Massage Exam: Studying for the MBLEx
Virtually every allied health profession has licensing requirements that involve passing a standardized exam before you can become a practitioner. Massage is no different. If you’ve completed an accredited program and live in virtually any state in the U.S., you’ll need to sit for and pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination, or MBLEx exam, before you can receive your license to practice massage.
If you’re worried about how you’re going to pass the massage exam, we get it. There’s a lot of pressure involved. And, after all, who likes taking tests?
Fortunately, though, it’s possible to do well on the MBLEx and become a licensed massage therapist. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a great test taker, there’s hope for you. Read on to find out more about the massage exam.
How do I sign up for the MBLEx massage exam?
In order to sign up for the MBLEx, you’ll need to contact the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, or FSMTB. The FSMTB administers the MBLEx nationwide, with the exception of some states such as New York and Hawaii (which offer their own proprietary massage exams),
The MBLEx is offered throughout the year, and the FSMTB can tell you when the exam is offered next in your area. First, you’ll need to confirm that you’ve completed an accredited massage therapy program. Once the FSMTB receives this confirmation, they’ll process your application and send you an Authorization to Test, or ATT. The Authorization to Test includes information on how and where to sign up for a test in your locality. You’ll then have 90 days to take the test, at which point your Authorization to Test will expire.
What information is contained on the MBLEx massage exam?
There are a total of 8 separate sections on the MBLEx test. Each of these sections covers a wide range of topics, and contains a number of related subsections and subtopics. Additionally, each section is roughly the same length as the others: in other words, they all contain approximately the same number of questions.
You can expect to encounter the following topics on the MBLEx exam:
- Pathology, special populations, contraindications, and areas of caution
- Ethics, laws, and boundaries in massage therapy
- Soft tissue techniques
- History and culture of bodywork and massage methods
- Client assessment, reassessment, and treatment plan formulation
- Guidelines for professional practice
- Anatomy and physiology
- Kinesiology
How do I study for the massage exam?
Studying for the MBLEx test isn’t as complicated as you might think. While the massage exam tests for a lot of different information, it’s important to remember that it’s a standardized test. This means that the test follows a standardized format, down to the types of questions that will appear.
The best way to study for a standardized test is by taking practice tests. We don’t mean just one or two practices tests, but as many as possible. The more practice tests you take, the better you’ll do on the actual massage exam itself. Bamboo™ provides unlimited practice tests, thousands of questions, and a variety of pricing options to fit every budget. Click here to learn more about what Bamboo has to offer.