What kind of input did the FSMTB seek in developing the MBLEx?
The FSMTB sought input from all professionals in the massage, bodywork and somatic practice field. The Federation wanted to find out exactly what people in the massage and bodywork profession are practicing around the country so we opened up the Job Analysis to everyone in both regulated and nonregulated states. We secured a team of 15 psychometricians and testing experts and a core group of 60 subject matter experts to create a list of all the tasks that a massage or bodywork therapist needs to perform in their job. This list of tasks was then validated by several thousand practitioners – 7,646 to be exact. The content for the MBLEx was based on this feedback from the thousands of practitioners around the country – that is why we say this is an exam for the profession, by the profession – and with heavy involvement of the regulatory community at every step.
