MBLEx, NCETM or NCETMB: Which exam should I take?
How do you know which licensing or certification exam to take?
- Find out which exam is required in the state you want to perform massage.
- If all of them are accepted then you need to decide what you want.
- The MBLEx is a licensing exam; there are no CEUs required, no renewal fee, no certification standing
- The NCETM and NCETMB is a certification exam which will give you a certification. To keep your certification you will need to renew and perform continuing education.
- There is also another exam, NESL, please see the NCBTMB website below for more information on that exam.
- If you are planning to work in a state that doesn’t require you to take either, than you can decide whether or not you want to take a licensing exam or a certification exam depending on what you are hoping to accomplish with taking the exam.
- Some therapists choose to take both and that is acceptable as well
To learn more about these exams please go to:
www.fsmtb.org - MBLEx
www.ncbtmb.org - NCETM, NCETMB and NESL
Mascots Need Massage Too!
Maynard Mallard prepares for a big night of cheering the Madison Mallards to victory under the capable hands of Madison-West massage student Mary Delp.
Massage Students in La Crosse Hit One Out of The Park!
The Globe University massage students in La Crosse, WI hit one out of the park when they performed chair massage at the La Crosse Loggers Game.
It even looks like Louie the Mascott liked his massage!
Service Learning at the Special Olympics
By: Regina Hughes, Massage Program Chair, Plymouth, MN
On June 17th students from the Plymouth campus participated in chair massage at the Special Olympics at the University of Minnesota. This was a service learning project for the Business of Massage class, but we also had other students join in on the event. There was a lot of excitement and nervousness before going. We had a great time with the athletes and felt honored to be part of such a spectacular event. The heat was on and it was an exceptionally hot day. This did not stop us from seeing over 200 hundred athletes!! On this day I was particularly proud to be with our students and part of this special day. It was a huge success and we have been invited to return again next year.
As part of the project students were asked to complete an essay about their day and how you can use volunteerism to promote your business and network. Below are excerpts from the students essays and I think it sums up the experience perfectly!
“Giving massages at the Special Olympics was an amazing experience for me. I felt like I actually made a difference in peoples’ days. All the athletes were so grateful that we had free massages for them”.
“It really made me feel good to volunteer and help others out. The Special Olympics is a great organization and it was wonderful to be part of it for that day.”
“I got something out of this event and I am glad it was required. I learned a lot about myself as a massage therapist, getting comfortable outside my norm.”
“Little positive statements were just flying around under the canopy; words like, “I’m so relaxed now”, and “you’re the best” were being repeated regularly. It was really fantastic to witness what a good time everybody was having.”
“Our School motto is “MSB cares” and it was evident that day. I know I couldn’t stop smiling.”
“Not only was this a great opportunity to practice our skills in massage and work in the public, it was also great chance to interact with our classmates outside of the classroom setting.”
“I’m not sure who enjoyed it more to be honest. It felt so good to be doing something like this, and I for sure want to be involved in events like the Special Olympics in the future.”
“Being part of the volunteer group of Special Olympics is a truly satisfying and rewarding experience for me. Volunteering in any way is such a rewarding activity in itself.”
“With each athlete came a different bond through touch, a different story, and once again, another rush of self satisfaction for me to display proudly in my smile.”
Globe University Massage Students are on Fire!
The La Crosse Campus Massage students in the Anatomy and Physiology for Massage class performed chair and table massages June 15th at the Fire House for the Jim Klobuchar Bike Memorial in La Crescent. In a 2 hour time they raised $270 for the La Crescent Food Shelf! Way to go Guys! Check out our pics!
Submitted by Aimee Miritello, Massage Coordinator, La Crosse Globe campus
UCC West Jordan Campus Massage Students Give Back to the Community
Pictures and article submitted by:
Debbi McFarlane-Clayton, Service Learning Coordinator at the West Jordan UCC campus
On the 7th of May UCC Massage team was invited to Westbrook Elementary for teacher appreciation by the PTA president Trinda Burdett. She asked if the students would come and give the teachers a chair massage for that day. Dave Hunter, the Program Chair, took 5 students and one graduate to the school to provide the teachers a great experience with the students. The students that participated were William Reisner, Wendy Wright, Deborah Roebuck, Jessika Thurgood, and Richard Nielson. The graduate was Jim Riley.
The students worked on over 40 different teachers and gave a great deal of information out about the college and the free clinic on Fridays.
On the 16th of April 2010, the massage team was invited back by Kathryn Peterson to help with the UPS’s United Way Campaign. UCC had five students and one graduate participate. The students involved were Richard Nielson, Deborah Roebuck, Jessica Thurgood, Julie Albiston, Wendy Wright and a graduate, Jim Riley.
Kathryn said “UPS truly believes that it is important to give back to the community we live in. The United Way is a great organization to support and a way of giving back”.
“It was so great to see you again and your well trained and professional group of students and graduates. Please tell them all THANK YOU for their time and generosity. The Utah Career College helped us raise $364.00 for United Way. Every year UPS runs a United Way Campaign. Last year as a site of 500 employees we raised $69,919.00 and this year we anticipating raising close to the same amount. Hopefully we can have your group come back very soon!”
La Crosse Globe University Massage Students Massage Away Post Marathon Aches and Pains
Submitted by:
Aimee Miritello, Massage Program Coordinator
Globe University - La Crosse, WI
This past weekend, the massage students helped out at the 2010 Fitness Festival in La Crosse by providing post-event massages to the half and full marathoners! We had a blast, and they did such a great job that we’ve already been asked to come back for next year’s race! Way to go guys! Take a look at some pics from our day yesterday.
Way to go Travis!!!
Thank you so much to the following students and instructor for helping make this a success!
Brian Beard
Gena Allen
Linda Clark
David Tempke
Bill Freier
Duncan Beard (couldn’t have made it through without ya!)
Student Prepared Self - Care Newsletter
Please check out the Student Prepared Newsletter under the links on the right hand side of the screen. This newsletter was created by the Woodbury, MN Winter 2010 Business of Massage Students for their Service Learning Project.
You will find some great self - care tips.
Student Paper on His Deep Tissue/Trigger Point Course
Student: Jason C. Lage (jason.lage@students.msbcollege.edu)
January 19, 2010 (MS216) Deep Tissue/trigger point
Instructor: I. Rangen (irangen@msbcollege.edu)
Fortunately indeed, it is now official that this course will prove to be “important” in ways I am yet to foresee. My approach to new concepts, involving precise analysis goals for proficiency of techniques, professional and academic effectiveness in the enrolled program, while aspiring to run congruent with the global “scene” of therapeutic massage and medical industry has cultivated in me an ongoing self-knowledge test factor that illuminate’s a principle of perseverance. In my opinion, in order to acquire all of the great things I am persevering for, which seem to numerous off-hand to list appropriately.
Observation and sensitive listening skills have essentially become evidently essential as the course format is both lecture and demonstration. In addition, performing applications spontaneously, simultaneously, and sometimes scheduled keeps one disciplined in their focus of standards of ethics and spiritual posture. I have found myself positively impacted with new levels of appreciation for any and all dialogue, commentary, personal accounts, testimonies, (not so much the criticism), but in general even the gossip of the therapeutic massage practice community (Swedish too) and interestingly, especially the trigger point cosmos by fellow students and instructors.
Last week some neck palpation was demonstrated of a client in the supine position. Compression, stripping, and pincer techniques were observed.
Once designated to a lab partner and area, I was informed by the lab partner/client that a knot in their shoulder was indicated. The “knot” was reported to be pervasive, and intermittent. It was active at that very moment. It is no joke that the term knot may have been an understatement. The opportunity provided me the first time to palpate and perceive a trigger point in the trapezius. My initial palpation was intended to differentiate fascia from muscle, however the discovery of the “point” then stole my focus and challenged every aspect of my experience. “Milking” the trigger point seemed to prove most effective in my attempt to persuade the point to deactivate. The lab partner/client said after the 15-25 minute session the treatment had helped bring relief. I was elated to hear that. The massage table was not adjusted to my height correctly so my own body mechanic was compromised, a lesson learned in maximizing effectiveness in future practice.
Unexpected inspiration stemming from the trigger point workbook reading had occurred when the author mentions that by learning and figuring out how to fix his own pain, he felt a sense of pride and assurance knowing he could fix pain in others. This is an indication that we may benefit similarly if we persevere as he did.
Update on Minnesota Massage Regulation Bill
The SF 1233 bill - voluntary registration for massage therapists in MN - hit a wall last night. This bill had to be heard last night in the Senate Health, Housing and Security Committee, to be able to meet the 3/19/2010 deadline. Unfortunately, they did not get to this bill last night.
What this means is that the bill, in its current form, will not be able to move through the Senate this legislative term. The (ALMTMN) Alliance for Licensing Massage Therapist in Minnesota will continue to work together to create a new bill based on this bill. Changes will be made to improve language etc., based on some of the comments received from House and Senate members.
It is important to remember that a massage regulation bill in MN has never passed more than one committee in the house and this bill passed 4 house committees. This is unprecedented.
If you are interested in joining the ALMTMN, want to become a supporter or are just interested in learning more; please go to the following website.