The MBLEx is scheduled to undergo some minor changes in July of 2014.
Although, you probably won’t even notice the changes unless you have taken the exam previously. I know you want to be as prepared as possible for your exam day, so let’s review what is going to happen.
Changes the FSMTB will implement have to do with how the MBLEx is weighted, or the number of questions you will be asked per category. Not all category percentages will be changed. I will detail these changes below.
The number of questions on the MBLEx will decrease from 125 to 100.
The amount of time allowed to complete the exam will decrease from 2 1/2 hours to 2 hours. Of this time, a maximum of five minutes is allotted to the security and confidentiality agreement and five minutes to a brief survey.
Another change has to do with how soon you can take the exam again after a failing attempt. If you do not pass the MBLEx after July 1st, you must wait thirty (30) days from the previous examination attempt before you take it again.
Before July 1st, the exam will be the same as it has been the past few years. Here are the current category percentages (until July 1st, 2014):
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology | 14% |
| Kinesiology | 11% |
| Pathology, Contradictions, Areas of Caution, Special Populations | 13% |
| Benefits and Physiological Effects of Techniques that Manipulate Soft Tissue | 17% |
| Client Assessment, Reassessment & Treatment Planning | 17% |
| Overview of Massage & Bodywork History/Culture/Modalities | 5% |
| Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, Regulations | 13% |
| Guidelines For Professional Practice | 10% |
Here are categories undergoing changes on July 1st, 2014.
(From the MBLEx Candidate Handbook)
“Effective July 1, 2014, the MBLEx will reflect changes in weighting of the following content categories:
- Anatomy & Physiology – 12% (reduced from 14%)
- Benefits and Physiological Effects of Techniques that Manipulate Soft tissue – 14% (reduced from 17%)
- Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, Regulations – 15% (increased from 13%)
- Guidelines for Professional Practice – 13% (increased from 10%)”
All other categories will remain the same.
Here is what the complete breakdown of the MBLEx will look like after July 1st,2014:
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology | 12% |
| Kinesiology | 11% |
| Pathology, Contradictions, Areas of Caution, Special Populations | 13% |
| Benefits and Physiological Effects of Techniques that Manipulate Soft Tissue | 14% |
| Client Assessment, Reassessment & Treatment Planning | 17% |
| Overview of Massage & Bodywork History/Culture/Modalities | 5% |
| Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, Regulations | 15% |
| Guidelines For Professional Practice | 13% |
Before you get excited about the drop in the anatomy & physiology percentage, the handbook also states:
“The following changes will be made to the MBLEx Content language and categories:
ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
• C. Healthcare related and medical terminology will be relocated to – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE and revised to reflect, H. Healthcare and business terminology”
See that? Relocated.
Some of the anatomy & physiology questions are just moving, not completely going way.
And that is it.
Ready to study?
The Massage Exam Academy study package includes a new MBLEx Exam Simulation with updated percentages available for those that will be taking the exam after July 1st, 2014.
There is also a practice quiz specifically for brushing up on your medical terminology knowledge.
You can email anytime here you have a question or concern at ivy@massageexamacademy.com.
Visual Display of Changes
Hi my name is Michelle. I live in Houston. I have taken the MBLEX exam twice and failed. I will be attempting to retake it on July 14. I’m at a lost and do not no of a a book to study. It’s hard to study when you don’t know what they are going to ask. Can you give me any advice. Thank you in advance.
Hi Michelle,
The FSMTB gives you hints of what you should study for, by listing the resources they use and giving you a breakdown of content on the exam. Using those as a base for planning what to study is best. Learning the information so you can apply that knowledge to any exam question is the best way to prepare. Too many people look for memorizing questions and then are unprepared when questions look different on the exam. Make a plan to study and stick to it.