MBLEX Exam Format | MBLEX Course Contents | MBLEX Course Outline | MBLEX Exam Syllabus | MBLEX Exam Objectives

The FSMTB governs and administers the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). It serves the massage therapy and regulatory communities as the national entry-level licensure examination. The MBLEx is currently utilized for licensure in 46 of 49 regulated jurisdictions. These include the District of Columbia and the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.



The MBLEx is administered in both English and Spanish by Pearson VUE, the global leader in electronic testing services, at high-security test centers located throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.



To ensure that the MBLEx reflects current practice, FSMTB conducts a Job Task Analysis (JTA) Survey every five to seven years. The JTA seeks input from massage and bodywork professionals across the United States. This data is then used to analyze and revise MBLEx content as deemed necessary by the profession, guided by psychometric professionals.



The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) conducted a Job Task Analysis (JTA) in 2017 to ensure that the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) is assessing knowledge and skills relevant to entry-level competence. Thousands of massage and bodywork professionals participated in the JTA survey and a follow up analysis of the responses was reviewed by subject matter experts, psychometricians and FSMTB member board representatives. The FSMTB Board of Directors adopted the recommended test plan.



Content changes that will be implemented for all MBLEx administrations, effective July 1, 2018:



The section entitled Overview of Massage/Bodywork Modalities, History and Culture will no longer be a separate section.
Overview of Massage/Bodywork Modalities will be reassigned as a subcategory under the section entitled Benefits and Physiological Effects of Techniques that Manipulate Soft Tissue; and
History and Culture subcategories will no longer be tested.



The distribution of topics tested will be as follows:

Anatomy & Physiology changes from 12% to 11%

Kinesiology changes from 11% to 12%

Pathology, Contraindications, Areas of Caution, Special Population changes from 13% to 14%

Benefits and Physiological Effects of Techniques that Manipulate Soft Tissue changes from 14% to 15%

Client Assessment Reassessment & Treatment Planning remains at 17%

Ethics, Boundaries, Laws and Regulations changes from 15% to 16%

Guidelines for Professional Practice changes from 13% to 15%



ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY (11%)

A. System structure

• Circulation

• Digestive

• Endocrine

• Integumentary

• Lymphatic

• Muscular

• Nervous

• Reproduction

• Respiratory

• Skeletal

• Special Senses

• Urinary

B. System function

• Circulation

• Digestive

• Endocrine

• Integumentary

• Lymphatic

• Muscular

• Nervous

• Reproduction

• Respiratory

• Skeletal

• Special Senses

• Urinary

C. Tissue injury and repair

D. Concepts of energetic anatomy

KINESIOLOGY (12%)

A. Components and characteristics of muscles

B. Concepts of muscle contractions

C. Proprioceptors

D. Locations, attachments (origins, insertions), actions and fiber directions of muscles

E. Joint structure and function

F. Range of motion

• Active

• Passive

• Resistant

PATHOLOGY, CONTRAINDICATIONS, AREAS OF CAUTION, SPECIAL

POPULATIONS (14%)

A.Overview of Pathologies

B.Contraindications

• Site specific

• Pathology related

• Special populations

• Tools

• Special applications

C.Areas of caution

D.Special populations

E.Classes of medications

BENEFITS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TECHNIQUES THAT MANIPULATE SOFT TISSUE (15%)

A. Identification of the physiological effects of soft tissue manipulation

B. Psychological aspects and benefits of touch

C. Benefits of soft tissue manipulation for specific client populations

D. Soft tissue techniques

• Types of strokes

• Sequence of application

E. Hot/cold applications

F. Overview of massage/bodywork modalities

CLIENT ASSESSMENT, REASSESSMENT & TREATMENT PLANNING (17%)

A. Organization of a massage/bodywork session

B. Client consultation and evaluation

• Verbal intake

• Health history form

C. Written data collection

D. Visual assessment

• General

• Postural

E. Palpation assessment

F. Range of motion assessment

G. Clinical reasoning

• Ability to rule out contraindications

• Client treatment goal setting

• Evaluation of response to previous treatment

• Formulation of treatment strategy

ETHICS, BOUNDARIES, LAWS, REGULATIONS (16%)

A. Ethical behavior

B. Professional boundaries

C. Code of ethics violations

D. The therapeutic relationship

E. Dual relationships

F. Sexual misconduct

G. Massage/bodywork-related laws and regulations

H. Scope of practice

I. Professional communication

J. Confidentiality

K. Principles

GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (15%)

A. Proper and safe use of equipment and supplies

B. Therapist hygiene

C. Sanitation and cleanliness

D. Safety practices

• Facilities

• Therapist personal safety

• Client safety

E. Therapist care

• Body mechanics

• Protective gear (masks, gowns, gloves, etc)

• Self-care

• Injury prevention

F. Draping

• Safe and appropriate

• Communication

G. Business Practices

• Business planning

• Strategic planning
• Office management

• Marketing

• Hiring/Interviewing

• Documentation and Records

- Client records

- Business records

H. Healthcare and business terminology