How to Get CBMT Music Therapy Certification

The Certification Board for Music Therapists provides music therapy certification to those who have demonstrated their expertise in the field by passing the CBMT exam. This exam is also valid for use as a licensing test in some states.

Requirements to Take the Exam:

The CBMT uses the standards of the American Music Therapy Association to determine qualifications for the music therapy exam. The AMTA requires an approved bachelor’s degree in music therapy. As of August 2011, there are some 70 schools/music therapy degree programs that are approved by AMTA. You may find a list of these programs at the AMTA website (see link in the Resources section at the bottom of this article). At the time of this article, 29 states plus the District of Columbia had at least one approved music-therapy degree program. Canada’s University of Windsor was also approved.

AMTA also requires an internship and 1200 hours of clinical training in music therapy to become certified by CBMT. Use the “Organization Directory Search” feature on the AMTA website to find internship opportunities. Follow the instructions at the top of the page to return a list of all music therapy internship programs.

Preparing for the CBMT Exam:

As you go along and take the classes in your music therapy course, you will naturally be purchasing required textbooks. Keep these in anticipation of taking the music therapy certification exam. There is also an exam reference list put out by CBMT. Look at the link in the Resources section of this article to access that list of reference textbooks. This is a pretty big list, which is why it is advisable to keep the books you purchase in college, at least until after you take and pass the CBMT exam.

This is potentially a great deal of study. To help you save at least a little time, look at the Scope of Practice for music therapists. This is essentially a topical outline of the CBMT test. Use it to look up the portions of the textbooks that cover the topics appearing on the exam.

After doing some study with the books that you have purchased, you may take a CBMT practice test. This self-assessment tool is purchased and done online. As of August 2011, the fee is $60.

Fees:

The cost to apply and take the music therapy certification exam is $220 for first-time test takers and $100 if you have to take the test again.

Resources:

American Music Therapy Association: Brochure with List of Approved MT Degree Programs

AMTA: Organization Directory Search

CBMT: Music Therapy Certification Practice Test

Certification Board for Music Therapists: Scope of Practice


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