Are you preparing for the MBLEx US Federal Massage Exam but feel overwhelmed as to where to start?

Have you collected a lot of learning materials but feel confused and disorganized?

If you are worried about the MBLEx federal massage exam, you must not miss this “Ultimate Exam Preparation Guide”!

Hello everyone, I am Teacher Xu from Yibei Education!

Preparing for the federal exam is no easy task. The exam content is extensive, the exam is difficult, and requires a lot of professional knowledge. The exam process is also very long, requiring a lot of time and energy. Not to mention the various difficulties and challenges that everyone will encounter during the long preparation process!

for example:

  • I don’t know the scope of the exam and don’t know where to start.
  • Lack of reliable exam preparation materials and learning resources, and not knowing how to obtain them
  • Poor learning results and inability to grasp key and difficult knowledge
  • Lack of preparation plans and methods, not knowing how to prepare for the exam efficiently
  • Lack of confidence and motivation to continue preparing for the exam

In order to solve everyone’s worries at once, today I will explain every aspect of the Federal Massage Examination clearly and thoroughly!

After reading this article, you will have a clear, easy-to-implement and stick-to solution to all these questions and confusions!

Our article will cover the following:

  • What does the US Federal Massage Exam MBLEx test? —— (Exam scope and knowledge points of the US Federal Massage Exam MBLEx)
  • How to take the exam? ——(Exam format of the US Federal Massage Examination MBLEx)
  • How to make a detailed, easy-to-stick study plan that suits you?
  • What are the correct steps to prepare for the exam? Should I read the book first or do the exercises first? Is it more important to do the exercises or to learn the knowledge points? Where can I find systematic and complete study materials?
  • Is the training course reliable? Is it legal?
  • How to deal with exam stress and anxiety during exam preparation?

CTA: Yibei is committed to providing various exam information and preparation guides for Chinese compatriots preparing for the federal exam. You can subscribe to our WeChat public account to get the latest exam information and industry reports for free!

So, in response to the various problems and challenges you encounter during the MBLEx preparation process, today we bring you:

“The Ultimate Preparation Guide for the US Federal Massage Exam MBLEx (2023 Latest Edition)”

1. What is the test?

The MBLEx is an exam developed and administered by the National Certification Board for Massage Therapists (NCBTMB) to assess the knowledge and skill level of massage therapists. The following is a detailed description of the MBLEx:

Examination Scope

MBLEx stands for Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination, which covers knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, technique and application of massage therapy, ethics and professional conduct, medical terminology, interpretive skills, client assessment and record keeping, safety and sanitation, and laws and regulations.

Main knowledge points involved

  1. Anatomy and physiology: including muscles, bones, joints, nerves, circulatory and digestive systems.
  2. Pathology: The study of disease and the effects of illness on various systems of the body.
  3. Massage therapy techniques and applications: including different types of massage, techniques and skills, application scope, indications and contraindications, etc.
  4. Ethics and professional conduct: including ethics, professional codes of conduct, professional standards, privacy and client confidentiality.
  5. Medical Terminology: Learn medical terminology and phraseology to communicate with other healthcare professionals.
  6. Explanatory skills: Express your opinions and suggestions in front of clients to help them understand the benefits and effects of massage therapy.
  7. Client Assessment and Records: Perform comprehensive client assessments and accurately record the client’s health status and treatment progress.
  8. Safety and Sanitation: Understand the sanitation and disinfection standards regarding massage therapy rooms and equipment, and be able to ensure the safety of massage therapy.
  9. Laws and Regulations: Be familiar with the laws and regulations governing the practice and operation of massage therapists, including licensing requirements and business management.

2. How to take the test? ( Exam format)

  • MBLEx is a computer-adaptive test
  • A total of 100 multiple-choice questions
  • The language of the exam is English
  • The exam duration is 2 hours
  • After the test, the score report will be printed immediately
  • Candidates must first submit an application for the exam and complete the exam within six months after receiving the exam number.

(Click here to view: How to apply for the exam)

  • The exam fee is $265
  • During the exam, candidates need to be supervised in the reserved examination room to ensure the fairness and authenticity of the exam.
  • Examination content and format are strictly controlled to ensure that candidates can fully demonstrate their knowledge and skills

⚠️ The “computer adaptive test” mentioned here refers to the continuous adjustment of questions based on the test-taker’s answer status. In other words: if you answer a question about a certain knowledge point incorrectly, the next question will be changed to test the same knowledge point again.

3. How to prepare for the exam? (Correct steps to prepare for the exam)

（1）Be familiar with the examination syllabus

The FSMTB official website provides the official exam outline, listing the various parts and question types of the exam. However, in terms of the actual exam, there is still a big gap between the exam outline and the actual exam questions.

Therefore, the exam outline is just a reference for everyone. For students who are not familiar with the exam content, they can have a general framework and impression.

(2) Keyword learning method

I suggest that you learn the knowledge points before doing the questions, and when learning the knowledge points, write the key points and keywords on cards, and take them out to memorize them repeatedly when you are free or in fragmented time.

For Chinese masseurs, memorizing professional English vocabulary is a big obstacle. Word cards can effectively help you memorize those difficult and uncommon massage professional vocabulary.

In order to help you remember knowledge points and keywords more easily, we have also produced many videos for you to remember keywords and detailed explanations of knowledge points. Yibei members can watch it for free. If you haven’t registered a free account yet, you can click here

(3) Take a mock test after learning each section of knowledge

Everyone has a different learning method. Some people like to read books and organize their own knowledge points, while others don’t like long essays and prefer to do a lot of exercises. In fact, from a scientific and practical point of view, these two common learning methods are not effective enough.

The most effective way to study is to use your own vocabulary cards or notes to consolidate the knowledge you have learned after learning each section of knowledge, and then do exercises to verify your level of mastery and fill in the gaps. Just reading books or doing exercises is not a good choice.

(4) Seek counseling or help

During the learning process, if you encounter knowledge points that you don’t understand, don’t skip them.

Because the current federal massage exam is a computer-adaptive exam, if you encounter a knowledge point that you don’t understand during the exam and answer the question incorrectly, the system will determine that you have not fully mastered this knowledge point, and will continue to test this knowledge point in a different way in the following questions.

Therefore, if you come across a point of knowledge that you don’t understand, you must find a way to understand it. You can check it online, ask your teacher, or ask for help from classmates who have taken the exam!

Yibei has been focusing on tutoring for the Federal Massage Exam MBLEx. So if you encounter any knowledge points you don’t understand, you can use the dialog box on the website, add Teacher Xu on WeChat ybmblex, or call (702) 892-7688 directly to ask questions. We will answer all your questions!

(5) Pre-exam simulation

After learning the knowledge points, memorizing the key points and keywords, and completing the section test and chapter test, don’t rush to sign up for the exam. Be sure to review your notes and look over the questions you got wrong before.

The most important thing is to do mock exam training. Because the venue, time and atmosphere of the exam are very different from our usual study and test at home. Many students get very nervous when they enter the exam room, which leads to poor performance and missed opportunities.

You can find some online mock exams for practice. Our Yibei paid courses also provide you with a “mock exam” session, and there are also wrong question collections for each student to practice, as well as high-frequency wrong question exercises that everyone is prone to make mistakes in.

Interested students can click here to register for a free trial course!

By following the five steps above step by step, you can prepare for the federal exam in an orderly manner without worrying about what to do next!

Let me review the preparation process with you again:

  1. Be familiar with the exam syllabus (have a rough outline of what you need to learn)
  2. Learn knowledge points (take notes of key points and keywords)
  3. Section quizzes (test immediately after learning to find out gaps and fill them in)
  4. If you encounter a point of knowledge that you don’t understand, be sure to seek help until you understand it.
  5. Pre-exam simulation and review of wrong examination questions are crucial!

We can see that the US Federal Massage Exam MBLEx covers a lot of content and the preparation period for the exam is also very long. Many of our students are middle-aged and elderly people in their 40s and 50s, their memory is not as good as that of young people, and their English level is almost zero.

So, in the long and detailed preparation process, how do we deal with the pressure of the exam and overcome our anxiety? I think a detailed, easy-to-stick, and suitable study plan is essential!

So, how do you make such a study plan?

1. First, set a deadline for yourself

The most confusing thing about the federal massage exam is that it is not like the college entrance examination or university exams, which have a fixed exam time. You can register for the federal massage exam at any time, which can easily make people lose their sense of urgency and give up halfway through studying.

So the first column of your study plan should be the deadline you set for yourself. For example:

It will take me 3 months (or half a year) to pass the federal massage exam.

I want to register on XX month XX

I will take the exam at XX examination room on XX month

…

⚠️ When submitting an exam application for the first time, the massage school must send a transcript to the examination bureau for certification. The exam number will be issued in 7-10 days and is valid for half a year. Only with the exam number can you make an appointment for the exam time. There are examination centers all over the United States.

The more detailed the time setting is, the better. You can also specify how many hours you study every day and what content you study in what time period.

2. List the overall framework and then go into each section

Break down the big goal (passing the federal massage exam) into specific, achievable goals. For example:

  • There are several chapters in total
  • How many sections are there in each chapter?
  • Each step in each section
  • How much time do you need to spend on learning knowledge points, memorizing keywords, and taking section tests?

Make your study goals specific to each day or even each hour. Once you have made a plan, follow it strictly and you will be able to see your progress clearly, which can greatly reduce your anxiety!

3. The plan should be rigorous, but also leave enough space for yourself

Have you all made New Year’s resolutions? When we make a plan, we are always full of confidence and ambition. We write down all the goals we want to achieve and fill our daily schedule.

But this kind of high-spirited plan is always abandoned within less than a month or even a week. This is because: you don’t leave yourself room to breathe!

You expect to study for 5 hours every day, 7 days a week. But we always get tired, unexpected situations arise, and we don’t want to study. If we schedule too much, we will most likely not be able to follow the plan strictly.

Therefore, when making plans, you should leave yourself some breathing space, such as leaving yourself two days of rest a week, or reserving a few “emergency” rest days every month.

4. Write down your expectations!

Finally, write down on paper what you hope your life will be like after you pass the federal massage exam!

It could be: I finally put down the big stone in my heart and no longer have to worry about not having a massage license!

It could be: After working so hard for so long, I finally fulfilled a wish and now I can relax!

It can also be what you want to do after passing the exam: take a long vacation, spend time with your family, or go traveling!

…

Writing down all your wishes and aspirations in black and white on a schedule will encourage you to persevere when you are tired and want to give up!

In addition, when you feel stressed or encounter bottlenecks, you can also join our learning exchange group to share experiences with comrades on the same front and encourage each other!

You can also leave your email address here to get the study plan we have designed for free!

Simply fill in the corresponding information in the form and you can get a study plan tailored for you!

Finally, it’s our Q&A session!

Q1: Can I attend a training course or tutoring institution for the federal massage exam? Is it legal? Will it affect my eligibility and exam results?

A1: Tutoring institutions for this type of professional exams are legal, and there are tutoring institutions for various languages. The examination board will not cancel the test results due to participation in exam training.

Yibei’s Federal Massage Examination is a bilingual course in Chinese and English, mainly targeting Chinese masseurs with no English foundation.

There are also purely English tutoring institutions on the market, and you can make a reasonable choice based on your English level.

You can also click on the link to the Elbe official website below the video to take a free trial and see if our teaching method is suitable for you!

Q2: How to deal with exam stress and anxiety during the preparation process?

A2:

  1. Seek help and support in time: you can prepare for the exam with colleagues or peers, seek help from a teacher you trust, or tell your family and friends about your exam plan and get moral support from them!
  2. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: In addition to studying and practicing, it is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising properly can help you stay alert and energized, and better cope with exam stress and anxiety.
  3. Break down large learning tasks into small steps: refer to the previous study plan.
  4. Pay attention to time planning: The exam time is limited, so you need to pay attention to time planning and ensure that you complete all the exam content within the exam time. Please note that if you do not finish answering the questions, all the previous answers will be invalid.

Finally, let me give you some encouragement!

As we all know, being a massage therapist in the United States is a good choice: good working environment and high salary. But at the same time, this job also faces many challenges. For example, our topic today: the Federal Massage Exam is a challenge that must be overcome to become a qualified massage therapist.

If you are caught working without a license, both the masseur and the massage parlor owner who hired the unlicensed masseur will face serious consequences. If you don’t know the relevant legal knowledge in the United States, you can click here to view: Uncovering the hidden rules of the American massage industry!

In short, in today’s United States, to become a legal massage therapist, you must pass the federal massage exam and obtain a massage license.

In addition, preparing for the federal massage exam MBLEx is also an opportunity to improve your abilities and qualities. In the process of preparing for the exam, we will learn a lot of massage knowledge and skills, and at the same time, we can exercise our learning ability and test-taking ability.

Therefore, whether you are preparing to work in the massage industry or to broaden your career development path, preparing for the US Federal Massage Exam MBLEx is worth your effort!

Yibei will provide you with the most effective help on your road to exam preparation!

We provide you with free:

  • Fun Word Memorization
  • Key knowledge points
  • Study methods and exam experience sharing
  • Federal Massage Certificate Application and Renewal Guide

Subscribe to our channel to make your federal exam preparation journey easier!

Of course, we also offer paid federal tutoring courses, including:

  • Video courses with detailed explanations of knowledge points in Chinese and English
  • Word cards and keyword cards memory
  • Section Test
  • Wrong Question Collection
  • Practice Exams
  • Professional teachers answer questions 24 hours a day
  • Real-time communication in learning groups

We provide you with a complete set of study tools to make your preparation for the exam more physical, mental, efficient, and easier!

You can register an account for free here and get a 7-day free trial course!

Click here to listen for free

Looking forward to your joining!