The MBLEx exam is designed to test your knowledge of entry-level massage and bodywork therapy concepts. Unlike other medical exams, you do not need to meet certain clinical work requirements or complete a certain number of massage therapy classes to register for this exam. This is primarily due to the fact that states use this exam as part of their licensing requirement. Each state will set their own minimum clinical and education requirements candidates must meet.

The exam will ask you 100 multiple choice questions. These questions are not designed to see how well you can analyze data. The questions are designed to determine just how much you know about the massage and bodywork field. They are straightforward and not designed to trick or fool you.

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) conducted a nationwide survey of massage and bodywork professionals to determine the key areas massage and bodywork therapists need to be proficient in. The exam questions are the result of that study. To do well, you should complete at least a few massage or bodywork courses.

These courses will provide you enough of a foundation to correctly answer the exam questions. The exam will focus on the following topics:

• Benefits and Physiological Effects that Manipulate Soft Tissues (14%) – Identification of the physiological effects of soft tissue manipulation, psychological aspects and benefits of touch, soft tissue techniques, hot and cold applications, benefits of soft tissue manipulations for specific client populations
• Client Assessment, Reassessment, and Treatment Planning (17%) – Organization of a massage or bodywork session, client consultation and evaluation, visual assessment, written data collection, palpitation assessment, range of motion assessment, clinical reasoning
• Anatomy & Physiology (12%) – System structure and function including endocrine, muscular, nervous, digestive, circulation, respiratory, reproductive, lymphatic, skeletal, urinary, and special senses, medical terminology, tissue injury and repair
• Pathology, Contraindications, Areas of Caution, Special Populations (13%) – Common pathologies, contraindications including site specific, tools, special applications, classes of medications, special populations, areas of caution
• Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, and Regulations (15%) – Ethical behavior; professional boundaries, the therapeutic relationship, code of ethic violations, sexual misconduct, professional communication, massage / bodywork laws and regulations, confidentiality principles, scope of practice
• Kinesiology (11%) – Range of motion (active, passive, resistant), joint function and structure, characteristics of muscles, concepts of muscle contractions, locations, attachments, actions, and fiber directions on muscles, proprioceptors
• Guidelines for Professional Practice (13%) – Therapist hygiene, safety and sanitation, proper usage of equipment and supplies, business practices, therapist care including self-care, injury prevention, and body mechanics, draping
• Overview of Massage & Bodywork History, Culture, Modalities (5%) – Different skill sets used in contemporary massage and bodywork environments, history of massage

It is important that you attempt to answer every question on the MBLEx exam. You will lose points if you skip over a question. However, you will not be penalized for guessing. If you get stuck on a particular question, do not panic. Re-read the question and the answer choices provided. Often, you will be able to solve the question through process of elimination.
Make sure to complete the tutorial that is offered before you take the exam. The tutorial will not count towards you overall score. However, it does give you an opportunity to get a feel for the computer and practice clicking and pointing the mouse. You do not want to waste precious exam time trying to figure out how to use the computer.

The exam begins with a 5 minute Security Agreement section. The section makes you verify that you are who you say you are. Then, you start answering the 100 questions. Pace yourself to make sure you have plenty of time to answer each question. The exam concludes with a 5 minute survey about the exam and ways to improve it.

You must spend time preparing for the MBLEx. This is not an exam where you just sit down and start answering the questions. Yes, you are able to take the test multiple times. However, most states require that you pass this exam before you can earn a massage license. You want to pass it the first time so you can begin your massage or bodywork therapist career.
How the MBLEx is Scored

Many of the nation’s state massage therapy licensing boards require candidates to pass the MBLEx. The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), the organization that developed the MBLEx, sets the minimum score needed to pass the exam. MBLEx scores can range from 300 (lowest) to 900 (highest). A score of at least 630 is required to pass.

FSMTB uses criterion-referenced scoring to establish the passing score. The organization has designated subject matter experts to review the exam material. These subject matter experts represent a wide cross section of the massage industry. Seasoned professionals and entry-level massage therapists from across the country answered a job analysis survey to make sure the material is representative of the skills needed in today’s job market. Experts in psychometrics and standardized testing are also brought in to assess the material. A passing score is then established. This passing score ensures state licensing boards and potential employers that the test taker has an entry-level competency in the field of massage and bodywork.

There are only 125 questions on the exam. So, how can you earn a score between 300 and 900? FSMTB uses a modified Angoff process to scale the scores. Subject matter experts examine each question. They determine how likely it is that a person with basic massage therapy knowledge would answer the question correctly. A scaled score is assigned to each question. Then, a statistical model is used to convert your overall raw score into an overall scaled score. The process can be subjective, but is one that is widely used in the testing industry.

Your score is determined by the number of questions that are answered correctly. You should not skip a question. It will be recorded as an incorrect answer. This means you should guess if you aren’t sure of the answer. You have just as good of a chance of getting the question right as you do of getting the question wrong. However, you should not spend too much time on one particular question. Make your best guess and move on. You only have 2 hours to complete the exam.

Since this is a computer-based test, you will receive your scores immediately after you finish the exam. You will receive an overall scaled score along with a breakout of your performance in each of the 8 content areas.

Reporting Your MBLEx Scores
When you register to take the MBLEx exam, you will be able to pick one state licensing board to send your results to. The cost associated with sending this one report is included in your exam fee. If you need to send reports to additional states, you will need to fill out the MBLEx mobility form. This form gives FSMTB the authority to send out your scores to third parties that you designate. You will have to pay a fee for this service. Requests can take up to two weeks to process.

You are responsible for submitting your exam scores to state licensing boards. These boards will not just take your word that you passed the MBLEx exam. They will require an official transcript or some other form of verification. Pay careful attention to your state licensing board’s deadline requirements to ensure you get the paperwork to the board on time.

Retaking the MBLEx
Not everyone passes the MBLEx exam the first time they take it. Perhaps you should have spent more time preparing or you had test day jitters. You will not be able to cancel your scores, but you will be able to retake the exam. There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the MBLEx exam. However, passing the exam is often a pre-requisite requirement to earning a state license. The longer it takes you to pass the exam, the longer it takes to earn your license.

Take a look at your score report to see which content areas caused you the most trouble. Then, start focusing your preparation on those areas. Once you feel you are ready to take the exam again, you will need to submit an MBLEx retake form to FSMTB. They will review your form and allow you to schedule a time to retake the exam. You will have to pay another exam fee.

What to Expect the Day of the MBLEx

It is only natural to feel a few test day jitters the day of your MBLEx exam. However, you can lessen those jitters with a little pre-planning. You don’t want to feel rushed the day of the exam. So, it would be wise to pre-plan your route to the Pearson Testing Center. It isn’t a bad idea to even do a dry run a few days or weeks before the big day.

When you scheduled your appointment to take the MBLEx exam, you were given a testing time. You need to make sure and arrive at least 30 minutes before that scheduled test time. This will give you ample time to check-in and get settled. Every Pearson Testing Center follows the same rules and procedures when it comes to administering the MBLEx exam. If you fail to comply with these rules, your scores will be cancelled and your fee will be forfeited.

What You Need to Bring
You are required to produce two forms of identification at check-in. Your primary form of identification must have a recent photograph and your signature on it. This can be a driver’s license, passport book, military ID, visa, Green Card, or state issued ID. Secondary forms of identification do not have to contain your photograph or signature. They can be a credit card, Social Security card, ATM card, or employee ID card. Your name on these identifications must match exactly to the name you provided on your registration form. If it does not, you can be denied entrance into the testing center.

You should also bring along your Pearson confirmation notice. Although rare, people have encountered glitches where the center does not have any record of your scheduled test. If you can produce your confirmation notice, it can speed the process of seating you.

At the testing center, a fingerprint scan will be taken along with a digital photograph. These are taken to deter cheating. If you leave and reenter the testing room for any reason, your photo and fingerprint will be verified to make sure you are who you say you are.

What You Can’t Bring
You aren’t allowed to bring anything into the testing room. Pens, pencils, and paper are not needed. This is a computer based test and scratching down notes is not necessary. Purses, wallets, briefcases, and backpacks are not allowed inside because you could hide study materials. Cell phones, pagers, calculators, and watches are prohibited too. Even jewelry like large earrings and pendant necklaces are prohibited. People come up with all sorts of ways to cheat.

Each center will have small lockers were you can store your personal belongings. However, the center does not assume any liability if these items are stolen. If you don’t need it, then don’t bring it into the testing center. You will be asked if you have any of these prohibited items on you before you enter the testing room. If you are found smuggling in the items, you will be removed from the testing room, your scores can be cancelled, and you will lose your testing fee.

Testing Center Procedures
You will be seated at your own computer station. There isn’t much privacy here. If you are easily distracted, ask the test proctor if she can provide you with a set of ear plugs to block out the noise. The MBLEx exam is only 2 hours. There are no scheduled breaks, but you are allowed to leave the testing room. You must raise your hand and wait for the proctor to excuse you. You will be asked to provide a fingerprint scan before you are allowed to reenter the room.

Some MBLEx test-takers have never taken an exam on a computer before. As long as you have basic computer skills, you will do just fine. However, Pearson does offer you the opportunity to participate in a Demonstration test. You can do this in the comfort of your own home. Directions are provided when you register. The demo test will not be a sample MBLEx exam. However, it will show you how to operate the mouse, answer questions, switch screens, and change answers. Understanding how the computer operates before the day of the test will allow you to spend more of your precious test time answering questions.