HOLISTIC HORIZONS

INSTITUTE OF HEALING ARTS

NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAM OUTLINE

 

General Knowledge of Body Systems (16%)                 III.  Pathology (12%)

A. Anatomy     B. Physiology    C. Pathology                          A.  Medical terminology

     1.  Integumentary                                                                        B.  Etiology of disease

     2.  Skeletal                                                                                     C.  Modes of contagious disease transmission

     3.  Muscular                                                                                          (e.g., blood, saliva)

     4.  Nervous                                                                                    D.  Signs and symptoms of disease   

     5.  Endocrine                                                                                 E.  Psychological and emotional states (e.g.,

     6.  Cardiovascular                                                                            depression, anxiety, grief)  

     7.  Lymphatic                                                                                F.  Effects of life stages (e.g., childhood,

     8.  Urinary                                                                                             adolescence, geriatric)

     9.  Respiratory                                                                              G.  Effects of physical and emotional abuse and

    10. Gastrointestinal                                                                              trauma.

    11. Reproductive                                                                          H.  Factors that aggravate or alleviate disease 

                  12. Craniosacral                                                                                    (e.g biological, psychological,

    13.  Energetic                                                                                       environmental)

    14. Meridian                                                                                    I.   Physiological healing process

                                                                                                                J.   Indications and contraindications/cautions

                                                                                                                K.  Principles of acute versus chronic condition

Detailed Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology,              L.   Stages/aspects of serious/terminal illness            And Kinesiology  (26%)                                                                        (e.g.), cancer, AIDS)

                                                                                                               M.  Basic Pharmacology

A. Anatomy                                                                                               1.  Prescription medications                

     1.  Anatomical position and terminology                                        2.  Recreational drugs (e.g., tobacco,     

         (e.g., planes, directions)                                                                        alcohol)

     2.  Individual muscles/muscle groups                                             3.  Herbs

     3.  Muscle attachments                                                                       4.  Natural supplements

     4.  Muscle fiber direction                                                          N.  Approaches used in Western medicine by

     5.  Tendons                                                                                               other health professionals.

     6.  Fascia                                                                                        O.  Approaches used in Asian medicine by

     7.  Joint structure                                                                                    other health professionals

     8.  Ligaments

     9.  Bursae                                                                                 IV.  Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

    10.  Dermatomes                                                                             Assessment (18%)

    11.  Primary and extraordinary meridians                                A.  Assessment methods (visual, palpatory,              

    12.  Chakras                                                                                               auditory, olfactory, energetic, intuitive)

                                                                                                                 B.  Assessing range of motion

B.  Physiology                                                                                      C.  Assessment areas (soft tissues and bony

     1.  Response of the body to stress                                                     landmarks, endangerment sites, trigger

     2.  Basic nutrition principles                                                               points, adhesions, energy blockages,

     3.  Meridians/channels (e.g., bladder, liver, spleen)                     energy channel blockage (Asian), pulse

                                                                                                                          rate, craniosacral pulses, lymphatic edema)

                 C.  Kinesiology                                                                                     D.  Somatic holding patterns (e.g., guarding

                      1.  Actions of individual muscles/muscle groups                           muscle/fascial memory)

                     2.  Types of muscle contractions (e.g., concentric,                E.  Posture analysis

                        eccentric, isometric)                                                                 F.  Structural and functional integration

                      3.  Joint movements (e.g., flexion, extension)                        G.  Ergonomic factors

                      4.  Movement patterns (e.g., lifting, walking)                         H.  Effects of gravity            

                      5.  Proprioception                                                                             I.   Proprioception of position and movement

                                 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                        

 

 

NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAM OUTLINE

 

Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork                              VI.  Professional Standards, Ethics, Business        

Application  (22%)                                                        and Legal Practices (6%)

 

       A. Theory                                                                        A.  Maintaining professional boundaries while

1. Effects/benefits of massage/bodywork                            responding to client’s emotional needs.

     (physiological, emotional/psychological,               B.  Client interviewing techniques

                              energetic)                                                                           C.  Communication with other health 

                                                                                                                                          professionals.

B.  Methods and Techniques                                                D.  When to refer clients to other health

                           1.  Client draping and positional support                         professionals

   Techniques                                                                       E.  Verbal and nonverbal communication

                           2.  Hydrotherapy/hydromassage application                       skills

                           3.  Stress management and relaxation techniques      F.  NCBTMB Code of Ethics and Standards of

                           4.  Self-care activities for the client to maintain              Practice                  

                                health (e.g., stretching, swimming)                          G.  Issues of confidentiality

            5.  Principles of holistic practice/approach                   H.  Legal and ethical parameters of scope of     

            6.  Postural balancing                                                               practice

                  7.  Use of massage and/or bodywork tools                    I.  Basic psychological and physical dynamics

                  8.  Enhancing client’s kinesthetic awareness                      of practitioner/client relationship

                             9.  Joint movement techniques                                          J.  Planning strategies for single and multiple

                           10.  Asian energy bodywork                                                       sessions

                         11.  Western energy bodywork                                          K.  Session record keeping practices 

                         12.  Static touch/holding                                                      L.  Basic business and accounting practices

                         13.  Techniques/strokes (compression/palming,         M.  Outsourcing business needs (e.g., insurance

                                cupping, flicking, friction, gliding, hair                      billing, bookkeeping)

                                pulling, hand rolling, jostling, kneading,                N.  Regulations pertaining to income reporting

                                percussion, pinching, rocking, shaking, skin        O.  Need for liability insurance

                                rolling, torquing, traction, vibration)                       P.  State and local credentialing requirements

Stretching (e.g., active, passive, resisted,                       Q,  Legal entities (e.g., independent contractor,

Cross-directional, Proprioceptive Neuro-                   employee)

Muscular Facilitation (PNF). Muscle

Energy Technique (MET), reciprocal

Inhibition, Active Isolated Stretching

(AIS))

Aromatherapy

Topical analgesics

Gauging pressure as appropriate

Practitioner body mechanics

Standard Precautions

CPR/first aid

  

 

     These requirements are used by the National Certification Exam and ABMP.  The State of Iowa requires students to pass the National Exam to become licensed.  Therefore, Holistic Horizons reserves the right to include these and additional topics in the curriculum.