What Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards does

Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit regulatory services organization founded in September 2005 and headquartered at 7300 College Boulevard, Suite 650, Overland Park, Kansas. The organization serves as the coordinating body for state massage therapy regulatory boards and agencies across 45 U.S. jurisdictions plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, providing safety, education, training, and management services to the massage therapy profession and to the public. Its membership comprises state licensing boards whose mission is public protection through standardized competency assessment.

The core product is the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), a computer-adaptive, 100-question, 110-minute entry-level licensure exam administered at Pearson VUE professional testing centers across all 50 states, DC, and U.S. territories; the MBLEx is accepted for licensure in 46 of the 49 regulated jurisdictions. Surrounding platforms include the Education Verification Center (EVC) for school-to-exam credential verification, REACH (Regulatory Education and Competence Hub) for online continuing education, the CE Registry (national database of approved CE courses, accepted in 27-29 states), the Massage Therapy Licensing Database (MTLD) for cross-jurisdictional information sharing and fraud prevention, the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) for multistate practice privileges, and Look up a License for public verification. Exam validity is maintained through a Job Task Analysis (most recently in 2022 with over 5,000 professional respondents).

FSMTB generates revenue primarily through five fee streams: MBLEx examination fees ($265 per attempt, non-refundable), exam result transfers ($40), continuing education provider registration ($100 first year, $125 annual renewal) plus $35 per 5-year course submission, MBLEx study tools ($25-$39.95), and custom school performance reports ($50). The go-to-motion combines enterprise relationships with state member boards (anchor institutional customers who do not pay FSMTB directly but funnel candidates), self-serve online platforms for individual practitioners and schools, and Pearson VUE's national testing infrastructure for exam delivery. The organization also receives grant funding from the U.S. Department of Defense (via the Defense-State Liaison Office) to support IMpact compact development.

Name

Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards

Legal name

Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards

Website

https://fsmtb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

A 501(c)(3) non-profit regulatory services organization founded in 2005 that delivers the MBLEx national licensing examination and supporting continuing education, license verification, and interstate mobility (IMpact) platforms to 45 state massage therapy regulatory boards across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Licensing and Regulatory Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Compliance, Certification & Continuing Education LMS (EDAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF), Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

Keywords

• Professional licensing examinations
• Massage therapy regulation
• Continuing education registry
• Licensure verification services
• Interstate licensure compact

Headquarters

HQ city

Overland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. MBLEx Examination Fees: Candidates pay $265 to take the MBLEx exam. Retake fees are also $265. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The exam is administered at Pearson VUE professional centers.
2. Exam Result Transfers: FSMTB charges $40 for transferring exam results to additional jurisdictions beyond the original designation.
3. CE Provider Registration: CE providers pay $100 for initial registration (first year) and $125 annual renewal. Course submissions cost $35 per course, valid for 5 years.
4. MBLEx Study Tools: Official MBLEx e-Study Guide sold for $35 (digital), print version for $39.95 (including shipping), and MBLEx Check practice exam for $25.
5. Custom Performance Reports: Schools can request additional custom School MBLEx Performance Reports for a $50 processing fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FSMTB administers the national MBLEx licensure examination and operates complementary platforms for education verification (EVC), continuing education (REACH, CE Registry), license verification (MTLD, Look up a License), and multistate practice (IMpact compact). The organization also provides regulatory resources, jurisprudence examinations, and member services to 45 state regulatory boards and agencies.

Product overview

FSMTB operates as a regulatory services organization offering a unified portfolio centered on the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), the national entry-level licensure exam. The ecosystem includes complementary platforms: the Education Verification Center (EVC) for school-to-exam verification, REACH for continuing education, and the CE Registry for course discovery. Supporting products include MBLEx Study Tools (e-Study Guide, Study Guide, MBLEx Check), Jurisprudence Examinations, and Result Transfer services. Core infrastructure includes the Massage Therapy Licensing Database (MTLD) and the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) for multistate practice. The organization also hosts annual meetings and the MBE Summit for professional community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) The national entry-level licensing examination for massage therapy, administered by FSMTB and utilized for licensure in 46 of 49 regulated jurisdictions. The computer-based exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 110 minutes at Pearson VUE testing centers.
• Education Verification Center (EVC)

Quantifiable outcome

• MBLEx utilized in 46 of 49 regulated jurisdictions for licensure
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• International SPA Association (ISPA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 April 2024FSMTB partnered with ISPA at their 2024 conference in Phoenix, Arizona from April 23-25, 2024. The partnership provided opportunity to connect with spa industry professionals and discuss massage therapy regulation. ISPA recognized IMpact.
• Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards (FARB)coreOthersFSMTB is a governing member of FARB, whose mission is to advance excellence in regulating the professions in the interest of public protection. FARB fulfills goals predominately in administration, assessment, and law.
• Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR)coreOthersFSMTB is an active member of CLEAR, an association of individuals, agencies, and organizations comprising the international professional and occupational regulation community.
• Pearson VUEcoreTechnology or IntegrationPearson VUE administers the MBLEx at its professional testing centers across all 50 states, DC, and US territories. Pearson VUE provides the secure testing infrastructure and computer adaptive testing capability.
• Council of State Governments (CSG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSG administered Department of Defense grant funds and facilitated IMpact development meetings. FSMTB partnered with CSG and DSLO in 2021 to support mobility of licensed massage therapists. Note: FSMTB has publicly opposed CSG's subsequent proposed revisions to the compact.
• Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerABMP collaborated with FSMTB to produce an MBLEx informational video featuring FSMTB's executive director addressing common concerns about the exam. Both organizations share commitment to helping massage professionals.
• The NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Network is an intelligence-driven counter-human trafficking organization focusing specifically on human trafficking in the massage industry. FSMTB partnered with The Network to co-author an article examining massage licensing fraud in education.
• National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC)minorOthersNHTRC is the national anti-human trafficking hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors and the anti-trafficking community. FSMTB provides their contact information on its countering human trafficking resources page.
• Polaris ProjectminorOthersPolaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. FSMTB provides their contact information on its countering human trafficking resources page.
• DHS Center for Countering Human TraffickingminorOthersDHS CCHT advances counter human trafficking law enforcement operations, protects victims, and enhances prevention efforts. FSMTB provides their information on its countering human trafficking resources page.
• The Atkinson FirmminorOthersThe Atkinson Firm hosts monthly 'Case Conversations' seminars for the regulatory community, reviewing recent case highlights and facilitating discussion on regulatory implications. FSMTB provides access codes to executive directors and board attorneys.
• Direct TravelminorOthersDirect Travel is the travel management company partnered with FSMTB to arrange airfare for sponsored attendees at the Annual Meeting.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT): FSBPT develops and administers the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for PT/PTA licensure across U.S. jurisdictions, operating a nearly identical regulatory assessment model to FSMTB's MBLEx, including exam development, continuing competence tools, and member board services.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): NCSBN administers the NCLEX-RN/PN licensure examinations and operates the Nursys national database, the most prominent analogue to FSMTB's MBLEx and MTLD, with an even more advanced interstate compact (Nurse Licensure Compact).
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): ASWB develops and delivers social work licensure examinations used across U.S. jurisdictions, paralleling FSMTB's role in standardizing entry-level competency assessment for a regulated allied health profession.
• National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE): NBCE administers standardized chiropractic licensure examinations (Parts I-IV) used by state boards, closely mirroring FSMTB's computer-based MBLEx model with Pearson VUE delivery and Job Task Analysis-driven exam development.
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): NBCC develops the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), operating a comparable assessment-and-certification model for licensed counselors across U.S. jurisdictions.
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): ARRT administers certification and continuing education programs for radiologic technologists, functioning as a credentialing body whose exam acceptance by state regulators closely parallels FSMTB's relationship with state massage therapy boards.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): NBRC provides credentialing examinations (CRT, RRT) for respiratory therapists, with state regulatory acceptance patterns directly comparable to how U.S. state boards accept FSMTB's MBLEx for massage therapy licensure.

Others

• Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards (FARB): FARB is a regulatory membership organization advancing excellence in occupational regulation. FSMTB is a governing member, and FARB also sponsors the 'Look up a License' service that FSMTB deploys — a peer-level institutional relationship in the regulatory ecosystem.
• Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP): ABMP is the largest U.S. membership association for massage and bodywork professionals and originally convened the 2005 meeting that created FSMTB. ABMP is both a partner and a potential alternative voice in setting continuing education and credentialing standards for the profession.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson VUE: Pearson VUE is the computer-based testing partner that delivers the MBLEx across all 50 states. While not a peer in the regulatory sense, Pearson VUE is the infrastructure backbone for nearly every major U.S. licensure and certification exam and represents the operational layer beneath FSMTB's exam business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FSMTB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/federation-of-state-massage-therapy-boards
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefsmtb
• Xx.com/fsmtb

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards