Music Therapy Certification Programs
Music therapists employ a range of treatment approaches to assist their clients. These may include music selection, improvisation, and therapeutic songwriting.
If you want to pursue a career as a music therapist, you must complete specialized coursework from an approved undergraduate music therapy program and pass the national board certification exam. Furthermore, The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) provides a list of schools offering these programs.
Music therapy certification programs come in two varieties: graduate and post-baccalaureate certificates. In most cases, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in music or an associated field, then complete six months of internship before sitting for the CBMT exam.
A graduate music therapy program offers a master’s degree in the field and prepares students for a career in it. It includes both didactic and clinical training, which has been approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). With 1,200 hours of specialized instruction, including a supervised internship, this program meets all necessary criteria to become licensed in music therapy.
The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) is the professional association for licensed and certified music therapists in America. Their mission is to raise public awareness of the advantages and efficacy of music therapy while encouraging professionals to adopt best practices in this field.
Additionally, the Association offers continuing education credits to MT-BCs to help them maintain their certification. These credits are usually provided by AMTA-approved providers and serve as an invaluable opportunity for MT-BCs to stay abreast of research in this field.
Your music therapy training will introduce you to the various treatments used in music therapy practice. These methods are tailored for people of all ages and abilities to address psychological, emotional, cognitive, social, physical and spiritual needs.
Your music therapy education will equip you with the ability to craft a personalized approach tailored to each client’s individual needs and goals, as well as create personalized treatment plans. You may work with children, adults, adolescents and seniors suffering from health conditions like stroke or Alzheimer’s disease; in addition, military veterans may experience post-traumatic stress disorder.
The American Music Therapy Association has identified a set of professional competencies that outline the skills required of entry-level music therapists. These competencies are integrated into all AMTA-approved bachelor’s degree programs. As the field evolves, AMTA will reevaluate these competencies to determine if any changes need to be made in order to accommodate for new knowledge gained by professionals.
A post-baccalaureate certificate in music therapy is a faster and less expensive alternative to earning your master’s degree. This course of study is ideal for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in an applicable field such as music education, performance or psychology and it prepares them for a six-month internship.