Neonatal Touch and Massage Certification (NTMC-R) is an exclusively neonatal certification that combines a holistic, neonatal, and systems theory approach to massage with an emphasis on families and nurturing opportunities, while elevating the standard of care that neonatal caregivers provide in their daily practice.

This certification is designed by and for neonatal healthcare providers. The purpose of NTMC is to optimize infant development and outcomes, maximize parent comfort and confidence, and further your knowledge and skill in neonatal caregiving and handling.

NTMC-R is an advanced level course and designed to minimize your time away from family and work while maximizing your education from experts throughout the United States and Canada.

NTMC will begin with the On-Line Education where you will hear experts discuss their area of passion, research, and expertise in 15 pre-recorded webinars from the comfort of your own home.

You will then attend the Hands-On Training to develop hands-on skills and caregiving strategies for optimal development and family-centered care. The Hands-On Training is one-to-two days of lecture, demonstration, video analysis, and a lab on Day 2 to practice specific techniques with a participant-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. Nurses attend one day and Therapists attend two days.

Participants must have a minimum of 1000 hours of neonatal bedside care experience and be in good standing with their licensing board to be accepted.

Phase I - Application and Registration

Applications for the Neonatal Touch and Massage Certification (NTMC) are accepted from neonatal RNs, OTs, PTs, SLPs, and NNPs who have completed a minimum of 1000 hours of bedside care in the NICU or SCN. Spots are limited so apply and register early!

Phase II - On-Line Education
The On-Line Education is designed to further your knowledge in a vast array of neonatal topics ranging from brain and sensory development to the lymphatic system. The education allows you to develop an improved understanding of the developing premature infant, as well as the significant impact the environment and a variety of caregiving activities have on the infant. The topics are presented in a pre-recorded webinar format from neonatal experts around the United States and Canada. Most of the presenters have completed the research, provided literature, or lectured nationally on their topic. The course takes 15.5 hours to complete, requires an 80% on-line test score following each webinar, and completion of course evaluation. No partial credit is available and learners must register for NTMC to participate.

Phase III - Hands-On Training

The Hands-On Training is the final phase to complete NTMC. This phase focuses on integrating knowledge to adapt daily care while developing hands-on skills needed for advanced neonatal practice. You will develop a more in-depth understanding of pre-term and term infant development and how your touch, handling, treatment, and caregiving can alter that development. Videos will be utilized to sharpen your observation and assessment skills. Specific skills related to neonatal touch, massage, and myofascial trigger point releases (therapists only) will be taught to facilitate normal alignment, movement, and comfort of the high-risk infant. Throughout, you will learn how to facilitate parent involvement and infant attachment for long-term optimal development. Completion of the Hands-On Training includes participation in a skills lab, question and answer session, an 80% test score each day, and completion of course evaluation.

Nurses will participate in the first day of Hands-On Training and will obtain the credentials NTMNC (Neonatal Touch and Massage Nurse Certification) after passing the final test at the end of the day.

Therapists will participate in both days of Hands-On Training and will obtain the credentials of NTMTC (Neonatal Touch and Massage Therapist Certification) after passing the final test at the end of day one and day two.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

Phase II On-Line Learning Objectives

• Recognize three benefits of massage identified in the research literature.
• Name three developmental care practice changes that you can implement based on brain and sensory development, positioning, and protecting sleep.
• List two neonatal practice care changes you can make based on principles of infant-driven caregiving, going green, and supporting the parents' experience.
• Identify the role of the lymphatic and respiratory systems for the developing premature infant.

Phase III Hands-On Training Learning Objectives

• Identify the neurobehavioral and neuromotor development of pre-term and term infants.
• Demonstrate appropriate handling and caregiving activities to promote optimal neurobehavioral and neuromotor development of the high-risk infant.
• List specific treatment techniques that promote optimal movement, alignment, and comfort of the infant without causing stress.
• Explain how to promote infant-parent attachment and bonding through the use of touch and massage.

Coming Soon....

Day One
07:30-08:00 Course Sign-in/Continental Breakfast
08:00-09:00 Observation & Assessment of Neurobehavioral & Neuromotor Stress

09:00-10:30 Touch, Handling, & Caregiving in the NICU; Fostering Optimal Development

10:30-10:45 BREAK
10:45-12:00 Touch & Massage Facts, Benefits, & Literature Review

12:00-12:45 LUNCH (on your own)

12:45-02:15 Massage Techniques for Infants in the NICU & How to Set-up a Program for Success

02:15-02:30 BREAK
02:30-03:15 Touch & Massage Related to Specific Conditions: Prematurity, NAS, CLD, Teen Parents

03:15-04:30 Facilitating Parent & Infant Relationships Through Touch & Massage

04:30-05:00 Testing, Review, & Adjourn

Day Two
07:30-08:00 Course Sign-in/Continental Breakfast
08:00-09:30 Neuromotor, Behavioral, & Systems Development in the 1st Year of Life
09:30-10:00 Implications of NDT Principles: Alignment, Movement, & Tone
10:00-10:30 Myofascial System & Myofascial Techniques to Optimize Neonatal Development
10:30-10:45 BREAK
10:45-11:30 Myofascial System & Myofascial Techniques (Cont'd.)

11:30-12:00 Myofascial Trigger Point Releases: Rationale, Implications, & Techniques for NICU Infants
12:00-12:45 LUNCH (on your own)
12:45-02:15 Myofascial Trigger Point Releases (Cont'd.)
02:15-02:30 BREAK
02:30-04:30 Cranial Sacral & Lymphatic System Implications for Handling, Therapy, & Overall Development
04:30-05:00 Testing, Review, & Adjourn