The Federation of State Massage Boards (FSMTB) has been instrumental in maintaining the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx), a crucial certification for massage therapists across the United States. Accepted in 46 of the 49 regulated jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, the MBLEx serves as the closest equivalent to a national exam for massage therapists. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the application process, exam content, study strategies, and test-taking tips to help you prepare for the MBLEx.
Key Takeaways
- Applicants must register on the FSMTB website, pay a $265 fee, and complete the MBLEx within 120 days at a Pearson Vue testing center, following all preparation and check-in procedures.
- The MBLEx covers key areas including anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, soft tissue manipulation, client assessment, ethics, and professional practice, ensuring therapists are proficient in essential aspects of their career.
- Creating a study calendar, dedicating at least five days a week to focused study sessions, and balancing personal and professional responsibilities are crucial steps for effectively preparing for the MBLEx.
- To excel in multiple-choice exams, manage your time effectively, read questions carefully, and trust your initial instincts while avoiding extra details or skipping questions.
- Numerous MBLEx study guides are available, including those from the FSMTB and major insurance companies, but they may not contain actual exam questions and should be used as tools for understanding the material rather than expecting guaranteed success.
Applying for the exam
When one feels ready to take the MBLEx, they apply through the Federation of State Massage Boards (FSMTB) website. An applicant will register and create an Examination Account via the FSMTB website. The current fee for the exam is $265 for each attempt. An applicant may request needed testing accommodations at the time of applying for the exam. FSTMB will usually process applications in five business days and provide the applicant an Authorization-To-Test (ATT) notice.
When approved, the applicant will have 120 days from the date listed on the ATT notice to schedule and complete the exam via the Pearson Vue testing center. Pearson Vue has testing sites in all fifty states. Check the nearest local testing center for times and dates available as these may vary per state. Be sure to provide the necessary documentation per the confirmation email Pearson Vue will provide when testing time is confirmed.
The MLBEx consists of one hundred multiple choice questions. Test takers have two hours to complete the exam which includes up to five minutes of exam security questions and up to five minutes to complete a brief survey. In essence, a test taker has 110 minutes to complete the exam questions.
Keep in mind time will not pause if a break is taken mid-examination; therefore it will be wise to prepare one’s mind and body prior to arriving. You will not be allowed to leave the building during the exam session time. Ensure sufficient sleep the night prior and eat a protein-rich breakfast and/or lunch to avoid a carb crash midway through the exam.
Arrive at least thirty minutes early to ensure time to complete the check-in (with possibility waiting in line) process. A test taker must provide two forms of identification (at least one with a photo) and place extraneous personal items within a locker.
Failure to arrive on time will result in forfeiture of the exam session. Pearson Vue testing centers notify test takers of any cancellations due to natural weather occurrences or other unforeseen circumstances.
Exam content outline
The examination categories of questions (with approximate percentage value upon the exam) are:
- Anatomy & Physiology (11%)
- Kinesiology (12%)
- Pathology, Contraindications, Areas of Caution, Special Populations (14%)
- Benefits and Effects of Soft Tissue Manipulation (15%)
- Client Assessment, Reassessment, Treatment Planning (17%)
- Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, Regulations (16%)
- Guidelines for Professional Practice (15%)
Examining the categories of questions, it appears the MBLEx ensures it asks questions pertaining to the career demands of the field. Vocational school graduate surveys consistently verify over the past two decades that the majority of massage therapy graduates will own a private practice. With the above categories in mind, a massage therapist needs to be proficient in these key areas.
- Understand fundamental anatomy and physiology of the body.
- Have a sound knowledge of muscles, how muscles interact with the skeleton and how muscles engage with each other within a body region.
- Comprehend how common pathologies afflict the body.
- Understand how standard massage therapy techniques affect soft tissues and body systems.
- Have an ability to assess clients verbally via an intake and non-verbally via posture and palpation assessment.
- Make decisions from a basis of steadfast ethics and healthy professional boundaries.
- Determine proper business practices while operating a private practice and ensuring both client and therapist safety in all client interactions.
Therein lies success in the massage therapy field. Exam item writers for this exam are cognizant of the subjective nature of how schools nationwide may present the aforementioned exam content uniquely. Exam questions are reviewed and revised several times before they appear on the actual MBLEx to ensure questions are asked in clear, concise manners and any biases are removed from question verbiage.
Creating a study calendar
As an applicant prepares to complete the MBLEx, creating a study calendar is a pivotal preparatory step. Either on one’s electronic device or on an old-fashioned paper calendar, list times and subjects an applicant will devote to study efforts daily. Ideally, studying at least five of seven days within a week will yield maximum results when preparing for such a broad exam. Considerations to ponder as one determines times and subjects per study session include:
- One’s personal and professional lifestyle including work, extracurricular activities and self-care time constraints. Do not overbook yourself with study time in lieu of completing other significant necessities such as important work assignments or activities for church or social groups. No need to create additional stress with catching up on these items that can prevent sufficient MBLEx study time in the future. Do not neglect self-care as a healthy mind follows suit with a healthy brain and body.
- Ideally, studying one subject / category per day will make studying easier. Keeping studying streamlined with one subject / category daily will keep information compartmentalized well within your brain. Studying too many subjects at once may overwhelm our brains, especially when we are busy with other life circumstances.
- Ideally, discover your maximum daily time to devote to studying. Some people may be able to study longer than others but, at some point, everyone’s brain becomes too tired to intake, absorb and retain information. Do not push yourself past that limit for yourself.
- Schedule at least one day off each seven-day period. Some people may need two such days off per seven days. Consistency is key in studying, therefore more than two days off in a seven-day span begins to break the consistency needed for information retention. Days off are needed to avoid burnout and cranial fatigue.
Test-Taking Tips
Because the exam is multiple choice, here are general tips for taking multiple choice examinations.
- Manage your time. Do not spend more than 90 seconds on a question. You can not skip questions and return later to questions so ensure you answer the question before moving forward.
- Consciously ensure you answer each question. If you have never taken an exam on a computer, it is suggested to take practice MBLEx exams online. Your eyes will get used to viewing marks and words on screens with sufficient practice.
- Place your hand or piece of blank paper over the answer choices to answer the question within your head. Then you can find the answer within the answer options.
- Read questions twice, especially for scenario questions. Often, test takers read questions too quickly, thereby missing a key clue word within the question.
- Only answer the question asked. Do not add to the question with additional details based on what you have seen in your massage practice.
- For longer scenario questions, determine the intention of the question. What is the intention of the question? Unfortunately, there is not anyone in the room to ask so your ability to deduce intention will be important.
- The adage “your first instinct is usually right” is all-too-often proven true. Trust your instinct if you are weighing two choices in your mind.
Study Guides
There are numerous MBLEx study guides available for purchase. Some are online formatted allowing you to complete practice questions online. Some are manual style books to read and complete practice questions at home. If possible, it is suggested you peruse through a resource before purchasing any study guide. Does their style and formatting appeal to your eye and brain?
The Federation of State Massage Boards does offer their own study guide for the MLBEx. Also, the major massage insurance companies offer their own exam preparation resources.
Remember that a study guide will NOT contain actual MBLEx questions. Do NOT expect the same questions you reviewed in practice study guides to appear on the real exam.
It is unlikely to find a study guide written by a former MBLEx exam item writer. Keep in mind that people who create study guides are trying to help but they rarely have an inside glimpse into the exam writing and revision process. “Buyer beware” of any study guide guaranteeing 100% success pass rate. Ultimately, you the test taker determine if you will pass or not, not the author of the study guide.
Study guides are simply meant to be tools to prepare a test taker in thinking though content of the exam. An effective study guide will challenge your brain to think of material in multiple ways.
Perspective of the exam
Exam items writers are not trying to trick any test taker. Questions are consistently reviewed, revised and rewritten to ensure clarity of each question. Often, there is a “best answer” necessary for a correct answer. This is because in our industry we do have to think through unique situations. Ensure you consider safety and security of both clients and therapists when answering scenario-based questions.
The MBLEx is meant to be a fair exam, not necessarily easy yet appropriate in its approach towards facilitating objective fact-based questions and being clear on subjective scenario questions. Answer questions from a “What did my entry level teachers present about this topic?” perspective rather than from a “What would I do?” perspective. The former will guide you towards the answer ensuring safety and security of both clients and therapists.
Consistency is key in studying. Provide yourself an open-minded space to receive and review information and an honest effort in exam preparation for the best chance for success in passing the MBLEx.
About the Author
Jimmy Gialelis, LMT, BCTMB, is owner of Advanced Massage Arts & Education in Tempe, Arizona. He is a National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork-approved provider of continuing education, and teaches “Professional Ethics for LMTs” and many other CE classes. He is a regular contributor to MASSAGE Magazine.