When music therapy students finish their collegiate coursework, each participates in a clinical internship that generally lasts 6-9 months, with a total of 1200 hours of training completed. Following the successful end of an internship, the music therapist is eligible to take the board certification exam, administered by the CBMT...and successfully completing this grants the privelage of the MT-BC credentials for 5 years. During this time, we MTs participate in various professional activities to accumulate a minimum of 100 hours of continuing music therapy education (CMTE) credits, if we intend to follow this method of being recertified after our 5 year cycle [this is the route I took, in case you're curious]. A music therapist may also opt to sucessflly re-take and pass the recertification exam during the 4th year of his/her cycle, in order to maintain MT-BC status.
Currently, there are over 5300 music therapists who retain the MT-BC credential. Only those who have completed the requirements of the program and pass certification are able to use the title of board certified music therapist. If you are interested in music therapy services, you can search here to look for a certified therapist in your area.
