Massage Exam Academy

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Taking the MBLEx During the COVID Pandemic

Since March, I have had several emails from those that recently graduated from massage school under unusual circumstances. Some of you missed out on the last months of school, had to move to virtual classes, and are now finally able to take tEx. Maybe you missed your MBLEx preparation class, the clinical portion of your course, or other critical parts of your massage education.

Not only that, but you are also entering a profession where your job is to be in close proximity to people when all we can hear about is social distancing. Uncertainty and Anxiety are high everywhere. This is why I felt compelled to write today.

Today I wanna talk about some of those concerns, and hopefully put your mind at ease. As you can imagine, when I wrote “Taking the MBLEx in 2020”, I did not see any of this coming. How could any of us imagined massage therapy programs moving online, closed MBLEx testing centers, delayed careers, or state proclamations banning massage therapists from working?

But here we are. We can continue to social distance, slow down from unnecessary business and busyness, but that does not mean our dreams have to end just because of uncertainty.

“Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

― E.L. Doctorow

It is foggy right now and most of you can only see just so far into our exam preparations and future massage careers. And that is okay. You can still take steps every day to pass the MBLEx and plan your massage career. You can still make the whole trip that way.

Let’s take some simple steps today to address your questions and concerns.
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Which States Accept the MBLEx?


Whether you are considering moving to another state on a part-time basis, permanently moving across the country, or looking to explore the USA in your Airstream, you know you need to get a massage license there. And one of the first questions you may have is, “Does that state accept the MBLEx?”

The MBLEx is the best thing we have right now for license portability. Now, it does not permit you to just go practice massage in any state you want, but it does help you meet the entry-level licensing exam requirement in most states. Also, a licensing exam is only part of the equation.

In addition to passing an entry-level licensing exam, most states set a minimum number of hours for massage therapists seeking to apply by endorsement. Plus, applications, fees, background checks, school transcripts, jurisprudence tests, CPR certifications, and state license verifications may also be required. But we seem to focus on whether our exam is accepted because nobody likes to take exams.

How do I know which states accept the MBLEx?

Below is a link to each state’s massage therapy board and information about which exams it appears they accept. Most, but not all, of the below states accept the MBLEx. I have added additional links and information from applications, board websites, and board rules which may indicate accepted massage licensing exams.
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Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques to Help You Study for the MBLEx

Is the vicious cycle of feeling anxious and stressed affecting your MBLEx preparation? Stress affects how you study and how you process information. Because stress ultimately can affect your exam performance and outcome, you need to have tools that can that help you manage stress during this time.

There are many tools available to manage stress (massage, yoga, meditation), but today let’s focus on mindfulness.

What does mindfulness really mean?

Mindfulness is the psychological process of purposely bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment without judgment. According one of the people responsible for the growth of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness should revolve around the “here and now.”

You have likely heard the term “mindfulness” thrown around in recent years. Mindfulness made its modern debut in the early 1990s. However, it has been practiced in Buddhism for ages. If you are unfamiliar with what it means and what it can do for you as you prepare for your massage exam preparation, let’s talk more about that now.
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What to Do If You Fail the NYS Massage Exam


New York massage therapy license applicants should soon see the letter in the mail that they have been waiting weeks for, their New York massage therapy exam results. Maybe that day was today. And maybe that applicant was you.

Obviously, there are two possible exam results. However, I suspect many of you did not click on this article because you passed. I am betting you are here because you did not pass the New York State massage exam. I know this is not the news you wanted, whether you had a feeling you did not pass, or if you were shocked by this outcome. You may feel a little alone right now and unsure of what to do next.

Failure is a Bruise, Not a Tattoo

First, if you get one of these letters, I want to tell you this feeling is not permanent. This is not the end of your massage career dreams. It is okay to be disappointed, cry, or take a day to binge-watch “The Office”. Eventually, you will need to dust yourself off and make a new plan for your retake exam. And that is what I am going to help you do today. [Read more…]

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Studying for the MBLEx with Pomodoros

Pomodoro-MBLEx
It is hard to believe that Massage Exam Academy has been around almost ten years helping massage students and massage therapists study for the MBLEx, NYS, and Hawaii massage exams.

In that time, I have learned exam preparation does not come naturally to many future massage therapists. If you are feeling lost and lack knowing where to begin, or constantly asking yourself if you should start with Anatomy, Kinesiology, or Pathology- you are not alone. You may also feel you do not have time to study because of school, work, or family commitments. I know this uncertainty and pressure leads to feeling overwhelmed and usually procrastination.

This year I put out my MBLEx “Plan to Pass” as part of the Massage Exam Academy membership to help those struggling with the above problems. Each member is able to develop a plan so they know exactly where to begin, or if they truly struggle with a certain subject, and how to study when they are short on study time.

Today, I am going to talk about one particular study, or productivity, technique that works for lots of students and can be used as part of your plan to pass. It is called the Pomodoro Technique.

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