LICENSING EXAMINATION (MBLEX)
CERTIFICATION EXAM | Q&A WITH
RATIONALES
1. The MBLEx is administered by which organization?
A) American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
B) National Certification Board for Therapeutic
Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
C) Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards
(FSMTB)
D) Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
(COMTA)
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The Federation of State Massage Therapy
Boards (FSMTB) develops and administers the
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination
(MBLEx).
2. How many multiple-choice questions are on the
MBLEx?
A) 50
B) 75
,C) 100
D) 125
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The MBLEx is comprised of 100 multiple-
choice questions.
3. What is the approximate percentage of the MBLEx
dedicated to Anatomy and Physiology?
A) 5%
B) 11%
C) 25%
D) 40%
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Anatomy and Physiology accounts for
approximately 11% of the MBLEx content.
4. Which of the following is NOT a content area tested
on the MBLEx?
A) Kinesiology
B) Pathology and Contraindications
C) Business Finance and Accounting
D) Ethics, Boundaries, Laws and Regulations
,Correct answer: C
Rationale: The MBLEx covers anatomy, physiology,
kinesiology, pathology, contraindications, ethics,
laws, and professional practice, but not business
finance and accounting.
5. The MBLEx content outline is created by the
FSMTB based on:
A) A survey of massage therapy educators
B) Input from state licensing boards only
C) A job task analysis of entry-level massage
therapists
D) Recommendations from the American Medical
Association
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The MBLEx content outline is developed
from a job task analysis of entry-level massage
therapists.
6. Which of the following best defines pathology?
A) The study of muscle function
B) The scientific study of the causes and effects of
disease
, C) The study of joint movement
D) The study of ethical principles
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Pathology is the scientific study of the
causes and effects of disease, illness, or injury.
7. A condition that makes a particular treatment
unsafe or inappropriate is called a:
A) Contraindication
B) Diagnosis
C) Prognosis
D) Syndrome
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A contraindication is a condition or factor
that makes a particular treatment unsafe or
inappropriate.
8. Which of the following is an absolute
contraindication for massage?
A) Mild muscle tension
B) Localized edema
C) Acute infectious disease with fever