May 29, 2026
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) and the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) are pleased to announce a collaborative effort to ensure the continued quality and integrity of massage education as NCBTMB sunsets its Assigned School Program.
Moving forward, NCBTMB will focus on its core strengths—Board Certification and its Approved Provider Program—while fully supporting COMTA’s leadership in school accreditation and curriculum endorsement. This partnership underscores each organization’s commitment to uphold the highest standards in the profession.
As part of this transition, NCBTMB will no longer accept new school applications for the Assigned School Program beginning June 3, 2026. Current Assigned Schools will maintain their status through their expiration dates. Applicants from Assigned Schools who possess a state massage license will remain eligible to sit for the NCBTMB exam. For those in unlicensed states, NCBTMB staff will provide support to ensure continued access to the exam.
NCBTMB encourages all schools to consider COMTA accreditation and/or curriculum endorsement, highlighting the many benefits and the supportive community they will join. Both organizations are united in their shared mission to serve as pillars of the massage therapy profession, fostering excellence in education and practice.
For more information, please contact: Shelly Johnson, CEO, NCBTMB or Dawn Hogue, Executive Director, COMTA.
About NCBTMB The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) is dedicated to advancing the highest standards in the massage therapy profession through Board Certification and its Approved Provider program.
About COMTA The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) is recognized for its commitment to quality in massage therapy education through rigorous accreditation and curriculum endorsement programs.