’s decision to create a membership organization, stating it was not in the profession’s best interest and would erode the value of certification. The NCBTMB clarified that the news of USAMRA was “prematurely disclosed” and changed the name to USA Massage Resource Alliance (usaMRA).
Jan 2009 -AMTA – Announced that Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx), developed by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), is the best choice for a licensing exam that can lead to portability of massage practice… NOT the exam from the company they started and recommended, NCBTMB.
January 2009, the association released its annual research on the state of the profession at the schools conference and in February 2010, AMTA reorganized the event to be a Schools Summit. The Summit attracted a record number of attendees and focused on how massage schools are affected by the economy and changes in the profession. archive.org
2009 – AMTA provided more than $500,000 to support research and the work of the MTF and more than $4 million from 2000 through 2009. archive.org
M.K. Brennan 2008-2009. AMTA National President
Judy Stahl 2009-2010. AMTA National President
Kathleen Miller-Read 2010-2011. AMTA National President
2010 : Section 2706 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 promises “non-discrimination in health care.” The provision was lobbied by the American Chiropractic Association and the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) and championed by U.S. Senators Tom Harkin and Barbara Mikulski, MD. The intention was to honor citizen choice by broadening access to non-MD providers. Of greatest interest to Harkin and the duo lobbying organizations are those classified as licensed complementary and alternative medicine practitioners. AMTA fails to act.
Glenath Moyle 2011-2012. AMTA National President
Cynthia Ribeiro 2012-2013. AMTA National President
2013: AMTA eliminated chapter fees thereby reducing the abilities of the chapters to work autonomously.
Winona F. Bontrager 2013-2014. AMTA National President
2014 -Entry Level Analysis Project recommends minimum required competencies for entry level massage therapists. www.elapmasssage.org The Entry-Level Analysis Project (ELAP) is a research project initiated by the Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations in March 2012. The project goals were to define knowledge and skill components of entry-level education and recommend the minimum number of hours schools should teach to prepare graduates for safe and competent practice in the massage profession. Completed in December of 2013. AMTA
Except now AMTA says this about the ELAP:
“While AMTA continues to support the general content of the ELAP report, we have never endorsed or supported the 625-hour recommendation. As FSMTB is aware, having also participated in ELAP, the original findings recommended well over 625 hours of massage therapy education. AMTA strongly objected to this number, as it disregarded the evidence-based findings, which conflicts with our core values and even in the words of the ELAP work group, “We encourage interested parties to focus less upon the total hours and more on recommended subject matter and subtopics.” We do not believe that there is an empirical basis for the 625-hour threshold.” AMTA OK Website article.
June 5 2014 : AMTA signs letter from IHPC with other people/organizations on the 2706 issue.
Section 2706 was one of the strongest federal footholds massage therapy ever had for insurance integration — and it was underutilized.
It could have been:
- A coordinated national credentialing campaign
- A state insurance commissioner pressure strategy
- A data collection enforcement effort
- A stepping stone toward Medicare inclusion
Instead, it became largely dormant.
October 3, 2014, NCBTMB and FSMTB signed a collaborative agreement. This agreement stated that, as of November 1, 2014, NCBTMB would no longer offer its NCETM and NCETMB licensure exams to the public. Moving forward, NCBTMB supports FSMTB’s MBLEx as the country’s entry level licensure examination.
Jeff Smoot 2015-2016. AMTA National President
2015 – Massage Therapy Portability. Regulations should provide options for portability of massage therapy credentials. Position Statement.
It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that regulations, in statute and/or rules, should provide options for portability of credentials, which can be used to help meet the licensing, certification, or registration requirements of massage therapists across the United States.
2015 – AMTA HOD passes a proposal that AMTA create a Human Trafficking Task force. AMTA National rejected the proposal.
IN Recommendation: Human Trafficking HOD Minutes
The House of Delegates recommends to the Board of Directors that a work group
or operations committee be established to research and recommend a plan that
the American Massage Therapy Association can use to develop support material
and create a guide for working with Homeland Security, the Human Trafficking
Task Force, and other organizations working on Human Trafficking.
Total for: 85
Weighted for: 29,997
Total against: 51
Weighted against: 23,204
Requires majority weighted at: 26,778
The following is a recap report of the 2015 AMTA National Convention House of Delegates Meeting that was held in Pittsburgh, PA in August.
Recommendation: Indiana Chapter – Human Trafficking
Therefore be it resolved, that the House of Delegates recommend to the National Board of Directors that a work group or operations committee be established to research and recommend a plan that the American Massage Therapy Association can use to develop support material and create a guide for working with Homeland Security, the Human Trafficking Task Force, and other organizations working on human trafficking.
Discussion and debate on this Recommendation was very emotional on the floor. The majority of the Delegates speaking on the Floor were in support (PRO) for passing this Recommendation. Our MA Delegates, Regine Ryder and Kate Peck were in line to speak on the PRO side, however, time ran out, and Regine made a motion to extend debate, which was not approved.
HOD Vote Results: This Recommendation PASSED, with a majority vote. This Recommendation will now go to the National Board of Directors for review and action.
2017: AMTA Fact Sheet reports: “Massage therapists and consumers favor the integration of massage into health care.
- Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans (64 percent) would like to see their insurance cover massage therapy.4
- The vast majority of massage therapists (97 percent) believe massage therapy should be considered part of the health care field.”
Nathan Nordstrom 2016-2017. AMTA National President.
2018: The most profound change occurred between 2017 and 2018, when the House of Delegates was replaced by the Assembly of Delegates (AOD). Unlike the HOD, which had the power to pass binding resolutions, the AOD was relegated to an advisory role. Delegates now “discuss and debate” position statements, but the final decision-making power rests entirely with the National Board of Directors.
Dolly Wallace 2017-2018. AMTA National President
| Governance Body | Role and Authority | Member Influence Level |
| House of Delegates (Pre-2017) | Decision-making body; passed resolutions affecting the association. | High: Direct voting on national policy. |
| Assembly of Delegates (Post-2018) | Advisory body; forwards discussion notes to the Board. | Low: Advisory only; final authority with the Board. |
| National Board of Directors | Exercises all powers; manages financial and strategic direction. | Concentrated: Power shifted from delegates to the Board. |
This restructuring mirrors a common evolution in non-profit management, where organizations transition from a “volunteer-led” model to a “staff-run” model. While this transition is often framed as a necessity for organizational growth, it frequently results in the marginalization of the founding volunteer base, as critical choices about “control, operations, money, and mission impact” are transferred to professional executives.
In the decade between 2012 and 2024, the AMTA’s revenue grew from $13.3 million to $22.7 million. This growth has been driven largely by program services, with membership dues accounting for over $18 million of total revenue in 2024.
| Fiscal Year | Total Revenue | Total Assets | Net Assets/Fund Balances |
| 2012 | $13,300,000 | (Not available) | (Not available) |
| 2016 | (Not available) | $22,500,000 | (Not available) |
| 2023 | $20,900,000 | (Not available) | (Not available) |
| 2024 | $22,691,933 | $46,741,102 | $29,736,812 |
While the organization is in sound financial health, the disparity between member income and executive compensation has become a point of contention. The median income for a massage therapist in the U.S. remains relatively modest, yet AMTA’s top leadership receives compensation packages that rival those of executives in much larger medical associations.
Joan Nichols 2018-2019. AMTA National President
Analysis of Executive Compensation
In 2024, the total compensation for key officers and directors reached $1,648,225, accounting for 7.3% of the organization’s total expenses. William Brown, the Executive Director until May 2023, received compensation totaling nearly $450,000. Other high-level executives, including the CEO and General Counsel, receive salaries in the $300,000+ range.
| Name / Position | Base Salary | Other Compensation | Total (approx.) |
| William Brown (Executive Director until May 2023) | $436,249 | $13,656 | $449,905 |
| Lisa Stegink (CEO & General Counsel starting May 2023 | $323,938 | $39,185 | $363,123 |
| Jeffery Flom (CEO) starting May 2023 | $284,986 | $40,609 | $325,595 |
| Department Directors (Avg.) | $150,000+ | (Varies) | $150,000 – $191,000 |
In contrast to these executive salaries, the AMTA reported giving $598,997 in grants and scholarships in 2024. This amount, which supports the Massage Therapy Foundation and student scholarships, is notably lower than the combined compensation of the top three executives. Critics argue that a member-driven organization would prioritize more direct reinvestment into the profession rather than sustaining a high-cost administrative elite.
The shift to a staff-driven model has also affected the quality of member benefits, particularly liability insurance. ABMP membership includes individual coverage of $2 million per incident and $6 million per year for each therapist.1 In contrast, the AMTA’s insurance model utilizes a “shared member aggregate” or master limit, which means that the total coverage is shared among all members.1 Critics argue that a truly member-driven organization would prioritize the individual security of its practitioners over the cost-savings of a shared corporate policy.1
Christopher Deery 2019-2020. AMTA National President.
2020 – The Interstate Massage Compact was created after a few years of research and input from a technical advisory group along with funding from the DOD and support from CSG and managed by the Federation of Massage State boards.
Angela Barker 2020-2021. AMTA National President
Steve Albertson 2021-2022. AMTA National President
Michaele M. Colizza 2022-2023. AMTA National President
Christine Bailor-Goodlander 2023-2024. AMTA National President
Kimberly Kane-Santos 2024-2025.AMTA National President
Aug. 2024 The AOD passed their discussion on creating a stronger mentorship program and sent it to the National Board.
03/2025 – Their election report shows that “Tellers Report. Total Number of Eligible Professional Member Voters – 93,273
Total Number of Voters – 3,290
Percentage of Eligible Voters Participating – 3.5%
Percentage of Voters Approving the Board Slate – 94.5%”
Taken together, these numbers often point to a structure where:
- Governance is centralized
- Leadership is internally selected
- The majority of members are passive participants
Many professional associations operate this way. It is not unusual. But it does raise questions about whether the organization is functioning as a member-driven professional body or more as an administrative organization that provides services.
2025 – AMTA Announces it is creating Standards of Practice. (See also: Standards of Practice from 2005)
Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993-American Massage Therapy Association A Notice by the Antitrust Division on 08/18/2025
January 1, 2026
Five states have enacted the original compact.
January 14, 2026
National Center for Interstate Compacts announces revised compact language after collaborating with AMTA. FSMTB declines to participate in revision discussions.
2026 – AMTA Revised Compact Released
Key changes supported in revision:
- Allows therapists with two years’ experience to qualify even if under 625 hours
- Expands recognition of earlier national exams
- Modifies governance language regarding commission authority
Result:
The compact now has two versions circulating — original enacted language and revised model language — requiring previously enacted states to amend statutes to align with revisions. Legislators are left confused and are being misinformed of the details.
Full details of the event are here in a Google Doc.
03/02/2026 – Still no progress from National on the status of their mentorship program.