The NHPC Massage Therapy Competency Assessment Process (MTCAP)

History

Over the years, NHPC has maintained a constant dialogue with the insurance industry on behalf of its members. The Massage Therapy Competency Assessment Process (MTCAP) has been in the works since 2003, when the NHPC Standards Review Task Force work supported the development of massage therapy standards for the NHPC.

In June of 2010, the Consortium of Massage Therapy Regulators released their Inter-Jurisdictional Entry-to-Practice Competency Profile for Massage Therapists. What this means is that until six months ago, NHPC did not have standardized information on the regulatory colleges competency requirements were for Massage Therapy.

With the much anticipated release of the Inter-Jurisdictional Entry-to-Practice Document, NHPC was now in a position to undertake significant research, analysis and comparison of the newly released standards document from the Consortium of Massage Therapy Regulators, the NHPC’s Massage Therapy Standards of Practice and the standards of provincial associations and regulators, and professional equivalency recognition models and tools.

The result of this research, analysis and comparison is the NHPC MTCAP.  On October 31st, 2010 MTCAP went before NHPC’s Board of Directors and was approved for implementation. On November 15th, 2010, all NHPC Massage Therapy members received a letter via email and regular post informing them of their status in the MTCAP program.

NOTE:  MTCAP does not apply in provinces that have regulated Massage Therapy (BC, Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador). In those provinces, regulatory colleges determine the standards for Massage Therapy.

Insurance Companies and MTCAP

Many insurance companies require massage therapists to have at least 2200 hours of formal training or a level of massage therapy competency comparable to that required in provinces that currently regulate massage.

The MTCAP has been developed as a mechanism to transition Massage Therapy members through a process for competency equivalency recognition by the insurance industry.

If you are an NHPC member recognized in Massage Therapy, you have recently received notification as to whether or not you have achieved Competency Equivalency Recognition in NHPC’s MTCAP.

If you have received a letter telling you that you are not equivalent, remember that this does not affect your membership or competency status with the NHPC. You are still a full member in good standing with the association and recognized for Massage Therapy. Nothing has changed. Your status with the NHPC does not change.

Also, if insurance companies were accepting your client’s claims before, they should continue to be accepted by those insurance companies. You are encouraged to apply to have your competency equivalency reviewed by completing the MT Competency Review Application Form.

Competency Equivalency Review Process

If you would like to apply to have your competency equivalency reviewed, you will need to read over the NHPC Massage Therapy Competencies/Standards of Practice Competency Assessment Profile Self-Assessment Tool, which you should have received with your equivalency notification.

This self-assessment tool will help you access your Massage Therapy competency and help to determine if you are ready to apply for NHPC MCTAP.

To achieve equivalency in MCTAP you must be able to agree that in your practice you understand, interact and function within all the self-evaluation statements found in the Self-Assessment Tool. In other words, you need to have successfully mastered all of the Standards of Practice.

If you do agree with all of the self-evaluation statements and have successfully mastered the Standards, the final step in your application to MCTAP is to fill out the Massage Therapy Competency Equivalency Review Application.

If you do not feel ready to apply for MCTAP at this time, remember there is no rush. You may apply whenever you feel like your knowledge base is comparable to what is outlined in the Self-Assessment Tool.

This Massage Therapy Competency Equivalency Review Application is a one-page form, and is all you will need to submit to NHPC to have your MCTAP status reviewed. Your first application review to MCTAP will not cost you anything, and can be submitted by mail, fax, or email.

Once NHPC has had time to review your application you will be notified in writing of the outcome of your assessment review. Second MTCAP review application requests may be charged a fee.

Communicating Equivalency

MTCAP is a new program, and NHPC is working very hard to make sure that insurance companies understand its relevance.

If you received a letter of approval to MCTAP, you are probably eager to start getting your claims approved by insurance companies that have previously denied you.

A great way to help speed up this process is for you to send copies of your MTCAP acceptance letter to insurance companies who have previously denied you. This is a fantastic way to show insurance companies how important MTCAP is to massage therapists.

You are also encouraged to share your equivalency letter with your employers.

MTCAP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

All News