The $1,000
Massage Therapy Scholarship
For students currently enrolled in a US massage therapy program. Record a short demonstration or tutorial video of one massage skill you know well, and explain what you are doing and why.
Please read the instructions on this page before applying!
Award
$1,000 to one winner
Deadline
December 31, 2026
Who can apply
Currently enrolled US massage students
The assignment
A 3 to 5 minute demonstration video
Winner announced
By January 31, 2027
Application period ends in
How it works
Three steps. A phone and a volunteer are all it takes.
Choose one skill
Pick one clearly defined massage skill or technique that you know well. A simple skill demonstrated well beats an advanced skill demonstrated poorly.
Record a demonstration video
Demonstrate the skill on a volunteer (classmate, friend, etc.), and explain what you are doing and why (indications, effects, contraindications, etc).
Submit your video
Upload the file to a free video host like Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud or OneDrive, then paste the shareable link into the application form by the December 31, 2026.
Are you eligible?
To apply for the Fall 2026 MBLExGuide Scholarship, you must meet all four criteria.
Currently enrolled in an approved US massage program
The program must meet your state’s licensing requirements, including minimum classroom and instructional hours, so graduates can apply for a state massage license.
In good standing and passing all classes
Applicant must be making progress in their massage training program.
Able to provide proof of enrollment
Contact information for your program director is enough. Only the finalists will have their enrollment verified (after the deadline).
A US citizen submitting one complete entry
Follow all entry guidelines below. One entry per student.
Teach one skill in a short video
Record a 3 to 5 minute video demonstrating one specific skill from your massage education: a hands-on treatment technique, an assessment technique, or any other skill that a massage therapist typically uses.
Imagine you are teaching the skill to a brand-new massage student. Demonstrate it using a volunteer (such as a classmate, friend, or willing instructor). Explain the purpose, setup and procedure. Also point out any safety considerations.
You can browse through your program’s curriculum or the MBLEx content areas for topic ideas. No need for expensive video recording equipment or editing software. Recording on your phone in an empty classroom, student clinic treatment room, or at home is exactly what we expect. Videos are judged on what you demonstrate and how well you explain it, not on your videography skills.
What it is and when it is used. Name the skill and say when a therapist would use it.
Why it works or why it matters. The most important part. Explain your reasoning.
Show it. Demonstrate on your volunteer while narrating the key steps.
One safety point. A contraindication, precaution, or situation where you would modify or skip the skill.
Open your video with a brief introduction. This can simply be you looking at the camera and saying your first name and topic, then something like “This is my entry for the MBLExGuide Fall 2026 Scholarship.” No need to include your last name, school, or personal details on camera.
Topic ideas to get you thinking
Here are a few example ideas. You are not limited to this list. Get creative and think of a topic that is interesting to you and you think would be helpful to other massage therapy students. Topic difficulty is not scored.
*Only demonstrate skills that are within the massage therapy scope of practice. This can be a massage skill that you learned in your training program or through independent study. Be sure to avoid diagnosing your “client” or making unproven claims about the technique.
Video requirements
Please read the following rules and guidelines before creating your video:
3 to 5 minutes long
Videos over 5:30 may be disqualified. Start with a brief introduction, provide a clear presentation (demonstration) of the skill, and a brief wrap-up.
You demonstrate, you explain
Treat this as a live demonstration. Show the skill and talk through it as you go, in real time. Do not use slides or stock footage, or add music or voiceover.
Record it straight through
Practice a couple of times, then record the whole video in one continuous take. Re-record if needed. *This will be easier, faster, and produce a better video than editing or stitching clips together.
Your own performance and explanation
Use whatever resources you want to plan your video (textbooks, class notes, internet, instructors, etc.). But AI-generated video, images, voices, or avatars are not allowed.
A volunteer age 18 or older
They must agree to be recorded, reviewed, and published if you win. Keep them appropriately clothed or draped, and do not discuss their real health information.
Classroom-ready professional standard
Appropriate draping, respectful communication and touch. No sensitive areas, deliberate pain, or techniques that could cause injury if done incorrectly.
One applicant per video
Two classmates can enter separately using each other as volunteers, but each video demonstrates one applicant’s own knowledge.
Recording tips
Landscape orientation is preferred. Prop your phone somewhere stable or have a classmate hold it. Make sure we can hear you clearly.
Submitting your video
We need to download your original file, so streaming links will not work.
Save as MP4 or MOV and name the file with your first name, last name, and topic, for example Jane-Smith-Hip-ROM-Assessment.mp4.
Upload to Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, or OneDrive and set sharing so anyone with the link can view and download without requesting access. YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, or Instagram links will not be accepted.
Watch it all the way through. Confirm the audio is clear, your opening statement is included, and the length is 3 to 5 minutes.
Paste the link into the application form and complete the short survey afterward. Keep the link live until March 31, 2027.
Open your link in a private browser window. If you cannot see a download button and open the file there, we cannot either, and your entry may not be judged.
Google Drive users: keep “Viewers and commenters can see the option to download” turned on.
How entries are scored
Understanding and explanation
Do you clearly explain what the skill is, what you are doing, and why? Does what you say match what your hands are doing?
Demonstration
Is the skill performed clearly and correctly, with attention to positioning, hand placement, and sequencing?
Safety and professional reasoning
Appropriate draping, positioning, and communication, plus a meaningful safety point that shows sound judgment.
Teaching clarity
Could a brand-new massage student follow your demo and learn from it?
Additional notes:
- Topic difficulty is not scored.
- Good audio, video, lighting is important for making a clear demonstration video. Most modern phones can record this just fine.
- Schools teach techniques differently. You will not be marked down for a different approach, as long as it is safe, coherent, and well reasoned.
Tips for making a better video
A little planning goes a long way.
Pick something you actually understand
If you have to read every word, you do not know the skill well enough yet. Pick something else, or study and practice it until you do.
Write an outline, not a script
Rather than writing a complete script, just write the talking points. Make a note of things that you want to cover and just talk naturally.
Do a dry run or two
Go through your presentation a few times before you even turn on the camera. This will increase your confidence and make for a great video.
Explain every action
“I am placing the bolster under the knees to reduce strain on the lumbar spine” is worth far more than silently placing it. Explain as if to a new massage student.
Teach to a person, not a camera
Imagine a new student who started their training program last week, and wanted to learn this skill from you. What would they need to see and hear?
Ask for feedback, and start early
Show a practice run to an instructor or classmate. Give yourself time to find a volunteer and re-record if needed.
Frequently asked questions
For massage schools
This year’s assignment works well as a class activity or extra credit project. Students practice demonstrating and explaining a skill on camera, which is good preparation for practical exams and for communicating with clients.
The winning student’s school will be recognized on our scholarship winners page. Schools must be US-based and approved to provide initial massage education that meets state licensing requirements.
Printable flyer
Ideal for classroom bulletin boards and student areas. Email it to students and instructors, or share it on social media.
Preparing for the MBLEx?
MBLExGuide helps massage students pass the FSMTB licensing exam with practice tests, quizzes, and a complete prep course with progress tracking.
Applications close December 31, 2026. The winner is announced by January 31, 2027.
Terms of entry
By submitting an application, you agree to use any awarded scholarship prize money for education purposes only: tuition and/or related expenses such as school supplies, books, or continuing education. You certify that you created the video for this scholarship, that you are the person performing and explaining the skill, and that your volunteer has agreed to be recorded and to have the video published if you win.
Submitting an application gives MBLExGuide permission to use or post the winning video entry in part or in full on this website or our social media channels. MBLExGuide may award the scholarship without publishing the video. Publication of a winning entry recognizes the scholarship submission and is not an endorsement of the technique for any particular use. Any contact information will remain confidential and will not be shared with other parties. MBLExGuide reserves the right to disqualify any entry that is synthetic, recycled, materially edited, unsafe, or otherwise inconsistent with these guidelines. Selection of the winning entry is at the sole discretion of MBLExGuide, and all decisions of the MBLExGuide Scholarship committee are final and binding.