2025 Edition

MBLEx Practice Exam

Take our free MBLEx practice exams with challenging questions, fully explained answers and instant scoring.

The MBLEx is a standardized certification exam produced by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards and used by many states to license or certify massage therapists.

The massage exam sections below are based on actual exam sections: Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology, Pathology and Contraindications: Physiological Effects of Massage, Client Assessment,  Ethics, Boundaries, Laws and Regulations and Guidelines for Professional Practice.

To prepare for the MBLEx, use our 1,000 question practice exam for the MBLEx authored by a team of instructors in the field of massage therapy.

 
 
 

Anatomy & Physiology

1. A client is asked to abduct her arms. Which of the following accurately describes her arm movement?
Study Online Instantly
MBLEx Practice Exam Questions Answers Study
Click to Save 50% Now
2. Which of the following suffixes indicate a sensitivity to pain?
3. What type of joint would be affected by rotator cuff tendinitis?
4. This is an image of a long bone. The arrow is pointing to ________________.
5. The kidneys are free floating organs that are held in place by adipose tissue in the thoracic area. What structure protects the kidneys from harm?
6. Which of the following muscles attach to the ischial tuberosity?
7. You go outside into cold weather without a coat. Your body reacts to the exposure with goosebumps and shivers. These reactions are all an attempt to return your body to ____.
8. A client has a hairline fracture in the left anterior, medial, distal femur. Where is this fracture located?
9. Which of the following is not one of the organ systems of the body?
10. All of the following are anatomical planes of the body except:
Study Online Instantly
MBLEx Practice Exam Questions Answers Study
Click to Save 50% Now
11. The five bone types are:
12. The scapula hosts many attachment sites. The lateral border is the attachment site for the:

Kinesiology

13. What muscle assists the prime mover by encouraging the same joint motion while helping to stabilize the moving joint?
14. While flexing the little toe, which muscle do we employ?
15. This set of muscles perform the same actions and are synergists:
16. An isolated contraction of which of the following is antagonistic to the action of vastus lateralis?
17. Muscle spindles are most sensitive to what type of stimulus?
18. The teres major is called this muscle's "little helper" as its synergist:
19. When performing a post isometric relaxation stretch the target muscle is lengthened until a mild stretch is felt. At that point the target muscle is contracted and then relaxed so the muscle can lengthen further. This is an example of innervating this proprioceptor:

Pathology & Contraindications

20. When working with adult clients who are on the autism spectrum, which of the following must be taken into consideration?
21. Olecranon bursitis occurs at which joint in the body?
Study Online Instantly
MBLEx Practice Exam Questions Answers Study
Click to Save 50% Now
22. A client complains of feeling cranky, being nervous, having frequent headaches, with a tingly feeling in her skin. She also has trouble sleeping. Of the following, which condition may be causing these symptoms?
23. Which of the following gender and age groups are most susceptible to osteoporosis?
24. A client presents with a small bulge at the bottom of his rib cage above his abdomen. The client tells you he has a hernia. What type of hernia does he have?
25. Which of the following is NOT an effective, safe massage treatment for someone with COPD?
26. A new client's intake form states they have been diagnosed with Cataplexy. What does this mean?

Physiological Effects of Massage

27. A client informs the massage therapist that she has been feeling "stressed" lately. The therapist suggests the use of Swedish massage. What hormone is typically reduced during Swedish massage?
28. During the repair phase of healing, stretching is a preferred technique. Why?
29. Massage reduces blood pressure by simulating which of the following:
30. What is the physiology behind the feeling of wellbeing brought on by massage attributed to?
31. Deep friction massage is indicated in which stage of healing?
Study Online Instantly
MBLEx Practice Exam Questions Answers Study
Click to Save 50% Now

Client Assessment

32. During your intake interview, your client tells you that she has had lower back pain and she points to her lower left back area. In what section of the S.O.A.P. notes would this go?
33. While performing a postural analysis on a client you note that she is slumped forward with the palms of her hands facing the sides of her legs. This would indicate:
34. While performing a deep tissue massage on a client, you notice the client's breathing change, almost like they are holding their breath. What is this an indication of?
35. A 30 year old client states that he has pes planus. How might this affect the client's body and movements?
36. Moving through initial client assessments, what is the best way for an LMT to get an accurate idea of a client's gait?

Ethics, Boundaries, Laws & Regulations

37. A client's demeanor reminds a massage therapist of her beloved uncle. This is an example of:
38. Therapists should maintain clear standards of practice for client draping to avoid crossing the:
39. If a massage therapist invokes a therapist's "right of refusal" to give massage in a case where massage is contraindicated, which specific principle of massage therapy is upheld?
40. A massage therapist has a friend who is a client. The massage therapist feels bad charging the client. From what is this feeling arising from?
41. A massage therapist is advising a client to take a certain medication. What boundary or rule is being broken?
42. To obtain informed consent all of the following are necessary, except:

Guidelines for Professional Practice

43. The two main stances for massage therapists to use for technique delivery are:
44. A massage therapist should avoid wearing wrinkled clothing, too much makeup and sexy attire as a matter of:
45. Which tax form would an independent contractor of a wellness center receive at the end of the calendar year?
46. All of the following are necessary to the legal practice of massage therapy, except:
47. A client may pay for massage therapy services with:
48. If a client has autonomy in a healthcare relationship, it means he or she has:

Massage History & Culture

49. Who standardized massage terminology and is given credit for bringing massage to the scientific community?
50. Which modality was created originally for pediatric clients as an option for acupuncture?
Study Online Instantly
MBLEx Practice Exam Questions Answers Study
Click to Save 50% Now

MBLEx is a trademark of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) that did not produce or endorse this material.

MBLEx Practice Exam Questions Answers Study

Quality starts with who wrote the material.
Our practice exam writer
s
:
Charles Celeste, LMT
, is an instructor in massage therapy at Brightwood College in California.  He has also taught at Baker College and was the program director at the American Career College.  He earned his BA in exercise science from California State University and holds an MBA.  He is MBLEx certified and has been praticing massage therapy for over ten years.


Michelle MacCubbin, LMT
, is an instructor in massage therapy at Miller-Motte Technical College in South Carolina.  Prior to this position, she was an instructor and program director at the McCann School of Business and Technology in Pennsylvania.  She is MBLEx certified with over ten years of experience in the field.


Sara Rennie, LMT
, is a massage instructor at the American Massage and Bodywork Institute in Virginia.  She also tutors students to help them pass the MBLEx. She has worked in the massage industry for over ten years.


Andrew Dacres, LMT
, is an instructor in massage therapy at the Atlanta School of Massage in Georgia.  He has also taught massage therapy at the Georgia Medical Institute and at Sanford-Brown College, where he introduced an MBLEx review class for graduating students. He is an MBLEx certified massage therapist with over ten years of experience in the field.


Chanel Andrade, LMT
, was the lead massage therapy instructor at Everest College for many eyars and, as part of her program, taught an MBLEx prep module.  She has practiced massage therapy for over ten years in California.
Passing the MBLEx is one of the last steps to attain a license as a professional massage therapist in many states.  The Actual MBLEx is 100 questions with a 1 hour and 50 minute (110 minutes) time limit.  Additionally, 5 minutes is allotted for a security agreement and another 5 minutes for a brief survey for a total of 2 hours (120 minutes). 

Actual MBLEx Content Outline (source: The FSMTB Handbook):

Anatomy & Physiology 
11-13 Questions (12%)

Benefits & Physiological Effects of Techniques that Manipulate Soft Tissue
13-16 Questions (14%)

Client Assessment, Reassessment & Treatment Planning
16-18 Questions (17%)

Ethics, Boundaries, Regulations, Laws
14-17 Questions (15%)

Kinesiology
10-12 Questions (11%)

Massage Overview & Bodywork History / Culture / Modalities
4-6 Questions (5%)

Pathology, Contraindications, Special Populations, Areas of Caution
12-15 Questions (13%)

Professional Practice Guidelines
12-15 Questions (13%)