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Examination
The Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) provides consistent and nationally recognized entry-level standards that assist state regulators in evaluating an individual’s ability to practice massage safely and competently. Examination
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Education
FSMTB plays a crucial role in supporting schools and promoting continuing education within the field of massage therapy. FSMTB recognizes the importance of maintaining standards in massage education to ensure that practitioners are well-prepared and equipped with the necessary skills. Education
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Regulation
FSMTB membership is comprised of the massage therapy regulatory boards and agencies in the United States and its territories. Through the provision of education, legislative policy expertise, and regulatory programs and services, FSMTB supports our members in their work to ensure that the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public safely and competently. Regulation
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News & Events
Stay up-to-date on industry news with updates from FSMTB. Network with fellow regulators and other industry professionals at FSMTB hosted events. News & Events
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Resource Center
The FSMTB wants to ensure that consumers of massage and bodywork services have adequate knowledge about what they can expect from a massage and bodywork practitioner. Most importantly, FSMTB wants to ensure that the public is aware of the requirements for licensure for each state and that resources are available to check the license status of practitioners. Resource Center

IMpact News

July 8, 2026 by Debra Persinger Ohio No Longer Connected to the IMpact

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed Senate Bill 276, adopting legislation based on an unrelated, significantly different variation of the original interstate massage compact. As a result, Ohio is no longer part of the official IMpact legislative framework already enacted by four states. The legislation signed in Ohio moves professional mobility and public safety backwards […]

 08 July 2026
January 22, 2026 by Debra Persinger FSMTB Response to CSG’s Statement Regarding the Interstate Massage Compact

Dear FSMTB Members and Associate Members – You may have received from Council of State Governments (CSG), communications to state massage boards — circumventing FSMTB — that are also reaching the broader massage profession. This contains a number of demonstrably inaccurate statements and mischaracterization of facts. In a dizzying betrayal of shared purpose, CSG has […]

 22 January 2026
November 25, 2025 by Debra Persinger Update on the IMpact™ — and How You Can Help

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) is providing this update to help clarify recent developments related to the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact™) and share how supporters of the IMpact can help support clarity and stability within the profession. Proposed revisions to the IMpact model legislation are circulating, and this is creating confusion for […]

 25 November 2025
November 3, 2025 by Debra Persinger FSMTB Statement on the Proposed Revisions to the Interstate Massage Compact

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB®) remains committed to advancing responsible and effective licensure mobility for massage therapists through the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact™). In mid-2021, FSMTB partnered with Council of State Governments (CSG) and the Defense-State Liaison Office (DSLO) under the US Department of Defense (DoD) to support the mobility of licensed […]

 03 November 2025
September 6, 2024 by Debra Persinger IMpact Intentions and Clarifying Examples

FSMTB supports efforts to establish compatible requirements and cooperative procedures for the legal regulation of massage therapists in order to facilitate professional mobility and to simplify and standardize the licensing process. The Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) provides an effective path towards meeting this goal. Recently, AMTA and FSMTB met to discuss concerns pertaining to IMpact, […]

 06 September 2024