North Carolina Massage Therapist Exam
To get licensed in North Carolina, massage therapists are required to take a massage exam that covers such subjects as anatomy, physiology, pathology and kinesiology. Whether you live in Charlotte, Greensboro 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 North Carolina.
Who Grants a License: Licenses are granted by the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.
Qualifications to receive a License: A candidate needs to complete a minimum of 500 in-class hours of supervised instruction from an approved school or program. The candidate must also pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) or the Oriental Bodywork Therapy Examination (OBTE).
Candidates must also pass a state jurisprudence exam.
For more information on qualifications, see North Carolina 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
Jurisprudence Exam: The North Carolina Jurisprudence Exam is a thirty question multiple-choice exam taken on the internet. To pass the exam, the candidate has to score 100%. Candidates can take the exam as many times as they need during the application process to pass the test. Each test is different. For more information, see North Carolina Jurisprudence Exam.
How to Apply for the License: To obtain the license application package, you must download an Application Request Form.
The form must be mailed to the Board with a fee to:
North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
PO Box 2539
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: (919) 546-0050
Fees: There are fees to apply to become a licensed massage therapist.
Who administers the Massage Test: The MBLEx is administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB); and the OBTE is administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
License Renewal Requirements: A massage therapist must renew their license every two years and complete at least 24 hours of continuing education.
Applicable Regulations: Massage therapists in North Carolina are regulated by Title 21, Chapter 30, North Carolina Administrative Code, Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.
