News and Media

FSMTB Applauds AMTA’s Endorsement of MBLEx as Preferred Entry-Level Licensing Examination in All States

February 3, 2009

Contact: Debra Persinger, Ph.D.
Executive Director, FSMTB
dpersinger@fsmtb.org / 913.681.0380

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 2009

(Overland Park, Kan.) – The Board of Directors of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) wishes to acknowledge the leadership of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) in endorsing the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) as the best choice of a licensing exam that can lead to portability of massage practice.

Kevin Snedden, LMT, FSMTB president and chair of the Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage stated “we appreciate the thoughtful deliberations and ultimate support of the AMTA resulting in endorsement of the MBLEx as the only exam for entry level licensing in the massage therapy profession. This is a monumental step towards portability of licensure in our field and for the evolution of our profession.”

The MBLEx was developed with input from more than 7,600 massage and bodywork professionals, state regulatory agencies and subject matter experts in massage and bodywork education and practice. It was introduced in October 2007 and has been rapidly accepted by 16 state regulatory boards and agencies for licensure, thus far.

Like AMTA, the FSMTB sees voluntary certification as a valuable cornerstone of the profession. The Federation continues to hope that the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) will recognize that the profession has evolved and that NCBTMB’s true purpose in the industry is with certification. We encourage NCBTMB to fully support the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, the regulatory process, and the benefits of a single licensing exam owned, operated and designed specifically to meet the needs of the regulatory community in their role of public protection.

About FSMTB
The Federation’s mission is to support its member boards in their work of public protection, improve communication between states and offer prospects for enhanced licensing reciprocity for the ultimate benefit of safe massage and bodywork practice protecting consumers.

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