Music Therapy Equivalency Online
Equivalency is an appealing and flexible learning option for mature individuals seeking to pursue a career as music therapists. Through this non-degree program, those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree can fulfill all academic requirements for professional certification without needing to obtain another degree. Furthermore, The Equivalency program also offers special consideration to men and women who have finished their degrees elsewhere but now wish to pursue music therapy as their chosen profession.
To be considered for this program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The admissions process involves submitting an application, paying the application fee, providing official transcripts, attending an interview and auditioning; additionally they must submit scores from the GRE General and Writing tests no older than 5 years.
Music therapy coursework must consist of at least 27 units (see the list below). Depending on prior music education, remedial courses may be needed to meet equivalency requirements. The music therapy faculty works closely with potential Equivalency students to create an individualized plan for success and document completion of all courses, supervised clinical training (minimum 1200 hours), and demonstration of AMTA competencies necessary for eligibility for taking the Board Certification examination.
Graduates of the music therapy program often find employment within six months after graduating. They work in a variety of settings such as traditional clinics, schools, hospitals, hospice care services, substance abuse programs and oncology treatment centers.
The American Music Therapy Association is an association of universities, colleges and individual therapists dedicated to advancing music therapy as a therapeutic tool in health care, educational and community settings. Its mission is to nurture qualified and competent professionals by offering resources, research opportunities and advocacy on behalf of the profession.
Most AMTA-approved universities provide a music therapy equivalency program for undergraduates who already hold an undergraduate degree and wish to earn the credential recognized by the national board of certification in music therapy. This consists of several AMTA-approved undergraduate courses to meet professional competencies required for certification by AMTA, followed by six months of internship practice under supervision in music therapy.
This program is tailored to those with an undergraduate degree in the humanities, social sciences or psychology who wish to pursue a career as a music therapist. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the board-certified music therapist examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists Inc.
For eligibility to the MTEEP program, students must complete 3 semesters of on-campus study (usually part-time enrollment) followed by a 6-month supervised internship in a healthcare setting. Internships take place across America and offer stipends, room and board to those who meet the qualifications.
AMTA-approved music therapy equivalency programs have all been accredited and approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Music Therapy (CAMT). Each program has been carefully evaluated to guarantee it meets all academic and clinical standards set out by AMTA, as well as other criteria.
