News and Media

FSMTB Withholding Release of MBLEx Scores

January 29, 2014

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2014

(Overland Park, Kan. – January 28) – The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) initiated litigation on November 1, 2013 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against the Academy of Oriental Therapy, LLC., a massage therapy school, and certain identified individuals alleging copyright violations and trade secret infringement related to the intellectual property interests of the FSMTB Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx).

FSMTB has obligations to its member boards and the public served to ensure that the FSMTB MBLEx results demonstrate a valid measure of entry-level competence. As a result of the magnitude of the materials uncovered to date in its investigations related to the litigation and to protect the integrity of the MBLEx, the licensure process, the public served, and the student population, the FSMTB Board of Directors has determined to allow applicants from the Academy of Oriental Therapy to continue to access testing. However, MBLEx scores of AOT applicants will not be released until such time as FSMTB can validate that those exam scores are a true measurement of their competence.

The integrity of the examination program and the licensure process must be protected and FSMTB plans to vigorously pursue persons and entities found to violate the legal rights of the Federation. Questions regarding this litigation should be directed to the FSMTB Executive Director.

About FSMTB
The Federation’s mission is to support its member boards in their work to ensure that the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public in a safe and effective manner.

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