So many letters…what do they mean?

What is a PT? LMBT? LMP? MPT?

I started my career in massage therapy, so let’s start there!  In North Carolina, if you are licensed to practice massage therapy you are considered a LMBT (Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist).  Other terms, like LMP (Licensed Massage Practitioner) or LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) are commonly used, but not specific to NC. Titles, as well as certification requirements, vary between states.

The term PT refers to a physical therapist – often you will see MPT or DPT, which indicates whether the therapist received a master’s or doctorate level degree in physical therapy.  Initially, one obtained a bachelor’s in physical therapy, until the master’s program was introduced in the late ’90s.  In the last few years, all U.S. programs have transitioned to doctorate level only (master’s and bachelor level degrees have been grandfathered in).

Numerous other certifications exist within both physical therapy and massage fields for anything from enhanced manual techniques, to functional movement training, to work with specific populations of people/ people with specific diagnoses.  Most of these techniques require some degree of certification to practice, and it is always okay to ask a therapist where they received their training for specific certifications.