MBLEx Explained

The MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) is governed by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). It is designed to provide a standard examination for students of Massage for entry-level professional scope of practice in gaining licensure.

 The FSMTB was established in 2005 with the intent to build a support system for the Member Boards. Their goals from the beginning were to work towards cooperating in implementing regulations and procedures for the requirements to establish safe and effective Massage Therapy and Bodywork practices.

Hence, the organization of the MBLEx. The Federation initially wanted to work with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. However, the NCBTMB felt their exams didn’t need improving and opted out on the union.

The MBLEx is not set up to trick or deceive you, there is only one real answer.  You will have 2.5 hours to answer 125 multiple-choice questions. If you take breaks your time doesn’t stop. The examination is scored on a scale starting at 300 ending at 900, a passing score of 630 implies a minimum standard for competent practice as a Massage Therapist. The diagnostic information for each category and your numbered score will be given to you at the testing center when your exam is completed.

The exam has eight concentrated areas of content; Client assessment and treatment plans, Benefits and affects of techniques, Pathology with contraindications and cautions, Massage History, Ethics- Boundaries- Laws & Regulations, Guidelines for Professional Practice, Kinesiology, Anatomy & Physiology. The Content Outline for the MBLEx breaks down further the categories used for establishing the questions in the MBLEx.

The breakdown of the massage questions on the MBLEx is as follows:

20-22 questions on Client assessment and treatment plans 17%

20-22 questions Benefits and affects of techniques 17%

15-17 questions on Pathology with contraindications and cautions 13%

5-7 questions on Massage History 5%

15-18 questions on Ethics, Boundaries, Laws & Regulations 13%

11-13 questions on Guidelines for Professional Practice 10%

12-15 questions on Kinesiology 11%

16-18 questions on Anatomy & Physiology 14%

for a total of 125 questions each exam