Ohio State Board

Has anyone taken the Ohio State Board Exam lately? If so how was it?

i was ok with the anatomy and physiology part but the limited branch was harder than i thought it was going to be.

Piggybacking on what Linda just said. I too was surprised about the limited branch being harder than the basic science. It doesn't cover techniques at all, I guess that was too easy to remember. Just give equal study time for both sections. Limited branch is more like what you would do in a particular scenario.

I would also suggest you use the full 2 hours or so they give for the exam to recheck your answers. I panicked the first time through and calmed down after about an hour.

I am scheduled to take the MT exam in December 2008, any specific tips or other suggestions?

I recommend you take some type of review class and not just study on your own. They are pretty good and giving you test taking techniques and how to pace yourself during the exam and studying. If you don't have the money to pay for a review class, like I didn't, I would suggest you get the Tortora in a Nutshell from Harmony Path School. It was great for me in helping study for the exam. I can admit I should have given more time to study, but Tortora in a Nutshell condensed things for me and made it easier to remember. It hit the basics really well.

Here's the website address for the school. Then click on the State Board Review section to find out about ordering the Tortora in a Nutshell and other study materials. You can purchase these items without sigining up for the review course there.

Good luck and contact me if you have more questions.

TAKE A CLASS FOR REVIEW. DO NOT THINK THE MASSAGE PORTION IS EASY. I WAS SO NERVOUS ABOUT STUDYING FOR THE ANATOMY AND BIO THAT I MISSED IT BY 1 POINT FOR MASSGE. I HAD TO GO BACK 6 MONTHS LATER AND RETAKE IT. I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN BOTH EQUAL TIME.

I will be taking my state boards in two months.
I have alot of national study guides.
Will these do me any help on ohio state boards?
I know ohio doesnt cover asian but the other stuff should be the same right?

Brachial Impingement by the supraspinatus is secondary to the pectoralis minor. Blood is technically contagous when dried. Do yourself a HUGE favor... Take Kim Fischer's review class! She guarantees you pass, or you can take the class again, for FREE!!

She is dead on the money, every year. If you are not close to the Columbus area, I believe you have the option of getting her notes sent to you, hard copy (I LOVED IT) or DVD. I got a 91 on A&P, 90 on theory last June. This is an exerpt from her website...

"Kim guarantees that review class participants will pass the exam or their next review class is free. Learn more about how to simplify and organize the process and the content for this exam by getting a free excerpt of Kim's step-by-step Action Plan when you subscribe at www.EmpoweredByLearningLLC.com".

This is where you start. I won't wish you good luck. With Kim Fischer as a guide... you'll succeed the first time. Who really wants to pay for the test a 2nd time?

I hope to know you all as colleagues, soon!

June 2009 was opposite. I sat, and let me say the limited branch portion held NO SURPRISES at all. Every single question was something I had seen before.

The A & P portion this time was a bruiser. This was my first time sitting, but other students from my school were there for the 2nd time. As I've heard through the grapevine, they all thought the A & P portion was much harder this time.

I gave equal study time to both portions. The A & P portion took me about 90 minutes to take, the limited branch portion I was done in 40 minutes.

They alter the test each time based on the pass rates from the previous group that sat. You never can tell what is going to happen.

I had the Kim Fischer stuff too. It helped immensely with the limited branch portion.

I agree Natalie. That was the feeling from everyone else who I spoke with that day. I only wish it wouldn't take so long to get the results! These 6 weeks or so are torture!

Jennifer Young in Wapakoneta, Ohio said: Has anyone taken the Ohio State Board Exam lately? If so how was it?

Yes and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be I just took it on June 2 2009 just be prepared thats all and don't panic

I took the test also and was one of many taking limited branch for the 2nd time! I also studied Kim's online course. I feel that it helped a lot. I too agree that limited branch exam did not cover or question techniques as much as before. It seemed harder to me but I am sure that we all passed!!!! Great luck to all and study before , not while you are there. BREATH, RELAX( you were all taught these techniques in school) and remember this is only a test !!!!(smile) The wait is by far the worst part of it !!!!

natalie-- can i ask what school you went to in dayton? I am looking at schools in NorthEast Ohio. The Institute for Medical Massage, NIM and Harmony Path are the closest I think. Sounds like you were very prepared for the exam

acomstock in Dover, Ohio said: natalie-- can i ask what school you went to in dayton? I am looking at schools in NorthEast Ohio. The Institute for Medical Massage, NIM and Harmony Path are the closest I think. Sounds like you were very prepared for the exam

I actually went to a two year school, Miami-Jacobs. Ended up with an Associate Degree in Allied Health.

did people who took the exam June 2009 get results online yet, meaning on the boards site licensee profile and search,are your results there?
I am confused because this was my second time taking the A&P part, today when I looked on the site, the search is broken down into last names which made me think that they put results up. But nothing new for me. So perhaps I FAILED EXAM again or it is still wait time...?

sarah in Cleveland, Ohio said: did people who took the exam June 2009 get results online yet, meaning on the boards site licensee profile and search,are your results there?
I am confused because this was my second time taking the A&P part, today when I looked on the site, the search is broken down into last names which made me think that they put results up. But nothing new for me. So perhaps I FAILED EXAM again or it is still wait time...?

ANSWER TAKE about 5weeks to get aletter from the board

I know but can access online sooner than letter in mail

well I WISH THE BEST LUCK FOR U & HOPE YOU DID IT WEEL

I saw a few comments about the Cleveland Institute of Medical Massage. Does anyone have more feedback? Is it necessary to get an associates, or do most places just count on the license? I appreciate the comments about NIM and Harmony Path, but am looking to get my license as quickly as possible. I already have my coursework done for Intro A&P and Medical Terminology, and I have a BA. Would that shorten the length of time needed to complete the course?

Any answers to any of these questions is appreciated

Sarah, It has not be updated as of this morning (June 9th). I called last week and they said the results would be posted Friday the 10th. Good Luck!! =)

Does anybody know why the June 2 exam wont be posted until Aug 14? Come on is it really that hard to grade the exams????

there is absolutely no excuse for Ohio State medical board practices to be as archaic as they are. My guess is that it takes so long because massage therapy is very much NOT a priority for this board. Perhaps they should break with the ways of 1916, just a suggestion. Scantrons are graded by f-ing scantron machines. They should be graded when the exam is completed before the exam taker leaves, they should know their results. I was warned that moving back to Ohio and trying to get licensed would be an enormous pain in the ass, I did everything I possibly could to be on top of things, and it did not make a difference. Every interaction I have had with anyone who works for the state medical board has involved incompetence on their part to the highest degree. Were I making a documentary on the subject, it would be both hilarious and pathetic. I sincerely hope that the results are available tomorrow, July 10 as opposed to August 14.

Angi, Where did you come up with the Aug. 14th date? When i called the MB they said today. I truly hope it is today rather than another month!

Sarah, I agree. It is pure disrespect for all of us who have invested THOUSANDS of dollars and years of work not to know an answer. Nationals give you the answer before you leave. And why are we not given a reason as to why the results take so long?

ANC in Cincinnati, Ohio said: Angi, Where did you come up with the Aug. 14th date? When i called the MB they said today. I truly hope it is today rather than another month!

Sarah, I agree. It is pure disrespect for all of us who have invested THOUSANDS of dollars and years of work not to know an answer. Nationals give you the answer before you leave. And why are we not given a reason as to why the results take so long?

check the boards website med.ohio.gov click on licensee profile&status search under division select medical board enter your first and last name

I just got off of the phone with the Medical Boards 'Operator' and she read me a statment that said " due to the large amount of applicants that sat for the June test, results won't be available until Aug 12th...."

Really? The lack of common respect for those of us who worked so hard and invested so much time and money into achieving being a part of Ohio's LMT and Medical community, and they can't even work a little extra to meet dealines that were promised to all of us is unbelievable? We had to meet their requirments to sit for this exam and follow their rules or our consequence was that we were ineligible , why should this be okay for them to just say "AH, to much work, to many people, we'll just finish it next month"?--with no consequences?

And we wonder what is wrong with most of America today, this entity is supposed to be one of standards, so how should we 'Ethically' take this as the reality of the situation?

My guess, if I had to assume-- someone went on vacation? or data was lost (god forbid) and no one has the ba--s (exuse my language) enough to tell us the truth!
Great start to what I was hoping to make into a promising future!

Well, I personally have been frustrated beyond my capacity by my whole experience with these people. I'm going to write a letter to everyone at the medical board, and do my best to very articulately convey what is wrong with the system by which they license and govern massage therapy in Ohio. I think that the more frustrated people who express the need for change, the better. Since I went to school out of state, I don't know a single of the hundreds of people who sat for the exam in June. My email address is sej3470@yahoo.com, if you or other MTs you know care to express your opinions or have points/issues to include in such a letter please send me your email.
I think that they grade the exams at board meetings so if they opted not to get to it in July, then thats why it is now August. The number of people taking it is complete bs, they know the number months in advance AND that is their own fault for offering the exam twice a year - also ridiculous. You can take the national ANY DAY of the week other than sundays/ holidays.
To people inquiring about getting licensed in Ohio - it is an incredible waste of your valuable time and money, and the entire system in this state is a joke. I have recently learned that you can call yourself a massage practitioner or an ethical massage practitioner or a bodyworker or whatever you want and you can have your practice, and also get hired at a number of places, not just spas but places that are dedicated to therapeutic massage as well. There is no point in putting yourself through this . Absolutley no point at all. Until Ohio stops being completely asinine with their textbook from 1895, and their random sales tax on massage and massage only, the twice a year sitting for the exam, the MONTHS it takes them to grade scan tron answer sheets, I would encourage massage therapists to practice elsewhere if at all possible or do your thing and pay no mind to the state medical board as they are completely full of it.

LADYDIFRIE said: TAKE A CLASS FOR REVIEW. DO NOT THINK THE MASSAGE PORTION IS EASY. I WAS SO NERVOUS ABOUT STUDYING FOR THE ANATOMY AND BIO THAT I MISSED IT BY 1 POINT FOR MASSGE. I HAD TO GO BACK 6 MONTHS LATER AND RETAKE IT. I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN BOTH EQUAL TIME.

That was me too! Studied so much for A&P, passed it but got a 74% on the massage test. You NEED to know your muscles, origins and insertions for the massage portion. That's what hurt me, I definitely underestimated how challenging the massage test would be.

ANC in Cincinnati, Ohio said: Angi, Where did you come up with the Aug. 14th date? When i called the MB they said today. I truly hope it is today rather than another month!

Sarah, I agree. It is pure disrespect for all of us who have invested THOUSANDS of dollars and years of work not to know an answer. Nationals give you the answer before you leave. And why are we not given a reason as to why the results take so long?

Now they're saying because the July meeting was cancelled, results won't be available until 8/14. Bunch of BS! Not my problem the meeting got cancelled! They should still release the list so we can get on with our lives!

I don't think the MB realizes / cares what this delay means to some of us. For some I suppose it is just 5 weeks for of wait time but for me, it is quite a bit of money.

If I failed this exam, I'd like to know! I'd like to be out there finding a job outside of the massage industry. That is 5 weeks of income I could have coming in. Instead, I'm forced to wait. I wanted to have a job by the time my kids started school in the fall so I could work out their daycare instead of changing things once the year began.

I would have thought $250 would have been enough to purchase a graded test but I guess not.

I would like to know the REAL reason for it taking 10 weeks. I know they had time to prepare "for the large number of people taking the exam". They had time to set up the tables and to collect the money didn't they?
Maybe they should consider offering the test more than twice a year if they are so overwhelmed.

I pray I passed this exam, I do NOT want to deal with this again.

Jen in Troy, Ohio said: Now they're saying because the July meeting was cancelled, results won't be available until 8/14. Bunch of BS! Not my problem the meeting got cancelled! They should still release the list so we can get on with our lives!

I did not hear the meeting got cancelled im going to check with my school on that but what we came up with was there was a error in grading the test u know STATE BOARD wont admit they made a mistake to many taking the test for the delay is bull also someone i know took it last June and they got started half hour later becuse so many people took the test and they got results back in FOUR weeks COME ON STATE BOARD WE HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONAL HOW ABOUT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the state board website says..."The results of the June 2009 MT exam are expected to be forwarded to the Board at the August 12 th and 13 th, 2009 Board Meeting. The July 16 th, MTAC meeting has been cancelled"

I wonder if the meeting was cancelled because the results are not in OR if the results are not in because the meeting was cancelled. I guess we will never know.

I went 2 C.I.M.M and took the 10m course. its well worth it study ur ass off!!!

acomstock in Dover, Ohio said: natalie-- can i ask what school you went to in dayton? I am looking at schools in NorthEast Ohio. The Institute for Medical Massage, NIM and Harmony Path are the closest I think. Sounds like you were very prepared for the exam

i have heard that Harmony Path has a great passing rate ----

What has me the most upset is the financial end of it. I did not recieve any type of assistance, I did not attend school for free, and I am not a rich person. At this time, had the results been posted when they should have been, I could have possibly been working at a different rate.

I don't know about anyone else, but I know I have a 6 month deferment from the time of graduation...and 6 months is up as of September 31st. If the board is going to meet the middle of August, chances are we'll find out around September 1st. Nice timing huh? Instead of having 2+ months to get ready for the loans to hit me, I'm going to have about 3-1/2 working weeks the way I see it. Gonna be tough to pay those loans back, doesn't matter if you pass or didn't pass. Either way I lose.

Oh, kkiser (a few posts above) and I are friends and we got to thinking and counted out the days. It looks like if we didn't pass, we're going to have about 20-30 days to get everything together (including money) to send in to be able to resit in December.

You make some excellant points. I'm in the same boat as you regarding the financial end so I understand completely.

And you are right. THe MB site says the results are EXPECTED to be FORWARDED to the board by Aug. 12th. It doesn't say WE will get our results.

So disappointing.

I also am frustrated beyond belief waiting for the results of the June test. I am asked on a daily basis by friends, family and co-workers ( a job not in the massage field) if I have my results yet. I am tired of trying to explain the situation to them, and I feel like some of them think I am lying to them. The state medical board of Ohio should be held accountable for this snafu. We had to be inspected from every direction, fingerprints,background checks,ect., not to mention the ton of money we spent to get the "privledge" of sitting for this exam. With the economy in the state it is in we need our credentials asap so we can try to better our income potential. I don't understand why the state of Ohio medical board has such a low priorty for us, but they seem to be "snobs" as far as massage therapy is concerned. A sad state of affairs for a group of people who worked very hard to get this far and now are having no satisfaction from anyone for all the hard work. I wish everyone who is still waiting for results the best of luck with their future in massage therapy.

Our class was told a week before that we weren't eligible to sit for the boards because we didn't graduate 30 days prior to the test. Our school had no clue about this new rule that they said came into effect Nov 2008. The SMB took our applications and $250 months before our test date and didn't say anything! I studied my butt off to graduate from school and for the boards...Now I have to wait till Dec 1st along with all my classmates. The SMB doesn't give a rip about anyone but themselves! To top it off they cashed our checks!
I now have no job, and I need to start repaying my student loans in December! Plus I have to take a review class again!

My class graduated May 22, 2009 and tested on June 2nd, 2009.

I'm beyond annoyed by the way we have all been treated.

KatF, ANC's SMB stuff shows she graduated 5/22 and sat 6/2. I'd call them out on that.

Also, word on the street is kind of what Angi said above, actually it's more than word on the street.

There was no problem grading the tests, there appears to have been a problem with the test ITSELF.

Who knows what, maybe the wrong questions? maybe the wrong test altogether?

ANC in Cincinnati, Ohio said: My class graduated May 22, 2009 and tested on June 2nd, 2009.

I'm beyond annoyed by the way we have all been treated.

Ok..I am really upset/confused here! How were you able to take the exam? The SMB said they needed our diplomas in order for us to take the exam.

It wasn't just me, it was our entire graduating class as well. We did not have to send in diplomas. There were at least 18 of us who tested June 2nd that graduated on May 22.

I'm so sorry that you have to wait until Dec. =(

What kind of documentation did you take with you to get into the building to take the test? I was told we couldn't since we didn't have an admission card or something like that??? Not sure exactly what it is you are supposed to get in mail before taking the exam.

ANC in Cincinnati, Ohio said: It wasn't just me, it was our entire graduating class as well. We did not have to send in diplomas. There were at least 18 of us who tested June 2nd that graduated on May 22.

I'm so sorry that you have to wait until Dec. =(

Our class graduated in April and we still have not recieved our diploma's? So, no we didn't have to physically send in a diploma but the school would have had to supplied a finalized transcript of some sort, or confirm a graduation date.

acomstock in Dover, Ohio said: natalie-- can i ask what school you went to in dayton? I am looking at schools in NorthEast Ohio. The Institute for Medical Massage, NIM and Harmony Path are the closest I think. Sounds like you were very prepared for the exam

I went to CIMM and it was great. But they say Harmony Path is much,much better.

sarah in Cleveland, Ohio said: did people who took the exam June 2009 get results online yet, meaning on the boards site licensee profile and search,are your results there?
I am confused because this was my second time taking the A&P part, today when I looked on the site, the search is broken down into last names which made me think that they put results up. But nothing new for me. So perhaps I FAILED EXAM again or it is still wait time...?

You are not the only one to fail!! it was hard no doubt, but in the long run you'll pass and you'll work in the field you love as I did... I work at one of the high end spas at this time and it is a blast!!!! The only down side is, they are using Nail Techs and Estiticians to perform our work!!!! it is within the scope of practice. So if you are making more then those techs, the employer will call you off and utilize them??? even for DT / pre-natal ect..

KatF in Delaware, Ohio said: What kind of documentation did you take with you to get into the building to take the test? I was told we couldn't since we didn't have an admission card or something like that??? Not sure exactly what it is you are supposed to get in mail before taking the exam.

They sent us an envelope with our admission card ( a piece of paper that we stapled our picture to ). It has a number on it and that is your assigned seat for the test. You cannot bring anything other than that card and pencils in to take the exam.

How far in advance did you get the admission card before the test date?

Hmm, I'm guessing it was about 2 weeks prior to the test.