Getting Your Massage Credentials Checklist and Resources

Introduction

The process of taking your credentialing exam and obtaining your state license or registration

can seem daunting. This handout provides you with a checklist and visual reference to demystify

the procedure. Review the diagram on page 2 and then follow the steps by previewing the

resources you can find on the Internet.

1

Know Your State

Requirements

Step 1: Review ABMP Massage State

Regulation Guide.

Step 2: Review your Board of Massage

website.

Step 3: Based on state requirements plan to

take the MBLEx or NCB exam.

Make an Appointment

to Take the Test

Download Candidate Handbooks for MBLEx

and/or NCBTMB

Step 4: MBLEx: Schedule the test on

www.fsmtb.org.

Step 4: NCBTMB:

A. Complete and submit application.

C. Schedule the test on www.ncbtmb.org.

Prepare for and Take the

Test

Step 5: Review the content outline in the Candidate Handbook (MBLEx and NCB)

Step 6: Plan study sessions and study.

Step 7: Take sample tests and purchase a

exam guide.

Step 8: Show up on assigned date and take

the test.

Apply to the State

Step 9: Review requirements on state

website.

Step 10: Complete the state application and

submit with a fee.

Step 11: Wait for your license to arrive.

Celebrate!

Credentialing Check List

2

STEP 1: Review ABMP’s Massage State Regulation Guide

3

On the next two pages you can review ABMP’s Massage State

Regulation Guide. It provides you with a quick overview of your

state’s regulatory requirements for massage therapy. For example,

you can find out if the MBLEx exam, NCBTMB exam, or both

exams are accepted by your state for credentialing. You can also find

out if you need to complete a background check, carry a current

CPR card, take a jurisprudence exam (an exam on the laws of your

state related to massage), or other activity essential to obtain

credentials. Review this card and know your state requirements

before moving on to Step 2.

Use this card to check out each state’s regulatory requirements for massage therapy. To get the most up-to-date information, log in at www.abmp.com and click on the legislative state map member section, or call 800-458-2267. Last update March 2011.

MBLEx: licensing exam offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. *CEU: continuing education hours required for renewal of license. NCBTMB offers 2 exams, the NCETMB and NCETM; check with your state to determine which it accepts.

State Liability Insurance Designation Educational hours Renewal

CEU* hrs/year Exam(s) Required Additional Requirements Telephone

Alabama Prior to license License (LMT) 650 16/2 NCBTMB and State Accredited school only 866-873-4664Alaska No state regulation Local requirements apply

Arizona License (LMT) 700 25/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB (unless grad from AZ USDE accredited school) Background check 602-542-8604

Arkansas License (LMT) 500 18/2 MBLEx TB test, background check 501-683-1448

California Voluntary certifi cationA. Therapist (CMT) B. Practitioner (CMP)

A. 500 B. 250 none/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB accepted as

alternative to education background check 916-669-5336

Colorado Prior to registration Registration (RMT) 500 none/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Background check 303-894-7800

Connecticut License (LMT) 500 24/4 NCBTMB Accredited school only 860-509-7603

Delaware A. License (Therapist-LMT) OR B. Certifi cation (Technician-CMT)

A. 500 B. 300

24/2 OR12/2

A. NCBTMB B. not required CPR, temporary license 302-744-4500

District of Columbia License (LMT) 500 12/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Accredited school only, CPR 877-672-2174

Florida License (LMT) 500 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Medical error prevention course 850-245-4161

Georgia License (LMT) 500 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB 478-207-2440

Hawaii License (LMT) 570 none/2 Hawaii state CPR 808-587-3222

Idaho No state regulation Local requirements apply

Illinois License (LMT) 500 24/2 NCBTMB Background check 217-785-0800

Indiana Prior to Certifi ciation Certifi cation (CMT) 500 TBD MBLEx OR NCBTMB 317-234-2051

Iowa License (LMT) 500 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB CPR 515-281-6959

Kansas No state regulation Local requirements apply

Kentucky License (LMT) 600 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB 502-564-3296

Louisiana License (LMT) 500 12/1 MBLEx OR NCBTMB AND Verbal Provisional license available 225-771-4090

Maine License (LMT) 500 none/1 yr MBLEx OR NCBTMB alternative to education CPR, background check 207-624-8603

Maryland A. License (LMT) or B. Registration (RMT)

A. 500 and 60 college credit OR B. 500 24/2 NCBTMB OR NCCAOM Accredited school only, CPR, jurisprudence exam 410-764-4665

Massachusetts Prior to license License (LMT) 650 TBD/1 not required 617-727-1747

Michigan Licensing law passed; not yet implemented. 500 Local requirements apply 517-335-0918

Minnesota No state regulation Local requirements apply

Massage State Regulation Guide

State Liability Insurance Designation Educational hours Renewal

CEU hrs/year Exam(s) Required Additional Requirements Telephone

Mississippi License (LMT) 700 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB CPR, state exam 601-732-6038

Missouri Prior to license License (LMT) 500 12/2y MBLEx OR NCBTMB OR NCCAOM Background check, state exam, provisional license 573-522-6277

Montana License (LMT) 500 12/2yr MBLEx OR NCBTMB grandfathering will end July 1, 2012 406-841-2305

Nebraska License (LMT) 1000 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB 402-471-2115

Nevada License (LMT) 500 12/1 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Background check, temporary license 775-688-1888

New Hampshire License (LMT) 750 12/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB CPR, first aid 603-271-0277

New Jersey Certification (CMT) 500 20/2 NCETMB accepted as alternative to education Background check, CPR 973-504-6430

New Mexico License (LMT) 650 16/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Jurisprudence exam, first aid, CPR 505-476-4870

New York License (LMT) 1000 none/3 NY state CPR 518-474-3817

North Carolina License (LMT) 500 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB OR OBTE OR NCCAOM Background check 919-546-0050

North Dakota License (LMT) 750 32/2 NCBTMB physical exam, no contagious disease, CPR 701-872-4895

Ohio License (LMT) 750 none/ 2 OH state Background check 614-466-3934

Oklahoma No state regulation Local requirements apply

Oregon License (LMT) 500 25/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Practical exam, jurisprudence exam, CPR, background check 503-365-8657

Pennsylvania License (LMT) 600 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB grandfathering will end December 2011 717-783-7155

Puerto Rico License (LMT) 1000 TBD/3 TBD CPR, health certificate, background check 787-725-8538

Rhode Island License (LMT) 500 none/1 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Health certificate, background check 401-222-2827

South Carolina License (LMT) 500 12/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB 803-896-4490

South Dakota Prior to license License (LMT) 500 8/1 MBLEx OR NCBTMB 605-271-7103

Tennessee License (LMT) 500 25/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Background check, jurisprudence exam 615-253-3202

Texas License (LMT) 500 12/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Background check 512-834-6616

Utah License (LMT) 600 none/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB Background check, jurisprudence exam, temp. license avail. 801-530-6628

Vermont No state regulation Local requirements apply

Virginia Certification (CMT) 500 24/2 NCBTMB Provisional certification available 804-662-9909

Washington License (LMP) 500 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB HIV - AIDS training, jurisprudence exam, CPR/first aid, background check 360-236-4700

West Virginia License (LMT) 500 24/2 MBLEx OR NCBTMB 304-558-1060

Wisconsin Prior to license License (LMT) 600 TBD/2 MBLEX OR NCBTMB OR NCCAOM AED/CPR/first aid, jurisprudence exam 608-266-2112

Wyoming No state regulation Contact your city clerk to find local requirements.

MBLEx licensing exam offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. * CEU - Continuing education hours required for renewal of license. NCBTMB offers 2 exams - NCETMB and NCETM. check your state to determine which it accepts.

STEP 2:Review Your Board of Massage Website

4

Most states that regulate massage have Internet resources for

massage therapists. You want to review this website now to better

understand the requirements for your state. ABMP has quick

links to each board of massage website. Review the visual guides

on upcoming pages and go to www.massagetherapy.com. Simply

follow the directions on the screen shot of

www.massagetherapy.com to find a direct link to the resources

related to your state.

Go to www.massagetherapy.com

1.

2.

Click “Become a Massage Therapist”

3. Click “State Boards & Requirements”

Step 2: Review Your

Board of Massage

Website

5

Click on the state and details will

pop up including the board of

massage contact information.

Step 2: Review

Your Board of

Massage Website

6

4.

Review Your Board of Massage Website

7

This is the board of massage website for Maine. Notice that links on

this page describe everything you need to know to practice massage in

the state of Maine. Explore all the links on your board of massage

website to better understand practice requirements in your state.

8

MBLEx NCBTMB

STEP 3: Based on state requirements plan to take the MBLEx or NCBTMB exam

In some states you will not have an option as to which test you take. You will take the test

required by your state. For example, Virginia only accepts the MBLEx and would not accept

your application if you submitted results from the NCBTMB exam. In other states you have a

choice. Carefully review the fees, application process, and testing process for both tests and

then make a decision about which exam you want to take to obtain your massage credentials.

STEP 4: Make an Appointment to Take the Test

9

Let’s look at the process to take the MBLEx first. The MBLEx

does not require an application to test because taking a test and

passing it are not sufficient to obtain state massage credentials.

Anyone can take the test but only a person who has graduated

from a state-approved massage school and submitted the test

results along with other required documentation would receive

massage credentials. For this reason the process to schedule an

appointment to take the MBLEx is easy. You simply log on to

www.fsmtb.org and click the link to schedule the test as shown

on the upcoming visual guide.

Use one of these

links to

download the

Candidate

Handbook and

schedule the test.

10

Explore these links to schedule a test and find out

more information. 11

STEP 4: Make an Appointment to Take the Test

12

The process to make an appointment for the NCBTMB exam is

more complicated than the MBLEx but not difficult. In this case

you want to download the Candidate Handbook and follow the

directions. You will need to complete an application and then

wait for a letter which gives you approval to test and directions

for your next steps. When you have the letter you schedule a

test date and time on www.ncbtmb.org as shown on the

upcoming visual guide.

13

Click “Applicants”

and then use the

links to find more

information.

Prepare for and Take the Test

14

STEP 5: Both the MBLEx and the NCBTMB provide Candidate

Handbooks which include content outlines. Content outlines tell

you the subject areas covered by the test so that you know which

topics to study. Both tests require a solid understanding of

anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Use ABMP’s Exam

Preparation Form to plan study sessions.

STEP 6: Use the content outlines to plan study sessions. Review

the Single Topic Study Sheet on the next page. Make up study

sheets for all of the topics and sub-topics you need to study. Place

the sheets in a notebook and review them regularly. Also plan to

study with friends from your massage program. It can be very

helpful to talk through information in discussion groups.

Prepare for and Take the Test

15

STEP 7: Both the MBLEx and the NCBTMB provide online practice tests you can use as part of your preparation. This is very useful because you get a feel for the testing environment and better understand the way in which questions will be asked and answered. A number of massage textbook publishers offer exam preparation guides. The purchase of one of these guides (available on www.amazon.com) is also helpful. The following pages show you where to find the practice tests and provide one example of an exam guide.

STEP 8: Review the Candidate Handbook and make sure to bring the required testing documentation. For example, a picture ID is required. Show up early on the day of your test and make sure to have a snack before your test time. Warm up with practice quizzes and keep breathing!

16

The location of the practice test for the MBLEx is located

under the heading, CBT Tutorial. When you click on that link it

will take you to a new website as shown on the next page.

Single Topic Study Sheet

Class: Exam Date:

Quiz Questions

© Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionalswww.abmp.com

Memory Cue Notes

Condensed Notes

Exam Preparation Form

Class:

Test Date:

Chapters:

Size:

Format:

Study Session #1

Study Session #2

Study Session #3

Study Session #4

Study Session #5

Key Topics Check Off

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© Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionalswww.abmp.com

17

Pearson Vue is the

group that provides

the test platform for

the MBLEx. You

simply download

the test to your

computer.

18

The practice test for the NCBTMB exam costs $20. Click on the

“Applicants” link and then find the title “Study aids” in the drop

down list. On the Study aids page click on the “Online Practice

Exam” link and it will take you through a payment process and give

you directions for taking the practice test.

19

Here is an

example of an

exam

preparation

guide. This one is

great because it

comes with

online practice

exams.

5. Apply to the State

20

STEP 9: After you have taken and passed your test you want

to review the requirements for your state on the state board

of massage website.

STEP 10: Usually, you must complete an application and

submit it along with a fee and other documentation to your

state. Each state is different and so it is important to read the

information on your state board of massage website carefully

and follow the directions. The next page provides an

example.

Each state board of massage website is different. Review all of the links on

the website for your state now to understand how the website is

organized and to prepare for graduation. This is the Washington site and

you can see that it is well organized. It is easy to find the application form

and the requirements for practice in the state.

21

Celebrate! You did it!

For more information or for additional resources visit

www.abmp.com 22