If you need help studying for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free NCETMB practice test!
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the NCETMB exam, you’ll have to meet the requirements below:
- You need a current massage therapy license
- You must have proof that you graduated from a formal training program
If you meet one of these requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
There are 140 questions on the exam, which are grouped into seven domains, and the time limit is 140 minutes (2 hours and 20 minutes).
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the NCETMB exam.
1. Massage Modalities, Techniques, And Manual Forces
20% of the exam
Knowledge
- Tension/decompression
- Friction/shearing
- Stretching
- Hydrotherapy
- Indications and contraindications
- Vibration
- Tapotement
- Client/patient positioning
- Bending
- Appropriate tools and appropriate use
- Efficient body mechanics
- General massage protocols
- Compression
- Benefits and effects of modalities, and techniques
- Modality literacy
- PNF, MFR, pin and stretch, etc.
- Torsion
- Range of motion
- Muscle Energy Techniques
- Special population
Tasks
- Determine applicable massage techniques when working with clients
- Identify fundamental characteristics of bodywork modalities
- Perform proper body mechanics while working with different populations
- Position clients for comfort and safety
- Apply massage techniques safely
- Perform massage on special populations
- Identify contraindications and apply affective techniques
2. Applied Science: Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Pathology/Injury, and Pharmacology
25% of the exam
Knowledge
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Kinesiology
- Pharmacology
- Standard precautions
- Endangerment sites
Tasks
- Identify structures and functions of all body systems
- Identify muscle and joint physiology
- Recognize mechanics of body movement
- Identify and apply range of motion techniques
- Identify endangerment/cautionary sites
- Recognize muscle and orthopedic testing
- Identify indications and contraindications of common prescription drugs
- Determine proper stretching techniques and “end feels”
3. Professional Communication
15% of the exam
Knowledge
- Medical terminology
- How to communicate with client/patient in understandable terms
- Reporting formats
- HIPAA
- Communication with clients/patients
- Client/patient sensitivity and vulnerabilities
- Verbal and non-verbal cues
- Informed consent
Tasks
- Effectively communicate with clients when explaining treatment plans
- Describe techniques, anatomy, physiology and kinesiology in understandable terms
- Identify HIPAA procedures
- Work within client comfort levels
- Adapt to verbal and non-verbal cues when working with clients
- Document sessions appropriate to the work setting
- Uphold all HIPAA confidentiality standards
- Effectively communicate in proper medical terminology when working with other healthcare professionals
4. Professionalism & Ethics
10% of the exam
Knowledge
- Current standard of care for safe and effective massage
- Professional boundaries
- Draping laws and techniques
- When to refer clients to other health professionals
- When, why and how to refuse treatment
- How to report misconduct and who to report to
- Transference and countertransference
Tasks
- Maintain proper physical and emotional boundaries
- Respect client’s right to say no
- Identify when to refer out and whom to refer clients with pathologies
- Identify transference and countertransference situations
- Identify when to refuse to treat clients
- Identify correct entities to report client or fellow massage therapist’s misconduct
5. Laws & Business Practices
5% of the exam
Knowledge
- Appropriate draping
- Continuing education requirements
- Scope of practice and applicable licensing laws
- Record-keeping
Tasks
- Maintain client confidentiality
- Perform only within the massage therapy scope of practice
- Maintain appropriate draping for client protection and privacy
- Represent educational and professional qualifications honestly
- Demonstrate proper business and client record keeping
- Abide by national organizations’ code of conduct and policies
- Comply with all federal state and local laws
6. Assessment
25% of the exam
Knowledge
- Comprehensive intake
- Interview and data collection techniques
- Observation techniques
- Range of motion
- Treatment session planning techniques in collaboration with client/patient and other healthcare professionals when necessary
- Indications and contraindications
- Functional assessments and reassessments
- Customized treatments
- Pain scale and pain management
- Medical terminology
- Clinical reasoning
- Research associated with massage therapy
Tasks
- Conduct an effective and thorough intake interview to gather information
- Interpret client health history information
- Customize treatment plans to fit the needs of each client
- Discuss treatment plan and alternate plans if requested by the client
- Determine common pain scale descriptions
- Utilize palpatory skills to assess soft tissue
- Perform and interpret active and passive range of motion assessments
- Perform and interpret postural analysis
- Perform and interpret gait assessment
- Perform and interpret manual resistance tests
- Perform and interpret special orthopedic tests
- Reassess client movement, strength and range of motion post–treatment
- Document all findings properly pre and post treatment and change treatment plans accordingly
- Collaborate with other healthcare professionals as needed
- Communicate using appropriate medical terminology when speaking with other medical professionals and in official documentation
- Work effectively as part of an integrated healthcare team
- Recognize and analyze research
- Identify different areas of research
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam!
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on NCBTMB’s website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the testing fee, which is $275.
NCETMB Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 250 and 500.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test after a 45-day waiting period.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake the test.
FAQs
How many questions are on the NCETMB exam?
The exam contains 140 questions.
What is the time limit for the NCETMB exam?
The exam is timed at 140 minutes.
What is the passing score for the NCETMB exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 410 to pass.
How much does the NCETMB exam cost?
The testing fee is $275.