Who is Qualified as a Music
Therapist?
A professional music therapist holds a bachelor's
degree or higher in music therapy from one of over
70 American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)
approved college and university programs. In
addition to academic coursework, the bachelor's
degree requires 1200 hours of clinical training,
including a supervised internship. Graduate degrees
in Music Therapy focus on advanced clinical practice
and research.
Upon completion of the bachelor's degree, music
therapists are eligible to sit for the national board
certification exam to obtain the credential MT-BC
(Music Therapist - Board Certified). The credential
MT-BC is granted by a separate, accredited
organization, the Certification Board for Music
Therapists (CBMT), to identify music therapists who
have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and
abilities necessary to practice at the current level of
the profession. For more information, contact the
Certification Board for Music Therapists:
www.cbmt.org
Music therapists also may be licensed, or registered,
if a state licensure/registry process has been
implemented by the state in which they are
employed.