Music therapists use the power of music to help clients address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. As a credentialed healthcare profession, music therapy requires specific education, clinical training, and board certification. While relatively few states have enacted specific music therapy licensure laws, the profession continues to grow as research validates music-based interventions across diverse populations -- from children with developmental disabilities to veterans with PTSD and elderly individuals with dementia.

This guide walks you through every step of the process, from completing an AMTA-approved education program to earning your MT-BC credential, meeting state licensing requirements where applicable, and maintaining your certification through continuing education. We have also compiled verified data for all 51 states we track so you can compare requirements side by side.

What Does a Music Therapist Do?

Music therapists use music-based interventions to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of their clients. They assess client needs, design individualized treatment plans, and implement a range of music interventions -- including singing, playing instruments, songwriting, music listening, and improvisation -- to achieve therapeutic goals.

Music therapists work with diverse populations across the lifespan, including:

• Children with developmental disabilities: Using music to support communication, motor skills, and social interaction in children with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental conditions.
• Psychiatric patients: Facilitating emotional expression, coping skills, and social engagement through structured music experiences in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings.
• Elderly individuals with dementia: Leveraging music's unique ability to access memory and emotion to improve quality of life, reduce agitation, and support cognitive function in older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
• Hospice and palliative care: Providing comfort, emotional support, and legacy-building experiences for individuals at the end of life and their families.
• Veterans with PTSD: Using music-based interventions to address trauma, anxiety, and reintegration challenges in military veterans.

Music therapists practice in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, and private practice.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not maintain a separate occupational category for music therapists. Based on available industry data, music therapists typically earn between $50,000 and $60,000 per year, with salaries varying by geographic location, setting, and experience level.

Step 1: Education Requirements

AMTA-Approved Bachelor's Program

To become a music therapist, you must earn a bachelor's degree (or higher) in music therapy from a program approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). AMTA-approved programs ensure that students receive comprehensive training in both music and clinical skills, preparing them for the CBMT board certification exam and professional practice.

Coursework in an AMTA-approved program typically includes:

• Music theory and composition
• Guitar proficiency
• Piano proficiency
• Voice and vocal techniques
• Clinical foundations of music therapy
• Psychology (developmental, abnormal, general)
• Music therapy methods and techniques
• Research methods in music therapy

Clinical Training: 1,200 Hours

AMTA-approved programs require a minimum of 1,200 hours of clinical training, which includes both pre-internship clinical experiences integrated into coursework and a formal internship. The internship component must be at least 900 hours at an AMTA-approved clinical training site.

Clinical training sites include hospitals, schools, psychiatric facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospice programs, and community agencies. During the internship, students work under the supervision of a board-certified music therapist and gain hands-on experience assessing clients, designing treatment plans, and implementing music-based interventions.

Step 2: CBMT Certification -- The MT-BC Credential

The Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) administers the national board certification exam for music therapists. Passing this exam earns you the MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) credential, which is the nationally recognized professional credential for music therapists in the United States.

Eligibility Requirements

To sit for the CBMT exam, you must have completed a bachelor's degree (or higher) from an AMTA-approved music therapy program, including all required clinical training hours.

The CBMT Examination

Key exam facts:

• Format: 150 multiple-choice questions; 2.5 hours total.
• Content areas: Music therapy theory and practice, clinical assessment, treatment planning and implementation, music therapy research, professional ethics, and general knowledge of music.
• Eligibility: Must hold a bachelor's degree from an AMTA-approved program with completed clinical training.
• Testing: The exam is offered at Prometric testing centers nationwide throughout the year.

Thorough preparation is essential. Most candidates study using CBMT's published exam content outline, practice exams, and study materials from music therapy textbooks and professional preparation courses.

State-by-State Music Therapist Requirements

Requirements vary significantly by state. Relatively few states have enacted specific licensure laws for music therapists; in states without dedicated music therapy licensure, many music therapists practice under other professional licenses such as licensed professional counselor or creative arts therapist. Click any state name to see its complete licensing guide with step-by-step instructions, fees, CE details, and more.

Data sourced from official state licensing board websites, AMTA, and CBMT. Requirements change frequently -- always verify with your state board before applying.

The Music Therapy Licensing Landscape

Unlike many allied health professions, relatively few states have enacted specific licensure laws for music therapists. Of the 51 states we track, only 15 require a dedicated state license for music therapy practice.

In states without specific music therapy licensure, music therapists often practice under other professional licenses or credentials. Common pathways include:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): Some music therapists pursue additional counseling credentials to expand their scope of practice and meet state requirements.
• Creative Arts Therapist: A handful of states license creative arts therapists as a category that includes music therapy alongside art therapy, dance/movement therapy, and drama therapy.
• MT-BC credential alone: In many states, music therapists practice using only the national MT-BC credential without a separate state license, though practice settings and insurance reimbursement may vary.

The AMTA actively advocates for state recognition and licensure of music therapists. The regulatory landscape continues to evolve as more states consider music therapy practice acts.

Continuing Education Requirements

Maintaining your MT-BC certification requires ongoing continuing education (CE). Requirements exist at two levels: the CBMT national certification and, where applicable, state licensure.

CBMT Recertification

The CBMT requires all board-certified music therapists to complete 100 recertification credits per 5-year cycle. Credits can be earned through a variety of activities, including:

• Attending AMTA national or regional conferences
• Completing approved continuing music therapy education courses
• Publishing music therapy research in peer-reviewed journals
• Presenting at professional conferences
• Completing university coursework related to music therapy practice

State License Continuing Education

States that issue a separate music therapist license often have their own CE requirements for license renewal, which may or may not align with the CBMT's 100-credit-per-5-year requirement. Across the 51 states we track, the average CE requirement is 72.1 hours per renewal cycle. Some states accept CBMT-approved CE toward state license renewal; others require state-specific coursework.

Tips for managing CE requirements efficiently:

• Track your credits year-round rather than scrambling at renewal time.
• Attend the AMTA national conference or your regional conference -- they typically offer substantial CE credit opportunities and valuable networking.
• Look for activities that satisfy both CBMT recertification and state license renewal requirements simultaneously.
• Keep detailed records and certificates of all CE activities completed throughout each cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

The information in this guide is compiled from official sources. We recommend verifying current requirements directly with these organizations before making career or educational decisions:

• American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)
• Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT)
• AMTA -- Approved Programs Directory
• CBMT -- Board Certification Examination
• CBMT -- Recertification Requirements
• Individual state licensing board websites -- see each state page for direct links to official regulatory authorities.