What you need to know
Depending on your area of interest and expertise, you may choose to take either the NCETM (National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage) or the NCETMB (National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork). Both lead to national certification, but there are slight differences in exam content.
Eligibility criteria
The eligibility criteria for NCETM and NCETMB are the same:
- A minimum of 500 hours of in-class, supervised instruction as follows:
125 hours of body systems, anatomy, physiology and kinesiology
200 hours of massage and bodywork assessment, theory and application
40 hours of pathology
10 hours of business and ethics (minimum of 6 hours in ethics)
125 hours of additional instruction in an area or related field that theoretically completes the massage program of study
- Graduation from a school that is approved to provide massage therapy and/or bodywork training in the state in which it is located
For individuals who do not meet these eligibility requirements, there is an alternative known as Portfolio Review. This process allows applicants the opportunity to demonstrate that they have training and experience equivalent to the standard eligibility requirements. See the Portfolio Review Handbook for the National Certification Examinations for details.
Content areas
The content areas of the two exams are similar, with slight variations in the percentage weights of content areas. The critical difference between the two is that the NCETMB includes questions about bodywork assessment and application. Content areas of both exams include:
- General knowledge of body systems
- Detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology
- Pathology
- Therapeutic assessment
- Therapeutic application
- Professional standards, ethics, business and legal practices
For a comprehensive breakdown of content areas and percentages, see the National Certification Examination Candidate Handbook.
Additional option
NCBTMB offers an option to the NCETM and NCETMB. The NESL (National Examination for States Licensing) was adopted for states that use NCBTMB exams, but do not require applicants for licensure to become certified by NCBTMB. Applicants take the same exams, but they are not required to become certified. |
