American Massage Therapy Association is a national nonprofit association serving members and the massage therapy profession. Established in 1943 and headquartered in Evanston, Ill., the association endorses professional standards and supports fair regulation of massage therapy. It members include more than 55,000 massage therapists in over 25 countries. AMTA has chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States Virgin Islands. The association works to establish massage therapy as integral to the maintenance of good health and complementary to other therapeutic processes. It also advances the profession through certification, school accreditation, continuing education, professional publications, legislative efforts, public education, and fostering the development of members. American Massage Therapy Association is governed by an elected national board of directors. It is also a member of the Federation of Therapeutic Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Practice Organizations.