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 Credentialing Check List Make an Appointment to Take the Test Prepare for and Take the Test Apply to the State Step 1: Review ABMP Massage State Regulation Guide. Download Candidate Handbooks for MBLEx and/or NCBTMB Step 5: Review the content outline in the Candidate Handbook (MBLEx and NCB) Step 9: Review requirements on state website. Step 2: Review your Board of Massage website. Step 4: MBLEx: Schedule the test on www.fsmtb.org. Step 6: Plan study sessions and study. Step 7: Take sample tests and purchase a exam guide. Step 10: Complete the state application and submit with a fee. Step 11: Wait for your license to arrive. Step 3: Based on state requirements plan to take the MBLEx or NCB exam. 2 Step 4: NCBTMB: A. Complete and submit application. C. Schedule the test on www.ncbtmb.org. Step 8: Show up on assigned date and take the test. Celebrate!
STEP 1: Review ABMP s Massage State Regulation Guide 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. 3
Massage State Regulation Guide 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. State Liability Renewal Designation Educational hours Insurance CEU* hrs/year Exam(s) Required Additional Requirements Telephone Alabama Prior to license License (LMT) 650 16/2 NCBTMB and State Accredited school only 866-873-4664 Alaska 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 cation A. 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 OR 12/2 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 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 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 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. 4
Step 2: Review Your Board of Massage Website 1. Go to www.massagetherapy.com 2. Click Become a Massage Therapist 3. Click State Boards & Requirements 5
Step 2: Review Your Board of Massage Website 4. Click on the state and details will pop up including the board of massage contact information. 6
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.
STEP 3: Based on state requirements plan to take the MBLEx or NCBTMB exam MBLEx NCBTMB 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. 8
STEP 4: Make an Appointment to Take the Test 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. 9
10 Use one of these links to download the Candidate Handbook and schedule the test.
11 Explore these links to schedule a test and find out more information.
STEP 4: Make an Appointment to Take the Test 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. 12
13 Click Applicants and then use the links to find more information.
Prepare for and Take the Test 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. 14 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 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. 15 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 Condensed Notes Memory Cue Notes Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals www.abmp.com
Exam Preparation Form Class: Test Date: Chapters: Study Session #1 Size: Format: Study Session #5 Study Session #2 Key Topics Check Off Study Session #3 Study Session #4 Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals www.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 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. 20
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! 22 For more information or for additional resources visit www.abmp.com