2022 NEWSLETTER
North Carolina Board of
Massage & Bodywork
Therapy
Regulating the practice of massage and bodywork therapy and its educational
institutions, for the protection of the public.
Message from the Board Chair,
Kim Turk, LMBT
Welcome to 2023 1
I wanted to cover "things I wish you knew” in this newsletter.
First, I want to welcome Establishment member Tawanda Auston! She comes to our
board with a wealth of knowledge as a success till business owner, she also has her hand
in print and film. She has been so helpful already on our board.
Did you know that many therapists and clients are still wearing masks during sessions?
With vaccines and herd immunity, the latest variant is less deadly, but more easily
acquired. As a healthcare worker, designated by the CDC. please consider your immune
compromised clients and your need to be on the job and not out sick with COVID. Each
time you acquire COVID, your chance of long COVID increases.
Did you know tit at individual members of the board arc not allowed to answer questions
you may have, in person, on the phone, in writing or on social media, on behalf of the
board? No one member of the board may speak on behalf of the board. Your BEST
choice for getting the correct answer is to email the board. That way, when the board
responds in writing, you have proof of the correct answer.
Did you know that members of the board arc volunteers? A board position is not a paid
position. If you arc interested in being a board member, reach out and ask how you
might do that.
Did you know that when you submit a complaint about an establishment that is cither not
licensed, hiring unlicensed workers, or both, the board goes to work immediately? When
you don't get an immediate response of our action or sec a change, it is because many
things are going on behind the scenes. An ongoing investigation" can't be reported on.
And, our private investigator lias to work with local, state antffcdcral authorities who may
already be doing their own investigations. Homeland Security and the SBI sometimes
take a few years to complete investigations so they know all the players and can shut
down the victimization caused by these human trafficking individuals and groups. It is
often your complaint that starts that ball rolling. Our investigator checks it out, contacts
other authorities and later, you may read about how many of these human tralficking
t roups were shut down. That all started with YOU and your concerns. North Carolina
as one of the highest rates of human tralfickcd individuals because of its location, and
many major highways. And, believe it or not, many naive folks think they arc going to
these places for a legitimate massage. Education and reporting will helpcurb these illicit
businesses and let trie illegal folks know they are not welcome in North Carolina. Thanks
for your part in helping us and the massage and bodywork profession!
Did you know that some of our hearings involving a client complaint against a therapist
come down to lack of communication? The client may think they were touched
inappropriately (and many have been) but some cases show that the therapist failed to
adequately communicate to the client what was about to happen in a session. With a
new client, a client with trauma history or PTSD, a therapist is already dealing with a
potential for anxiety. Talking to a client about what muscles you are about to work with
and why goes a long way toward making a client feel more comfortable. For instance,
explaining why you would like to work the teres minor as part of the rotator cuft' and
where it is located goes a long way toward not being accused of touching the side of the
breast. Clear communication protects your reputation, your business and your license.
The more information a client has, the more likely they arc to feel comfortable and trust
your professionalism.
Did you know that counsel for the board, Charles Wilkins and his staff, have been involved
in LMBT support since before there was a license? They worked with Rick Rosen, LMBT
it 1, and many others for years to help apply the laws and implement rules that create a
professional image and board today. 1 want to thank them for all of their hard work!
Did you know this is my 8th and final year on the board? I arrived on the board to fulfill
someone clsc's term, then I was reappointed for 2 more terms. I will say that I had no
idea how long political issues take and how long it takes to create change in systems.
In every decision, 1 know the board took into consideration the greatest public good
for all. In fact, our ONLY responsibility, granted by the North Carolina legislature, is
to protect the public. When you read the Practice Act and the Rules (and you should),
the board is bound by those laws and roles. Only the legislature can create other laws.
You might imagine tnc legislature has a lot of important things to talk about and decide.
It has been a great privilege and honor to serve you, the public and our state. Thank you!
Take care of each other out there,
Kim Turk, LMBT 2568, Chair, NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
Top Reminders
1 . Keep the Board informed of any changes to your mailing address and entail address
so you will receive all Board correspondence.
2. For up-to-date Board information and/or answers to questions, please refer to the
NCBMBT website at www.bmbt.org.
3. Board meetings arc every other month via Webcx. The current meeting schedule is
on the website under 'Board Information'. All Board meetings arc open to the public.
4. Complaints can be filed online at the File A Complaint tab on the Board's website.
5. Online renewals beganAugust 1, 2019. The online renewal is on the Board’s
website under die Renew Your License tab.
6. Online renewals end on December 31 at midnight. Renewals after December 31
must be mailed with a letter stating whether or not you have been practicing massage
and bodywork therapy in NC since your license expired.
7. LMBTs must complete 24 hours of continuing education, including a minimum of 3
hours of ethics. All CEs may be completed online for the 2023 renewal period ONLY.
A maximum of 8 hours of business management may be completed, should you choose
to do so.
8. LMBTs who complete all required CE’s during tire year of their renewal may apply
additional, non-submitted CE's taken after August 1 of that year to their next renewal
period.
9. LMBTs can verify a license is valid in NC on the Board's website under the Verify A
License tab and searching by their last name or license number.
1 0. LMBTs are required to notify tire Board within 15 days if they know a person is:
( 1) practicing without a license, (2) violating the Practice Act/Rulcs and Regulations,
(3) charged with certain criminal oftenses, or (4) a defendent in a civil lawsuit related to
the practice of massage and bodywork therapy.
1 1. LMBTs arc required to display their Board-issued original license at their primary
place of practice. Licensees providing massage and bodywork therapy outside of their
primary place of practice must have a Board-issued original license or wallet card
available for inspection.
1 2. LMBTs shall maintain documentation for each session, including the date of
service, needs assessment, plan of care, observations made, and actions by the licensee.
1 3. All persons who provide massage and bodywork therapy services at an
establishment shall be currently licensed by lire Board.
14. Each LMBT shall work at a location that has an establishment license or at a
location that is exempt from the establishment licensing requirement.
1 5. Information regarding establishment licensure is provided on the Board's website
under the Establishments tab.
IN THIS ISSUE
Message from the Chair .
...1
Top Reminders .
New Board Members and Officers .
Board Requests Your Email Address .
....1
...2
...2
Board Meeting Dates .
Administrative Director's Report .
...2
....2
Licensure of Establishments .
...3
Continuing Education .
....3
CBD Oil .
....3
Disciplinary Actions . 4, 5,
Board Website is your Online Source for Information
&6
...7
