The Difference between NCBTMB and MBLEx
Clarification
New Mexico Massage Therapy Board (NMMTB) is your state licensing agency who gives you a
license to operate as a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) in the state of New Mexico. Many states
have state licensing agencies as well. There are about 11 states who do not have “state” licensing –
they have municipal licensing – that is, each city in Kansas, for example, have their own set of
licensing requirements. You have to check with each city to determine what those requirements are.
This could be troublesome if you work in a large metropolitan area with numerous suburbs. Check the
following link for a summary of state requirements.
http://www.massagetherapy.com/_content/careers/MTreg.pdf
There are a few states such as Hawaii, Ohio and New York, that DO NOT accept NCBTMB or
MBLEx, choosing to have their own state exam.
There is no tie between NMMTB and NCBTMB or MBLEx other than New Mexico choosing not to
develop their own exam and instead accepts the exams from either of these two exam companies. The
state of New Mexico does the exact same thing for realtors, plumbers, barbers, beauticians, electricians
etc.
So simply, you obtain your license to practice massage from the state of New Mexico (NMMTB) but
have to pass the exam (and accepted by NMMTB) given by either NCBTMB or MBLEx.
NCBTMB
There is one decision to make and two choices of exams
Decision – decide to either take the exam with or without the “certification”. We suggest that you take
the NESL (without certification as you have the opportunity to purchase the “certification” within 6
months after you pass the exam for $50.00. If you fail the exam, you need only take the NESL again
saving you the additional $50 certification fee.)
NESL = National Examination for State Licensing
Whether or not you decide to take the NESL or the certification exam, you still have two choices of
exams to take …
NCETM - National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage
NCETMB - National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
The NCETMB (with bodyworks) includes the Asain arts.
NESL is the state licensing exam very similar to MBLEx – it is strictly the state licensing exam with
no other benefits or maintenance. Your choice of actual exams to take is still either NCETM or
NCETMB. There is no separate exam; you are only purchasing the non-certified version of the test.
Costs = $175.
NCETM (and NCETMB) are the exams with national certification that you can advertise as
“credentials”. You can use NCBTMB logos, include in your website, advertizing etc (with strict rules
of use). See the following link http://www.ncbtmb.org/certificants_business_tools_logos_agreement.php . For the difference between
NCETM and NCTMB exams please see pages 20 & 21 and 23 & 24 of the Candidate Handbook http://www.ncbtmb.org/applicants_candidate_handbook.php . You are “NCTM” certified. Requires
maintenance (48 hours of CE plus $125 renewal fee every four years.) Costs = $225
NCETMB - same as NCETM, but with the Asian and energetic systems (bodyworks) questions on the
exam. You are “NCTMB” certified. Requires maintenance (48 hours of CE plus $125 renewal fee
every four years.) Costs = $225.
NESL can be upgraded to NCETM or NCETMB (depending upon which test you passed) for $50 to
$75 depending on the timeframe after you pass this test.
The NCETM and NCETMB certifications (not the exams themselves) both require maintenance of 48
hours of continuing education every four (4) years at an NCBTMB approved instructor/school. (UTMI
is such a school) This includes 40 hours of instruction and 8 hours of Ethics. The 4-year renewal fee is
$125.00. The NCBTMB approved courses are more expensive because schools have to pay NCBTMB
for annual approval.
Almost any course that is NCBTMB approved will also serve to qualify for your state license renewal
(see below *). (However, not all state courses will comply with NCBTMB.) For New Mexico this
includes 16 hours - 12 hours in front of an instructor and 4 hours of Ethics (can be in front of an
instructor or on-line).
The best method is to take 24 hours of NCBTMB approved courses (20 hours of classroom class and 4
hours of ethics) during your first New Mexico renewal licensing period and the other 24 in the 2nd or
subsequent New Mexico 2-year renewal period. You will have qualified for the state of New Mexico
in two consecutive renewals as well as your 4 year NCBTMB renewal. Remember that these MUST be
from an NCBTMB approved school or instructor.
* Be careful. There may be a few courses that you can take on-line that are NCBTMB approved, but
since they are not “ in front of an instructor” they will NOT be approved by the state of New Mexico.
Also, be leery of instructors/schools that say they are NCBTMB approved. Ask for their school
number and provider number. Then check the NCBTMB website to verify. Some people advertise that
they are approved and in actuality they are not approved.
UTMI - NCBTMB provider number - 450364-07 and NBTMB school code - 020897
The downside to NCBTMB is if you fail the exams. It costs $225 each time you take the exam. If you
fail 3 times, you are required to take an additional 100 hours of education. If you fail 5 times, you are
required to take 500 hours of education. It doesn’t matter which exam you are taking or if you use
NESL, NCETM or NCETMB. This could possibly be very costly. There are specific rules for retesting
– see your candidate handbook. Many people will take the MBLEx exam rather than retake the
NCBTMB exam and forego having to pay for more training. At UTMI, you will not be charged for the
extra training if you graduated at UTMI. However, you may need to purchase updated books.
Also note that the renewal date for NCBTMB is the date you pass the exam. In New Mexico all state
licenses expire on 10/31 – approximately half on an even year (2012) and half on an odd year (2013).
MBLEx
First, the term MBLEx is the abbreviation of the actual exam (Massage Board Licensing Exam). The
company that developed the exam is FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards).
MBLEx is exactly like NSEL – no maintenance, no renewal and no continuing education. (You still
have to take continuing education to renew your New Mexico state licensing.) No extra training if you
fail the exam. However, you still have to pay for a new exam. Costs = $195
MBLEx is currently accepted in 33 US states while NCBTMB is in 39 states. See the following ABMP
link to compare for ALL states. http://www.massagetherapy.com/_content/careers/MTreg.pdf
Please note that MBLEx has been rapidly expanding since they started only in 2007. There is also one
state that accepts MBLEx, but not NCBTMB – Arkansas.
The exams are essentially the same, save for the difference between NCETM and NCETMB. MBLEx
is more like NCETM as it does not have bodywork questions. MBLEx does have a few images and
animations on their computerized exam that is reportedly helpful. But there are so few as not to make
much difference.
Both NCBTMB and MBLEx have ADA accommodations for individuals with disabilities. However, a
special application and documentation is required (generally from a doctor). One of the first questions
on the ADA application is – did you receive special accommodations from your school and please
describe those accommodations. You can ask for a reader, scribe, separate testing area, extra time to
take the exam or special adaptive computer equipment.
Currently in New Mexico, all exam testing facilities are sub-contracted out to a third company called
Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE is a high-security test center located at …
2500 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite LL-1B
Bank of Albuquerque Building (in the basement)
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Please read the Pearson VUE security rules.
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Practice Exams
There are several places you can take practice exams. All charge varying amounts …
http://www.starttest.com/7.0.0.0/cart.aspx?program=NCBTMBPT
www.TMBTESTS.com they have a free day the first Tuesday of each month
http://www.massage-exam.com/
Most of these sites have a few sample practice exams for no charge.
Study Guides
http://www.getbodysmart.com/index.htm Great anatomy study site
http://www.Massagenerd.com
MBLEx study guide
blank score sheet
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practice exams
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