What The Texas Massage Therapy Exam Is Like

My massage instructor tried to tell us what the Texas massage therapy exam is like.

He prepared us each week, but I was still not prepared for how it would really be.

Two weeks before the exam, I got a packet describing both the written and the practical exam requirements.

I will try to convey to you what the Texas massage therapy state exam is like.

I had to go to Austin (the state capitol) for the exam so I spent the night before the exam at the hotel where the exam is given. It was a bit pricey, but at least I did not have to worry about traffic or parking early the next morning.

Hundreds of people in scrubs were all over the hotel. There were many sessions for both the practical and written tests for Friday and Saturday. I had no idea that there would be so many people candidates taking the tests.

At 7am on test day, I had to go down to a large banquet room and stand in a very long line. I then registered for both portions of the test, showing my testing card (mailed to me by the state board with the packet) and my photo ID. You will not be allowed to test without both of these important items.

Then we were each given a time for the written exam and for the practical exam. I was amazed as the officials went over the rules for the Texas massage therapy tests.

For the practical exam, I had to go up to the fourth floor at 10am in my scrubs with my sheets and bolster. 15 minutes before I was to test, I was given a small piece of paper telling me the two body parts to massage and the body part for joint mobilization. Not much time to prepare. This is what the Texas state exam for massage therapy is like.

I was also assigned a partner for the practical test. A partner is another student who you do not know. My partner never showed up so I had to use a proctor. The proctors are temporary workers hired by the testing company who know nothing about massage therapy.

When it was finally my turn, we entered a hotel room where there was a massage table, a TV camera and camera operator, and a timer.

I had to adjust the height of the table, put my sheets on it, help the proctor onto the table and tell her what to do and drape her.

My proctor would not undress so I had to massage her through her clothes. My instructor did not cover this when he went over Texas massage therapy exam information. I thought I would have points taken off for this but apparently I did not.

I was so worried and thrown by this that I was afraid I had failed the test. Lesson? Always be prepared for the unexpected and just do your best. You cannot control circumstances sometimes and worrying about them is futile.

Getting back to the test, the person behind the camera told me where to stand for the massage and when I was ready to begin, I had to walk over to the timer and set it for five minutes and turn it on. That is right, I had five minutes to do my demonstration.

I then walked back to the table, looked at the camera, introduced myself and began my demonstration. During this time, I had to tell the camera what I was doing and announce each time I did a different stroke and variation of the stroke and each time I changed body parts. When I finally finished I had to walk back over to the timer and turn it off.

It was nerve-wracking and I was a complete wreck, but I did finish my demonstration before the timer went off. I was so happy and relieved when it was over, yet I thought I would have to pay again and return in four months to retake the practical portion.

For the written test (which seemed like a piece of cake after the demonstration fiasco), I had to go into the banquet room at 2pm that same day after checking in through the long line and showing my photo ID again. A proctor showed each person where to sit. No drinks were allowed--only pencils and a small purse that had to be placed under our chairs. No backpacks, phones, or snacks.

They passed out the answer sheet and we had to bubble our names and ID number they gave us on it. Then they gave us the test booklets. Once each of the more than 500 candidates taking that particular test received a book, they allowed us to begin.

They told us we had three hours to complete the Texas massage therapy test but I was ready. I took my time and even went over all of my answers. I turned in my test after 65 minutes and left. I was the third person out of there. I was grateful that they were wrong about the time.

After that, the real fun began. I waited for three long weeks and checked the mail and the website everyday. I was convinced that I had failed the practical portion because my proctor would not undress for the camera.

Finally, on a Friday night, after I got home from grocery shopping, I checked the website again and saw that it had finally been updated. I got scared and checked for my name among the newly licensed massage therapists. I could not believe it--my name was there! I was so excited. I receieved my license in the mail the next morning.

So now you know what the Texas massage therapy exam is like. Good luck in your studies. You will do a great job.

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