ARCB :: American Reflexology Certification Board

ARCB certification is not a license to practice. Being certified through ARCB only means that you have met national standards for skill and knowledge in Reflexology by passing a three-part examination (written, practical, and documentation). In order to practice Reflexology legally in the U.S., you must abide by any laws pertaining to it at the state, city, and county levels of government. Only two states currently have Reflexology laws at the state level: North Dakota and Tennessee. Many other states have statewide massage laws, which may or may not have an exemption for Reflexology. Be sure to check with all appropriate governmental agencies about Reflexology laws in your state, city and/or county.

2. Can I take a home-study or correspondence Reflexology course and still sit for the ARCB exam?

ARCB is of the opinion that Reflexology is a hands-on discipline and, therefore, requires hands-on instruction. For this reason, one of the prerequisites for testing with ARCB is completion of a 'hands-on' Reflexology course through certification (if available) involving a minimum of 110 hours. A home-study or correspondence type of Reflexology course would not provide you with this 'hands-on' training, making you ineligible to test with ARCB.

3. What if I can't find a Reflexology program in my area offering at least 110 hours of study? Can I piece together the hours (for a total of 110 hours) and sit for the exam?

Yes, it is possible to piece together the requisite hours from a number of sources. For example, you might take a college level course in anatomy and physiology and take several weekend courses in Reflexology to obtain proper training in hands-on techniques, etc. ARCB recommends that any training you obtain in this manner include at least the following: 40 hours of Reflexology history, theory, etc.; 55 hours of anatomy and physiology; 5 hours of business ethics and standards; and 10 hours of supervised practicum. Training involving these core subjects would offer you the best possible chances for successfully passing the ARCB exam.

4. With regard to the documented portion of the ARCB exam, what do 'post-graduate sessions' mean exactly?

'Post-graduate sessions' means those sessions you have performed after you have graduated from a Reflexology school/program. Most Reflexology programs require their students to perform Reflexology sessions outside of school and document those sessions as part of their requirements for graduation. You could NOT use any of these sessions that you performed for school certification for testing purposes with ARCB. However, any sessions you performed after your school graduation, even if on these same clients, could be used for the documented portion of the ARCB exam, as long as you work on each client at least three times each, and each session is from 45-60 minutes in length.

5. How can I get a copy of the ARCB Study Guide?

The only way to obtain a copy of the ARCB Study Guide is to apply for—and be accepted for—testing with ARCB. The Study Guide (along with the documentation forms) is sent to you upon completion of the application process.

6. How long after applying for the ARCB test before I must sit for the exam?

You must sit for the exam within one year of applying for the test. If you have missed the test in your area, or if you would rather take the exam in another city, you are free to do so as long as you notify the office thirty (30) days in advance. Travel is at your own expense.

7. What do I have to do to maintain my certification with ARCB?

In order to remain in good standing with ARCB, a certificant must pay an annual fee every year (currently $55) and obtain 12 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years from the date of his/her initial certification date with ARCB.

8. What happens if I don't pay my annual fee and/or don't take any continuing education?

You will no longer be considered an active certificant, and your name will be removed from the national referral list. ARCB's policy states that a one-year grace period in which to reinstate certification will be allowed for those certificants whose annual fees have lapsed. A certificant may pay back the previous year's fee and the current fee to remain in good standing. Inactivity longer than this requires a certificant to retake the written and practical exams for a fee of $150. This policy eliminates the problem of continuing education units (CEUs) and is less expensive for the certificant, since he/she does not have to pay all fees in arrears and does not have to earn and pay for CEUs from those prior years as well.

9. I'm thinking of starting my own Reflexology school, and I want to make sure that the students who take my course can sit for the ARCB exam. What should I include in my curriculum?

One of the prerequisites for taking the ARCB exam is completion of a 'hands-on' Reflexology course through certification (if available) involving a minimum of 110 hours. For a breakdown of course specifics, please see the answer to question no. 7 above. Please bear in mind that the guidelines outlined above are only suggested recommendations for course curriculum. You may certainly vary your curriculum in any way, but it should contain instruction in at least these course subjects.

In addition, ARCB recommends that you contact the American Commission for the Accreditation for Reflexology Education and Training (ACARET) for further assistance in setting school curriculum. Their mission is to provide schools with guidelines to advance the standards for education of professional Reflexologists in America. ACARET may be reached at P.O. Box 19384, Seattle, WA, Seattle, WA 98709, acaret@acaret.org, www.acaret.org.

10. I want to teach. Should I be ARCB certified?

ARCB's focus is on practitioner standards. Testing has nothing to do with teaching. That said, as a teacher, you would want to know that your application of Reflexology techniques and knowledge does meet the American standard, so you should test for that reason. In addition, you would want to apply to ACARET for recognition as an approved instructor. ACARET may be reached at P.O. Box 19384, Seattle, WA 98709, acaret@acaret.org, www.acaret.org.