Are you ever confused by the acronyms and groups involved in the massage therapy profession? Then this guide is for you!

Disclaimer: The information provided on these pages is intended for reference purposes only. It does not imply endorsement or support of any particular views, opinions, products, or services. Readers are encouraged to independently verify the accuracy and relevance of the information presented and make their own informed decisions.

National Associations (alphabetically)

ABMP

Name: Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals

Location: Colorado

About: "Our business philosophy is summed up by our credo: expect more. ABMP members receive the most responsive, knowledgeable service and a comprehensive package of member benefits that includes free CE hours, dozens of member discounts, a free business website, the award-winning Massage & Bodywork magazine, dedicated legislative advocacy, and more."

Founding Date: 1987

Link: www.abmp.com

AFMTE

Name: Alliance for Massage Therapy Education

Location: Georgia

About: "Our vision is to advance the therapeutic massage and bodywork professions by strengthening and elevating educational practices and standards through supporting, credentialing, and engaging educators."

Founding Date: 2009

Link: www.afmte.org

AMTA

Name: American Massage Therapy Association

Location: Illinois

Mission statement: "To serve AMTA members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy."

Founding Date: 1943

Link: www.amtamassage.org

AOBTA

Name: American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia

Location: Pennsylvania

About: "AOBTA® is the only national professional association for the Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) profession. We protect, promote, and serve the ABT profession and its students, educators and practitioners."

Founding Date: 1989

Link: www.aobta.org

COMTA

Name: Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation

Location: Virginia

About: "COMTA elevates and upholds standards of excellence in massage therapy/bodywork and esthetics education through specialized accreditation, benefiting students and schools, practitioners, and the public."

Founding Date: 2002

Link: www.comta.org

FSMTB

Name: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards

Location: Kansas

About: "The mission of the Federation is to support its Member Boards in their work to ensure that the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public safely and competently."

Founding Date: 2005

Link: www.fsmtb.org

MTF

Name: Massage Therapy Foundation

Location: Illinois

About: "Our vision is to advance the therapeutic massage and bodywork professions by strengthening and elevating educational practices and standards through supporting, credentialing, and engaging educators."

Founding Date: 1990

Link: www.massagetherapyfoundation.org

NCBTMB

Name: National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork

Location: Illinois

About: "Through its accredited status, NCBTMB creates, promotes, and sustains a culture in which the highest quality of professional credentialing and standards are advanced in the massage therapy profession."

Founding Date: 1992

Link: www.ncbtmb.org

USOLMT

Name: United States Organization of Licensed Massage Therapists

Location: Arizona

About: "At USOLMT, our mission is to empower, support, and advocate for massage therapists, while reimagining the way we do business in massage therapy."

Founding Date: 2020

Link: www.usolmt.com

Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations

About: A meeting of ABMP, AFMTE, AMTA, COMTA, FSMTB, MTF, and NCBTMB.

The Coalition does not have a webpage.

Link to the most recent public report (December 2015): https://comta.org/coalition-of-natl-massage-organizations-update/

Research Related

IJTMB

International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

About: "The International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB) is an open access, peer-reviewed publication intended to accommodate the diverse needs of the rapidly-expanding therapeutic massage and bodywork community. Principal sections of the journal span the areas of research, education, and clinical practice."

Editor-in-Chief: Amanda Baskwill, PhD

Link: www.ijtmb.org

MassageNet PBRN

Practice-Based Research Network

About: "Our goal is to create a member-driven community of massage-focused clinicians, researchers, and allies that allows massage therapists to engage in research at various levels."

Link: www.massagenet.org

Education Related

ELAP

Entry-Level Analysis Project

About: "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, the project published two documents, which describes ELAP work group findings and recommendations."

Link: https://www.elapmassage.org/