Florida will require that new massage therapists seeking state licensure pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) as an entry-level competence exam, marking a switch from the state´s current use of the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), the MBLEx´s creators announced May 2.
According to a statement from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), Florida will adopt the MBLEx on Aug. 1 and use it exclusively as of May 1, 2009.
The MBLEx was introduced Oct. 1, 2007, with eight states adopting it by late October. Last month Florida joined Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia to become the 16th State to recognize the MBLEx.
Founded in 2005, the FSMTB developed the MBLEx to provide a reliable exam under control of state regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing massage and bodywork practice, rather than having examinations administered by a third-party organization, such as the NCETMB's National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, whose exam some states accept.
The Federation quickly grew after its founding and now has 28 states as members, nearly three-quarters of states that regulate the profession. "Exclusive use of the MBLEx is the sound approach to protecting the public and giving the profession a uniform credential that would be recognized anywhere in the United States," said FSMTB President Patty Glenn, L.M.T.
Massage therapy health benefits include: Reduced blood pressure, improved posture, enhanced postoperative rehabilitation, increased range of motion, and balance restoration. Massage therapy can be effective in alleviating symptoms of fibromyalgia, Parkinson´s disease, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders, joint dysfunction, asthma/bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis. Massage therapy has been integrated into many medical settings for treatment of health conditions ranging from general stress to serious illnesses.
Today´s massage therapists are ...
- Most likely to enter the massage therapy profession as a second career.
- Most likely to be sole practitioners.
- Working an average of 19 hours a week providing massage (excluding time spent on other business tasks such as billing, bookkeeping, supplies, maintaining equipment, marketing, scheduling, etc.)
- Charging an average of $60 for one hour of massage.
- Earning an average wage of $39 an hour (including tip) for all massage related work.
- Giving an average of 41 massages per month.
- Likely to provide massage therapy in a number of settings, including their own home, spa/salon, their own office, a healthcare setting, or health club/athletic facility.*
*Source, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals.
For information about Acupuncture & Massage College´s Masters of Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs call Joe Calareso at (305) 595-9500. For information about AMC´s Stop Smoking and PTSD acupuncture study programs, which are currently registering participants, ask for Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician.
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