Massage Therapy NC II study guide
Massage Therapy NC II · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Massage Therapy NC II is a Philippine national certificate under the TESDA competency-based system, awarded to candidates who can demonstrate the entry-level skills of a spa or wellness massage therapist. It suits people entering the wellness industry, spa staff seeking formal recognition, and experienced therapists who learned on the job and want their skills assessed against a national standard. The Massage Therapy NC II study guide has 10 sections and about 2,878 words.
01Client Consultation, Assessment, and Treatment Planning
Domain 1 examines whether you can screen a client safely, obtain informed consent, and turn assessment findings into a defensible treatment plan. The examiner looks for a logical sequence: intake, interview, observation, palpation, goal setting, plan, and documented consent.
294 words, about 1 min02Anatomy, Physiology, and Contraindications Relevant to Massage
Domain 2 tests anatomy and physiology that a massage therapist actually uses: bony landmarks, muscle actions, tissue layers, circulation, and the contraindication decisions that follow from them. Palpate landmarks rather than guessing: mastoid process, C7, scapular spine, iliac crest, and greater trochanter.
288 words, about 1 min03Workplace Safety, Hygiene, and Infection Control
Domain 3 tests standard precautions in a touch-based service: hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, linen handling, spill response, and therapist body mechanics. Perform hand hygiene before and after every client, after removing gloves, and after handling soiled linen.
291 words, about 1 min04Preparation of Work Area, Equipment, and Materials
Domain 4 covers the set-up that makes a session safe and professional: room, table, linens, bolsters, lighting, ventilation, and massage media. Set the table at about the therapist's mid-thigh or hip level, high enough to protect the back but low enough to apply pressure with body weight.
298 words, about 1 min05Swedish and Relaxation Massage Techniques
Domain 5 tests the classical Swedish strokes, their purpose, direction, rhythm, and safe application in a relaxation session. The five stroke families are effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading and lifting), friction (circular or cross-fiber), tapotement (percussion), and vibration or shaking.
291 words, about 1 min06Therapeutic and Deep Tissue Massage Techniques
Domain 6 examines focused work for specific complaints: trigger points, adhesions, restricted fascia, and guarded tissue, always within a safe and consented plan. Treat with a purpose.
286 words, about 1 min07Massage in Special Populations and Conditions
Domain 7 tests adaptation: the same stroke is not safe or comfortable for every client. The exam expects condition-specific positioning, pressure, duration, and referral rules.
300 words, about 2 min08Post-Treatment Care, Client Education, and Documentation
Domain 8 covers what happens after the session: safe closure, realistic home advice, and records that protect both client and therapist. Help the client sit up slowly, check for dizziness, offer water, and allow time to dress privately.
273 words, about 1 min09Professional Ethics, Communication, and Client Rights
Domain 9 tests professional conduct: scope of practice, informed consent, confidentiality, boundaries, and respectful communication. A massage therapist does not diagnose disease, prescribe medication, perform spinal manipulation without separate training, or present massage as a substitute for medical care.
273 words, about 1 min10Industry Standards, Regulations, and Career Development
Domain 10 tests how the profession is regulated and how a practitioner builds a lawful, sustainable career. In the Philippines, Massage Therapy NC II is a TESDA qualification based on the Training Regulations and awarded after competency assessment.
284 words, about 1 min