MBLEx

Overview

The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) is the entry-level licensing exam for massage therapists in the United States. It is run by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), whose members are the massage therapy regulators of US states and territories. State boards use a passing result as part of their licence decision.

FSMTB decides whether you may sit the exam. Your state board decides whether you meet its licence requirements, and only the state board can issue a licence.

Who can apply

To take the MBLEx you must:

• submit a complete MBLEx application with the fee;

• have your massage education program verify your education directly with FSMTB through its Education Verification Center; and

• agree to follow FSMTB's examination policies.

Under FSMTB's education policy, you must show either that you are enrolled in, and have been taught every subject area of the content outline by, an approved massage therapy program, or that you have graduated from one. An approved program is one recognised by the massage regulator of the state where the school is located; where that state does not approve programs, FSMTB decides. Some states require you to have finished your program before they issue a licence.

Exam pattern

If you do not answer all 100 questions within the 110 minutes, you fail.

Syllabus

The content outline has seven areas. FSMTB gives each share as approximate:

Anatomy and physiology covers the structure and function of body systems, tissue injury and repair, and concepts of energetic anatomy. Kinesiology covers skeletal muscle, contractions, proprioceptors, muscle locations and attachments, and range of motion.

Marking and results

Results are reported only as pass or fail. If you pass, a message appears on screen when you finish. If you fail, you get a diagnostic report showing your performance in each content area.

FSMTB sends your official result electronically to the state board named on your application within five business days of the exam. FSMTB sends official results only to massage regulators, never to employers or schools.

Fees

As listed in the 2026 Candidate Handbook:

• Application fee: US$265, paid when you apply. It is not refundable or transferable.

• Rescheduling or cancelling with Pearson within 60 days of your appointment: US$50.

• Result Transfer Form to send your result to another state: US$40.

How to apply

1. Read the whole Candidate Handbook, which FSMTB requires before you apply.

2. Create an FSMTB Examination Account and submit the application with the fee.

3. Make sure your school verifies your education with FSMTB. An application stays open for six months; if it is not complete by then, it expires and you must apply and pay again.

4. FSMTB processes a complete application in about five business days and emails an Authorization to Test (ATT).

5. Book your appointment with Pearson within the dates on your ATT. Same-day and walk-in appointments are not allowed. Changes can be made up to 24 hours before the appointment.

If your ATT expires, or you miss or arrive late for your appointment, you must reapply and pay again.

After the exam

Passing the MBLEx is not a licence or a certification. You must then apply to the state board where you plan to work and meet all of its other requirements.

FSMTB does not limit how many times you can take the MBLEx, but your state board may. To retake it, you submit a new application and pay the fee in force at that time. If you have already passed, you can retest only with written permission from a state board.

Preparation tips

• Use the content outline and its weights to plan your study time.

• FSMTB offers the MBLEx Check, a timed practice test with 100 questions that shows which ones you got right and wrong.

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early with a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID and a second signed ID. The name must match your application and ATT exactly.

• Do not write on the note board before the timed exam starts; doing so ends your attempt.