Important Exams Required for Massage Programs

There are a couple of important exams required for massage programs in most states, although the requirements for licensure vary from state to state, so it is best if you look into the exact standards for your specific state before you move forward. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork offers two different examinations for certification which are the most common across the nation. These are the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Some states also require their own unique examinations, and some might not regulate this industry at all.

Before moving forward with any of the important exams required for massage programs, it is necessary to check with your state’s massage licensing board. There should be contact information available on the Internet for your specific state by using a search engine. You must pass your state’s required examinations in order to legally practice there. Some states allow anyone who has passed the appropriate National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork exams in one state to apply for licensing in another state using the same test score. Other states have their own tests, and some might even require massage therapists to apply for reciprocity, which is the enforcement, exchange or recognition of licenses, obligations or privileges between states.

With all that being said, chances are that you will be required to take one of the two important exams required for massage programs through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. These examinations focus on general body systems knowledge, pathology, professional standards and ethics, therapeutic massage application, therapeutic massage assessment and on understanding anatomy, kinesiology and physiology. You will be expected to answer multiple-choice questions and get a certain number correct in order to get your license. Before taking the exam, you must have completed at least 500 hours of supervised instruction and graduated from an accredited massage therapy school. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork has a list of accredited schools on their Web site.

Institutions offering quality Massage Therapy Programs include American Institute – Cortiva Institute, Apollo College, Kaplan College, Keiser University, Utah College of Massage Therapy and Western Career College.

Find the perfect Massage School today or Massage Therapy College and start your path to a rewarding career.