Texas Massage Therapy Licensing
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Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. Which Texas agency regulates massage therapy licensing?
A. Texas Medical Board
B. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
C. Texas Board of Nursing
D. Department of State Health Services
Answer: B. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Rationale: The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation,
commonly abbreviated TDLR, administers the Massage Therapy
Program and regulates massage therapists, massage establishments,
schools, and related licensing activities in Texas.
2. Texas Massage Therapy is primarily regulated under which chapter
of the Texas Occupations Code?
A. Chapter 401
B. Chapter 451
C. Chapter 455
D. Chapter 503
Answer: C. Chapter 455
,Rationale: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 455 is the Massage
Therapy chapter. It establishes statutory requirements concerning
massage therapy practice, licensing, establishments, schools,
instructors, and related matters.
3. Which Texas Administrative Code chapter contains the Massage
Therapy Administrative Rules?
A. Chapter 117
B. Chapter 216
C. Chapter 455
D. Chapter 60
Answer: A. Chapter 117
Rationale: TDLR identifies Texas Administrative Code Chapter 117 as
the Massage Therapy Administrative Rules. Practitioners should
distinguish these administrative rules from the statutory provisions
found in Occupations Code Chapter 455.
4. In Texas, a person generally must hold a massage therapist license
to provide massage services for compensation.
A. True
B. False
C. Only if working in a hospital
D. Only if using oils
Answer: A. True
Rationale: Texas requires licensure for a person who practices or
administers massage therapy or other massage services to a client for
compensation, subject to statutory exemptions and other applicable
authorizations.
5. Which statement best describes massage therapy under Texas law?
,A. It is limited to spinal manipulation
B. It involves manipulation of soft tissue
C. It includes medical diagnosis
D. It authorizes prescribing medication
Answer: B. It involves manipulation of soft tissue
Rationale: Texas defines massage therapy around manipulation of soft
tissue by hand or through mechanical or electrical apparatus for body
massage. The statutory definition includes several traditional massage
methods.
6. Which technique is specifically included in the statutory
description of Texas massage therapy?
A. Effleurage
B. Surgical incision
C. Bone reduction
D. Prescription writing
Answer: A. Effleurage
Rationale: Effleurage, or stroking, is specifically identified as a
component of massage therapy. Other named techniques include
petrissage, tapotement, compression, vibration, friction, nerve strokes,
and Swedish gymnastics.
7. What does petrissage generally mean?
A. Percussion
B. Kneading
C. Shaking
D. Joint replacement
Answer: B. Kneading
, Rationale: Petrissage refers primarily to kneading and lifting-type
manipulation of soft tissue. It is commonly used to mobilize muscle
tissue, promote relaxation, and prepare tissues for other techniques.
8. Tapotement is best described as:
A. Percussion
B. Static compression only
C. Gentle stretching only
D. Skin cleansing
Answer: A. Percussion
Rationale: Tapotement is a family of rhythmic percussion techniques.
Depending on the method and body area, it may involve hacking,
cupping, tapping, or other rhythmic striking actions.
9. Which action is outside the normal scope of massage therapy?
A. Soft-tissue manipulation
B. Effleurage
C. Medical diagnosis of disease
D. Compression
Answer: C. Medical diagnosis of disease
Rationale: Massage therapy does not authorize a massage therapist to
diagnose illness or disease. A therapist may observe signs, gather
relevant client information, and refer appropriately without presenting
an unauthorized medical diagnosis.
10. Therapeutic massage under Texas law constitutes a health
care service when:
A. It is performed for therapeutic purposes
B. It is performed only outdoors
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which Texas agency regulates massage therapy licensing?
A. Texas Medical Board
B. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
C. Texas Board of Nursing
D. Department of State Health Services
Answer: B. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Rationale: The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation,
commonly abbreviated TDLR, administers the Massage Therapy
Program and regulates massage therapists, massage establishments,
schools, and related licensing activities in Texas.
2. Texas Massage Therapy is primarily regulated under which chapter
of the Texas Occupations Code?
A. Chapter 401
B. Chapter 451
C. Chapter 455
D. Chapter 503
Answer: C. Chapter 455
,Rationale: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 455 is the Massage
Therapy chapter. It establishes statutory requirements concerning
massage therapy practice, licensing, establishments, schools,
instructors, and related matters.
3. Which Texas Administrative Code chapter contains the Massage
Therapy Administrative Rules?
A. Chapter 117
B. Chapter 216
C. Chapter 455
D. Chapter 60
Answer: A. Chapter 117
Rationale: TDLR identifies Texas Administrative Code Chapter 117 as
the Massage Therapy Administrative Rules. Practitioners should
distinguish these administrative rules from the statutory provisions
found in Occupations Code Chapter 455.
4. In Texas, a person generally must hold a massage therapist license
to provide massage services for compensation.
A. True
B. False
C. Only if working in a hospital
D. Only if using oils
Answer: A. True
Rationale: Texas requires licensure for a person who practices or
administers massage therapy or other massage services to a client for
compensation, subject to statutory exemptions and other applicable
authorizations.
5. Which statement best describes massage therapy under Texas law?
,A. It is limited to spinal manipulation
B. It involves manipulation of soft tissue
C. It includes medical diagnosis
D. It authorizes prescribing medication
Answer: B. It involves manipulation of soft tissue
Rationale: Texas defines massage therapy around manipulation of soft
tissue by hand or through mechanical or electrical apparatus for body
massage. The statutory definition includes several traditional massage
methods.
6. Which technique is specifically included in the statutory
description of Texas massage therapy?
A. Effleurage
B. Surgical incision
C. Bone reduction
D. Prescription writing
Answer: A. Effleurage
Rationale: Effleurage, or stroking, is specifically identified as a
component of massage therapy. Other named techniques include
petrissage, tapotement, compression, vibration, friction, nerve strokes,
and Swedish gymnastics.
7. What does petrissage generally mean?
A. Percussion
B. Kneading
C. Shaking
D. Joint replacement
Answer: B. Kneading
, Rationale: Petrissage refers primarily to kneading and lifting-type
manipulation of soft tissue. It is commonly used to mobilize muscle
tissue, promote relaxation, and prepare tissues for other techniques.
8. Tapotement is best described as:
A. Percussion
B. Static compression only
C. Gentle stretching only
D. Skin cleansing
Answer: A. Percussion
Rationale: Tapotement is a family of rhythmic percussion techniques.
Depending on the method and body area, it may involve hacking,
cupping, tapping, or other rhythmic striking actions.
9. Which action is outside the normal scope of massage therapy?
A. Soft-tissue manipulation
B. Effleurage
C. Medical diagnosis of disease
D. Compression
Answer: C. Medical diagnosis of disease
Rationale: Massage therapy does not authorize a massage therapist to
diagnose illness or disease. A therapist may observe signs, gather
relevant client information, and refer appropriately without presenting
an unauthorized medical diagnosis.
10. Therapeutic massage under Texas law constitutes a health
care service when:
A. It is performed for therapeutic purposes
B. It is performed only outdoors
