Missouri Massage Therapist License Exam
To get licensed in Missouri, massage therapists are required to take a massage exam that covers such subjects as anatomy, physiology, pathology and kinesiology. Whether you live in St. Louis, Kansas City or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your massage license.
Need of a Massage License: A massage therapist needs a license to practice massage therapy in Missouri.
Who Grants a License: Licenses are granted by the Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage.
Qualifications to receive a License: A candidate needs to complete a minimum of 500 clock hours of supervised instruction from an approved school or program.
The candidate must pass one of the following exams:
- Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
- National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
- American Medical Massage Association National Board Certification Exam (AMMA NBCE)
For more information on qualifications, see Missouri Massage Therapist.
Applying for the Massage Exam: Candidates can apply online to take the MBLEx. More information can be found on the MBLEx in a Candidate Handbook.
The application to take the NCCAOM Exam can be found at NCCAOM application. More information can be found on the NCCAOM Exam in the Certification Handbook.
Information on NCCAOM’s Asian Bodywork Therapy can be found in the ABT Certification Handbook.
Test Content: The MBLEx and the NCCAOM Exam have the following content:
MBLEx
The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions with four choices provided for each question. Test takers have 110 minutes to complete the computer-based exam.
The exam is divided into eight content areas:
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Kinesiology
- Pathology, Contraindications, Areas of Caution, Special Populations
- Benefits and Physiological Effects of Techniques that Manipulate Soft Tissue
- Client Assessment, Reassessment, & Treatment Planning
- Overview of Massage & Bodywork History/Culture/Modalities
- Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, Regulations
- Guidelines for Professional Practice
NCCAOM - Asian Bodywork Therapy Exam
The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and test takers have two hours and thirty minutes to complete the computer-based exam. The exam uses an adaptive testing process, where the computer-based exam determines the level of the candidate based on whether a correct answer is given to a specific question. If a question is answered correctly, the next question is a bit more difficult. If the answer to a question is incorrect, the next question will be a bit easier. You are unable to return to a previous answer in the adaptive testing process. The adaptive testing process determines a candidate’s knowledge level and a certain level must be attained to pass the exam.
The exam is divided into eight content areas:
- Practice Management
- Assessment
- Analysis and Differentiation of Syndromes/Patterns
- Treatment Principle
- Evaluation/Adjustment of Treatment
- Client Education
- Apply Treatment
AMMA NBCE
The exam consists in 200 multiple choice questions and 5 multiple choice essay questions for a total of 205 multiple choice questions. Test takers have two hours to complete the paper/pencil based exam.
The exam is divided into four content areas:
- Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology Kinesiology
- Bony Landmarks
- Practice, Ethics, Jurisprudence and Treatment Components
- Clinical Interpretation
How to Apply for the License: Candidates must provide Board the following: (1) completed application; (2) transcript of completed course of study; (3) criminal background check; (4) proof of professional liability insurance and (5) verification from the NCBTMB, FSMTB, NCCAOM or AMMA NBCE of passage of the respective exam. The documents should be sent to:
Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage
3605 Missouri Boulevard
Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335
Phone: (573) 522-6277
Fax: (573) 751-0735
Fees: There are fees to apply to become a licensed massage therapist.
License Renewal Requirements: A massage therapist must renew their license every two years and complete at least 12 hours of continuing education.
Who Administers the Massage Tests: The MBLEx is administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). The NCCAOM is administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. The NBCE is administered by the American Medical Massage Association.
Applicable Regulations: Massage therapists in Missouri are regulated by Chapter 2, Massage Therapist Licensure Requirements, 20 CSR 2197-2.010 et seq.
