Knitting in the Shadows: Certified - Part IIIB (The NCETMB)

My wonderful Study Buddy and I enjoyed a pleasant (free) breakfast. We were there at the tail end of breakfast hour, but there was plenty of food. What was missing were crowds. We were fine with that.

After breakfast, we went upstairs to pack up the room. A room which contained what I fondly referred to as our Security Blanket:

2 copies of Mosby's Book, and 1 each of the Orthopedic Assessment Book, the Beck Book (Massage Therapy), the Business book, Trail Guides to the Body, Bodywork (a book about massage modalities), a review book from the library. Also, our notes from various classes and about 300 note cards that I'd written up while studying.

We loaded up the cart, and while I checked out of the hotel (precisely at the 11:00 check out time), Study Buddy loaded up the car. Despite having just eaten, we wound up going to Starbucks to sit and relax and try not to study any more. We were far too early to go to the test center. Finally, at about 12:15, we headed over to take our NCETMBs.

Again, I handed over my Drivers License, signed the electronic key pad, had them scan my palm, got my picture taken, put all my stuff in the locker, and was escorted to the testing room. Again, I had my palm scanned. Again the person signed me into the test.

The NCETMB has a longer section reminding me not to share any specifics about the test.

So 160 questions, 160 minutes.

Again, some were easy, some were challenging, and some touched things I just plain hadn't learned (damn those reflexes). This time, Ayurveda was only a glimmer in the test, but Chinese Medicine took up the slack. I think there might have been more physiology/ anatomy/kinesiology and less assessment, but I'm not sure. This time I was aware of the possibility of flagging questions for myself to go back to look at. So I did that on questions for which I wasn't totally confident of my answer. Upon completing it, I had plenty of time, so I reviewed the flagged questions, cleared several and then did it again. Then, again, I reviewed my answer to EVERY question -- and found one of those stupid ones where you know the right answer but mark the wrong one. Finally, I had to admit I could do no more. I ended the test and raised my hand.

Again I was escorted from the room, and had my palm scanned to confirm that it really was me who took the test. Again I fetched my things from the locker. And again they handed me papers with my results.

Again, they tell you your score, and the passing score, but not the total possible scores.

Again, I passed.

I was sure I'd be elated. But frankly, I was just tired. I went to the break room to wait for Study Buddy, who had started a bit later than I (weird schedules there). I turned on my phone and posted to Facebook. I texted home, and the Director of my massage program. And flipped through a mindless magazine until she was done. I was too fried even to knit.

It took until we got all the way home for the elation to kick in. Happy Dancing around the kitchen ensued.

Now... there is but one more hoop to leap through before I'll be a licensed Massage Therapist!

I have to get myself fingerprinted, and have a background check submitted to the State, along with my written application.

This Thanksgiving, I will be giving Thanks for my brand new shiny license!

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Too soon to start Happy Dancing. What if the background check turns up the arrest report for that kidney you stole while in law school? Or that time you were caught texting nuclear secrets to Tuvalu?

It's all fun and games until the background check...

Posted by: kmkat | October 12, 2012 at 04:13 PM