If you’re wondering how to become a certified myofunctional therapist or if “certification” is a requirement, you’re in the right place! And you’re not alone!
It can be very confusing to a dental hygienist who wonders how to become a certified myofunctional therapist because she gets two different answers! She is often confused about whether being a certified myofunctional therapist is necessary.
One group of people (those who are “certified”) will tell you that it’s required and that there is only one way to venture into the profession of orofacial myofunctional therapy. And then there is the other group who knows that it’s not required and has chosen to forgo the time and expense of getting a certification that’s not necessary.
Here’s the brass tacks.
The reason that there are quotes placed around the word “certification” is because there is no governing body like a dental board that oversees the certification process and requirements. Much like dental hygiene school where schools have to teach certain topics to have accreditation. That isn’t the case with orofacial myofunctional therapy. Not saying that these training programs don’t offer value, I’m just saying that there isn’t a governing board, or at least not at this time.
The field of orofacial myofunctional therapy is, at the time of this writing, an unregulated profession. There is not a governing board or a license and there is no true distinction for what an OMT is (if you Google OMT, you will learn about Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment). It is recognized in the scope of practice for registered dental hygienists, speech language pathologists and dentists. There are some other specialties that practice orofacial myofunctional therapy such as physical therapists and some occupational therapists, but mostly you will see it as a specialty service of dental hygienists and speech language pathologists.
Since one organization has trademarked the term “certified” you have to pay to use it. If you haven’t paid the fees (kinda like owning a Burger King) then you can be sued for trademark infringement.
No bueno!
Today more and more programs are beginning to offer their own version of “how to become a certified orofacial myofunctional therapist” and they are using terms such as competent or qualified.
When I was just starting out I hired an attorney who had been a dental hygienist and then went into law–dental regulation–in fact. When she looked into this whole debacle, she found that it wasn’t something that I needed.
If you’re wondering if becoming a certified myofunctional therapist will matter to your clients, the answer is no. They don’t care. I have had exactly 1 person ask me about my background, and she still did therapy with me.
Clients aren’t buying you or the letters behind your name. They are buying the results that you’re offering them.
Remember this, whether or not your “certified” doesn’t give you authority and expertise. Experience does that for you. And to get that experience, you have to gain the knowledge, understand the concepts, put them into practice and continue to get better and better. Having alphabet soup behind your name doesn’t help anything but your ego!
If you see the need for this certification, then you should seek out those programs and compare expenses to do so. The Myofunctional Therapy Training Academy has had a successful mix of those who wanted to do both. Let’s face it…you will get your education from many sources…myofunctional therapy is not a “one and done” type of learning sequence!
The Ditch Hygiene Academy is also currently exploring options for their own master therapist program and distinction, as well as continuing education credits for dental hygienists who take the program. We hope to be offering both of these very soon.