Downingtown, PA, 12/15/2023 – The Certification Board for Music Therapists, the certifying agency for the profession of music therapy, announced today that its long-serving Executive Director, Joy Schneck, MM, MT-BC, will retire from her position once a successor has been appointed. The organization announced that it is initiating a search to identify a new leader.

Experienced in organizational development and certification management, with a passion for the provision of quality music therapy services, Joy has served as Executive Director of the Certification Board for Music Therapists since 1993. During her nearly 31-year tenure, she has guided the organization through periods of both challenge and growth.

Founded in 1983, the Certification Board’s mission is to partner and advocate with the profession to promote excellence by awarding board certification based on proven, up-to-date knowledge and competence in clinical practice, and to provide leadership in music therapy credentialing. CBMT provides valued leadership to more than 10,000 credentialled therapists in the music therapy profession across the U.S. and around the world.

Joy Schneck, MM, MT-BC

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to lead the Certification Board through nearly 31 years of maturation and growth,” said Joy. “During that time, we’ve been able to expand the ways in which the Board helps the profession and certificants achieve excellence in clinical practice. I’m very grateful to have been a part of those efforts for so many years.”

“Joy has dedicated herself to advancing CBMT’s mission since 1993 and has played a critical role in shaping CBMT into the organization that it is today,” said Board Chair Dr. Ellary Draper. “Joy’s tireless service through years of both development and change has built a strong foundation and positioned our organization for continued success after her departure. We thank her for her years of dedicated service and wish her the best in retirement.”

The Certification Board for Music Therapists is drawing on the steps in its succession plan to guide the process of selecting a new Executive Director. The Board of Directors has retained executive search firm Vetted Solutions to coordinate the search and has appointed a Search Committee to oversee the process. The search has commenced, and the organization’s goal is to have a new Executive Director identified by the Spring of 2024. The members of the Search Committee appointed by the Board are Chairperson Ellary Draper, PhD, MT-BC, Brijin Gardner, LSCSW, LCSW, RPT-S (CBMT Board Public Member), Deanna Hanson-Abromeit, PhD, MT-BC, Maureen Hearns, PhD, MT-BC, Janice Lindstrom, DLS, MT-BC, Meredith Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC, and Wendy Woolsey, MA, MT-BC.

“The Board of Directors of the Certification Board for Music Therapists recognizes the critical importance of this position to the long-term health of the organization and we are well prepared for this transition. We will keep our community updated on the progress of the search through announcements on both the CBMT website and via other online communications channels,” said Incoming Board Chair Dr. Andrea Crimmins.

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As CBMT celebrates 40 years of changing lives through music therapy, its board members, executive leadership and certificants have been weighing in on the organization’s impact over the decades and the value of certification in the field.

Alaine Reschke-Hernandez, PhD, MT-BC and Chair, CBMT Continuing Education Committee, elected to volunteer for the Continuing Education Committee because the Committee’s work specifically addresses how to support and challenge music therapists to continually learn and grow.

“Lifelong learning is crucial to ensure that board-certified music therapists provide quality services…particularly as the evidence base (clinical wisdom, research, and client situations) that informs our practice evolves.”

On May 9, 1983, CBMT was initially formed with funding provided by the two predecessor organizations, the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT) and the American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT), that eventually merged and became the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). Since then, CBMT has been performing the important work of certifying music therapists and being intricately involved in ensuring the lifelong learning that is so important.

In the beginning, CBMT was testing for both NAMT and AAMT. Today, CBMT tests not only for all music therapists who fall under the umbrella of AMTA, but for music therapists across the globe.

CBMT’s commitment has helped to create a healthy, vibrant community of music therapists – over 10,000 strong – who are impacting clients worldwide, and that community of certificants is active and vocal. When CBMT conducted its Certificant Perception Survey a few years ago, the message was clear that music therapists are passionate about what they do – almost 90% are happy to be music therapists – and they appreciate the value certification brings. In fact, over 97% of respondents believe CBMT successfully sets standards of excellence for safe and effective music therapy to enhance clients’ lives.

Why is certification so essential to the success the field of music therapy has experienced?

Here’s what the nearly 96% of certificants who planned to recertify stated as the top two reasons they value CBMT certification:

1. Certification provides evidence of professional commitment
2. Certification provides an indication of a higher level of clinical competence

One survey respondent said: “Board certification is a standardized recognition and requirement for this profession…it is absolutely important as a benchmark for other professions to recognize.”

Another survey respondent commented: “If it’s not MT-BC, it’s not music therapy.”

Laura Lenz, LPMT, MT-BC, a long-time Exam Committee Member, agrees: “The value of having a board-certified music therapist lies in the assurance that this person, the person you are entrusting with the wellbeing of your loved one, is an educated professional, practicing with the highest regard for safety, excellence, and accountability,” she said.

“The only way to ensure this is to maintain credentialing standards that reflect current, evidence-based research in a multitude of areas and practices, as well as establishing the highest accountability for excellence in clinical practice as possible.”

Laura Lenz has served on the CBMT Exam Committee for five years, and she is proud of the impact the committee has had on the field: “Having committee members who come from different regions, theoretical orientations, educational backgrounds, all of whom share the same desire to be of service to our profession, has truly led to incredibly impactful and meaningful changes.”

In considering some of the changes CBMT has made possible over the last 40 years, Joy Schneck, MM, MT-BC, Executive Director, provided just a few memorable examples:

“Forty years has seen so much change! CBMT transitionally certified 2,626 certificants in 1985 and administered its first exam in November of 1985 for 120 candidates. Today, we offer over 1,400 administrations a year. Some additional milestones since our founding:

• CBMT received its first NCCA accreditation approval in 1986, and accreditation has been ongoing ever since, with the next renewal in 2026.
• The Recertification Program began in 1988 to ensure continuing competence and meet accreditation requirements.
• Webinars outlining the processes for testing, practice analysis, and recertification were developed and offered at no cost for certificants.
• Testing moved from one administration a year, with results mailed a month later, to twice a year, and eventually to computer-based testing, which is offered daily, seven days a week and provides instant scoring.
• Two Self-Assessment Exams were developed to assist with exam preparedness and are revised every five years as part of the Practice Analysis process, as is the Board Certification Domains.
• Working collaboratively with AMTA, the State Recognition Plan began in 2005, and we now have music therapy recognition in seventeen states, with more to come!

CBMT has grown at a constant rate of 5-7% annually, from 1,972 certificants in 1993 – after 52% of the certificant body did not renew after the very first recertification cycle – to an average of 80% renewing today completely online. There are currently 10,211 certified today! We have come a long way, and excitedly look forward to the future of more growth, provision of quality services, unlimited continuing education opportunities, and a greater number of states with recognition!”

It was all made possible by the music therapists who make up CBMT – people who volunteer on the board and committees, and those who work in the field and live out every single day the value of what music therapy can accomplish in the lives of the people who are impacted.

“With more than 10,000 certificants, I think we are going to experience a snowball effect of new ideas and change, and probably even more interest in joining the profession. With all of this growth and change in mind, our Approved Provider program is an exciting aspect of CBMT that will help meet demands for learning opportunities related to emerging areas of practice, such as telehealth.” – Alaine Reschke-Hernández

“Without volunteers and certificants promoting the field and offering their service, I’m not sure that CBMT and music therapy as a profession would have grown as much in the last forty years,” said Ellary Draper, PhD, MT-BC and CBMT Board Chair. “My work at CBMT has impacted me in how I strategically think about the issues facing our profession, as well as possible solutions.”

What does CBMT’s Board Chair think lies ahead for the organization?

“I see CBMT continuing to grow and music therapy continuing to grow as a profession. I also have appreciated the hard work by CBMT’s staff and volunteers as we seek title protection and state recognition. I want to see continued progress across the nation, and I’m confident we will meet the goal of having title protection and/or state recognition in all 50 states.”

Visit cbmt.org to learn more about CBMT’s role in the field of music therapy.

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Every five years, the Practice Analysis is conducted to develop new Board Certification Domains for the music therapy profession. As CBMT’s primary responsibility is to administer the certifying examination for the MT-BC credential, its exam is based on this nationwide music therapy Practice Analysis that is reviewed and updated to reflect current clinical practice. Board certified music therapists must practice within the Board Certification Domains and adhere to the CBMT Code of Professional Practice.

The five-year mark is quickly approaching, and the preliminary steps in the process are already underway. The first step – applications for Practice Analysis Committee (PAC) members for this cycle – were due by the beginning of September.

This committee is intended to be a cross-section of the certificant body rolled up in 10 to 12 carefully selected professionals. They apply and are reviewed by the board development committee, then recommendations for selection are made to the board.

The work of the PAC committee will begin in earnest in early 2024. PAC committee members are practitioners and educators who are appointed to the committee. Part of their work is to document their practice and try to ensure representation of every theoretical model, population served, and all different cultural areas that need to be represented so that no bias is involved in the creation of the survey – or that biases are noted and addressed.

The PAC committee will develop a new Practice Analysis Survey that will be distributed in summer of 2024. Data regarding knowledge, skills, and abilities is collected by asking current practitioners to complete a detailed survey regarding their actual on-the-job requirements. Examinations are then linked to the defined body of knowledge based on data from the Practice Analysis and created to demonstrate a high degree of reliability and validity through psychometrically accepted statistical methods.

The responses to that survey will be reviewed and new test questions will be developed based on any new content the survey responses bring to light. The process measures practice and creates Board Certification Domains (BCDs) – effectively the exam content outline. To be included on the BCD listing, responses must meet a threshold of importance and inclusion across the total number of all responses, all geographic regions, and all years of experience.

Those new test questions will be incorporated into the CBMT Board Certification exam beginning in 2025. Old exam items not relative anymore are revised or retired, and new content items are incorporated into the exams after being pre-tested to ensure content validity and reliability.

All told, the process for the Practice Analysis takes a couple of years.

“It’s a highly complex process, but it boils down to a simple question: What is the job of a music therapist at this point in time, and what does competence in the profession look like?” said Joy Schneck, CBMT Executive Director.

The Practice Analysis works to advance the profession of music therapy. It encourages necessary links between examination content and job conduct by defining content that is critical to practice, and it also identifies the critical and essential skills necessary for safe and effective music therapy practice.

The current CBMT Board Certification Domains in use were developed from the results of the Practice Analysis study that kicked off in 2018 and was completed and put into effect in 2020. The Board Certification Domains define the body of knowledge that represents competent practice in the profession of music therapy and identifies what an MT-BC may do in practice. Continuing education credits, for example, must relate to an area identified in the Board Certification Domains.

The Practice Analysis process currently getting underway will lead to new Board Certification Domains  which will be the source of reference for recertification requirements and test specifications beginning in 2025.

Why is the Practice Analysis conducted automatically every five years? “Over the years, we’ve determined that the five-year mark is long enough but not too long to reevaluate what is happening in the profession,” Schneck said.

One of the rapidly changing aspects in the profession that will be thoroughly examined is the increasing use of telehealth and telepractice – which skyrocketed during the pandemic. What do competency measures in this type of practice look like? That is part of what the Practice Analysis will evaluate in this cycle.

The Practice Analysis is developed using guidelines issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and American Psychological Association standards for test validation. CBMT also works with a testing firm, PSI, and adheres to the guidelines of the American Educational Research Association and the National Council on Measurement in Education. The MT-BC program is accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies, the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, ICE, which additionally requires these practices to be followed.

You can watch CBMT’s video explaining the Practice Analysis process in more detail. To learn more about CBMT’s role in the profession of music therapy, visit cbmt.org.

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“When testing centers shut down and candidates were not able to finish their internships or educational requirements, everyone was isolated, and we definitely felt what was happening, but growth continued even then,” said Joy Schneck, CBMT Executive Director. “A few months ago, we announced we hit the 10,000+ milestone, and now we’ve already well surpassed it. These are active MT-BC practicing music therapists, and their numbers continue to exceed expectations. This is a very strong profession.”

The level of excellence in the profession is even more a source of pride than its growth, and maintaining the industry’s standards always comes first.

One area where excellence and growth seem to work in tandem has been the state recognition plan. It has been a primary focus of CBMT and AMTA since 2005 when the two national organizations started the project jointly. This year, four new states – Washington, Illinois, Ohio, and most recently, Connecticut – now require state licensure to practice in the profession of music therapy.

Official state recognition is the first step toward successful inclusion within health and education regulations. This possibly allows for improved employment opportunities and increased access to reimbursement and state funding streams, such as private insurance, Medicaid waivers, and special education.

Learn more about state licensure requirements and the importance of state recognition.

It’s a national voluntary certification program, with different states having different requirements. With states that mandate licensing, the MT-BC credential is required. CBMT provides digital badging for verification, as well as paper certificates, to the new music therapists being certified every day in their states.

Even in states where no registration or licensure is required, employers require proper education and training, as well as CBMT’s MT-BC certificate.

“This current state of affairs in music therapy is something we’ve all worked together to bring about,” Joy added. “We should all be proud of what has been accomplished by our profession. It only confirms how important it is for all of us to support one another – and shows what we can do when we work together. This is a vibrant profession in large part because we each have an important role to play, and we are all committed to the practice of music therapy.”

The healthy state of the music therapy profession has indeed been a joint effort – from the schools to the students to the music therapy employers to the national organizations that shepherd the growth of the profession – all focused on expanding the depth and breadth of the profession in order to reach the people whose lives can be changed by music therapy.

To learn more about the music therapy profession and CBMT’s role in this profession, visit cbmt.org.

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This year’s event is at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, from July 24-29. The theme for this 17^th World Congress is “Music Therapists: Reflecting, Connecting and Innovating in the Global Economy.”

CBMT is a Silver Sponsor – Allegro of the 2023 World Congress and CBMT staff will be on hand in Booth 1, sharing information regarding its mission: the importance of credentialing and the value of CBMT’s MT-BC certification program.

“We’re very excited to experience and be involved with the world music therapy community at this year’s Congress,” said Joy Schneck, CBMT Executive Director.

CBMT has always been an enthusiastic supporter of events that strengthen the music therapy community; however, this is the first time CBMT is one of the featured sponsors at this international gathering. Sponsorship of the World Congress offers many benefits for CBMT as well – cementing its presence as an important contributor in the world’s music therapy community.

CBMT supporters can enjoy seeing the information about CBMT under the Confirmed Supporters section of the conference website – and learn more about CBMT’s International Application information at cbmt.org.

CBMT provides interested board certification candidates the opportunity for music therapy credentialing worldwide. While CBMT has always been open to providing certification to anyone requesting it, global interest in CBMT certification is growing. CBMT has received many international inquiries and has tested individuals from over 25 international universities from Ireland, United Kingdom, Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chili, Australia, South Africa, Israel, Korea, and Indonesia. Currently, six percent of all MT-BCs live internationally. While most reside in Canada, there is an increasing population in Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, in many European countries, in Australia, and in South America.

The International Application for exam eligibility is available to anyone with a degree in Music Therapy and with 1200 hours of supervised clinical experience by a qualified music therapy professional. CBMT holds an agreement with the Canadian Association for Music Therapy to test as a requirement for their designation of MTA. CBMT tests are solely in English except in Canada, where (as required by Canadian law) exams are offered bilingually in French and English. CBMT administers exams through PSI, Inc. at locations worldwide. You can learn more by visiting the CBMT website.

“Providing a response to global requests,” according to Joy, “helps to identify and support a minimum standard for Music Therapy practice which in turn helps identify, promote, and support emerging practice around the world – and identifies and promotes a standard of competence that is valued worldwide.”

If you are attending this year’s conference in Vancouver, you can connect with CBMT at Booth 1 just inside the entrance door, and as always, you can learn more at cbmt.org.

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Every five years, as part of their recertification process, practicing music therapists across the country must complete 100 CMTEs to maintain certification. Continuing education in music therapy is essential for ensuring that methodologies in practice align with the latest evidence-based guidelines.

CMTE – or Continuing Music Therapy Education – credits are earned by board-certified music therapists to maintain certification. One way to earn CMTEs is through Approved Provider opportunities offered by individuals or organizations who are approved by CBMT to offer them. There are other options that can count toward recertification credits, including giving presentations and supervising interns, but CMTE opportunities are a widely-utilized method.

Approved Providers are an essential component of CBMT’s recertification process, and they are held to high standards. While not just anyone can be an Approved Provider, the actual process for becoming one is actually very simple – although navigating through the various steps on the website application can appear to be a complicated process if you are not familiar with it. That’s why CBMT recently created two step-by-step videos to clarify the process.

Understanding the Approved Provider Process

The first video – How to Apply to Become an Approved Provider – is designed to work in tandem with CBMT’s website and basically escort new potential Approved Providers through the various steps that will ensure a successful application.

While the video will walk applicants through each stage of the application process in a little over five minutes, there are four lengthier first steps recommended to make the process easier:

• Familiarize yourself with CBMT’s website, particularly the Approved Provider main page
• Read the Approved Provider Manual accessible on the CBMT website
• Download and fill out the required forms so they are ready to submit when you reach that point in the application process
• Familiarize yourself with the checklist provided for the Approved Provider application process

Applicants will need to set up a CBMT account to begin the application, and the video explains that as well. If you wish to create an account now, complete the form here.

The process for approval takes six to eight weeks from start to finish. If you still have questions about the Approved Provider process, most can be answered by our FAQs. To become an Approved Provider, watch our video below:

How to Submit Your Continuing Music Therapy Education Opportunity for Approval

Each new continuing ed opportunity must be approved by CBMT. The new video – How to Submit Additional Opportunities as an Approved Provider – can take you through the process in less than five minutes.

It’s as simple as logging into your CBMT Approved Provider account and submitting the course promotional materials in the “Additional Opportunity” section.

The video leads you through each section and offers helpful hints. One of the most helpful is how you can avoid delays by being sure to click “Submit for Staff Review.” Many Approved Providers have waited for a length of time with no response before finally calling CBMT to inquire on the progress of their new opportunity approval, only to find it was never submitted because they accidentally overlooked that final step in the online application process. The devil, as they say, is in the details.

For detailed guidance on how Approved Providers should submit continuing music therapy education opportunities for approval, watch this video:

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It was Vince Lombardi who is quoted as saying “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we will catch excellence.”

The original intent of the congressional legislation that led to ICE and NCCA accreditation was to develop standards of excellence for voluntary certification programs in healthcare. Initially created in 1977 and updated in 2016, these standards have evolved to include all professional occupations and ensure certification programs adhere to modern standards of practice. Currently, over 315 personnel certification programs have been accredited from approximately 130 professional organizations.

Understanding the NCCA Accreditation Renewal Process

NCCA was founded as a commission whose mission is to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public through the accreditation of a variety of certification programs that assess professional competence. NCCA uses a peer review process to establish accreditation standards, evaluate compliance with these standards, recognize organizations/programs which demonstrate compliance, and serve as a resource on quality certification.

NCCA accreditation offers independent affirmation that the program has met accepted standards regarding various elements of a personnel certification program, including:

• Governance structure (protection from undue influence)
• Testing practices and psychometric analysis (ability to withstand legal challenges)
• Policies and procedures (transparency)
• Ongoing maintenance (continued focus)
• Ethical practice (integrity of program)
• Financial sustainability (value for certificants)

NCCA and CBMT

CBMT has always been committed to unconditional compliance with stringent testing and measurement standards required by all major accreditation programs. Rigorous competency testing supports our vision and yours. Since 1986, our Music Therapist-Board Certification (MT-BC) program has been formally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Click here to learn more about CBMT’s involvement with NCCA and ICE.

See our recent article on Board certification in music therapy.

For a helpful recap on the value of accreditation, check out the video below from NCCA:

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Socrates is famous for having said: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” On the other hand, Robert Fulghum – the author of “All I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” – jokingly commented that “the examined life is no picnic.”

While it’s true that self-examination is never an easy process, we all agree excellence cannot be achieved without it.

At CBMT, our mission is rooted in self-examination. Awarding board certification through our credentialing process – based on proven, up-to-date knowledge and competence in clinical practice – is our very reason for existing.

Understanding the MT-BC Credentialling Process

CBMT is the only certifying board for music therapy in the United States. Since 1986, our Music Therapist-Board Certification (MT-BC) program has been formally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Board certification in music therapy provides an objective standard through comprehensive testing that ensures all certificants are prepared to practice music therapy with competence. We are committed to unconditional compliance with stringent testing and measurement standards.

CBMT looks to The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) for best practices in credentialing and latest trends in certification, test development and delivery. We work with PSI, a testing vendor, to ensure a quality program for NCCA Accreditation, as well as legal defensibility, exam development, psychometric services and exam administration.

It is CBMT that forms Board Certification Domains (BCDs), which are the areas that reflect the current job tasks of a music therapist – and that define what makes up a current, competent music therapy practice. These BCDs are data-driven from the Practice Analysis Survey CBMT conducts every five years. A 10-member committee of diverse Subject Matter Experts appointed by CBMT makes up the Practice Analysis Committee, working together with PSI to create the survey questions sent to all currently credentialled MT-BCs.

The survey data is used to regularly update and revise the BCDs that shape our exam content. CBMT’s Exam Committee is responsible for writing the exam content. New exam questions are presented as pretest exam questions for a full year and the psychometric data reflecting validity and reliability for each of the questions are reviewed by the committee. Based on the psychometric outcome, they either become official scored exam items, get revised and pretested again for another year, or don’t make the cut.

It is a meticulous, rigorous process – and like Robert Fulghum said, it’s no picnic – but all certified practitioners of music therapy must fulfill the required training and education and successfully complete the CBMT Board Certification exam before being certified and receiving their MT-BC credential.

On a Mission

CBMT is on a mission to increase understanding of our examination and credentialling process. Learn more about the CBMT Board Certification exam in the examination section of our website.

Board certification begins with the academic and clinical training requirements as established by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Canadian Association for Music Therapy (CAMT) in the United States and Canada respectively, and internationally, when comparable training is documented. When preparing for the exam, be sure to familiarize yourself with the CBMT Candidate Handbook and BCDs, use the Self-Assessment Exams as practice, and access the Self-Assessment Bibliography as a helpful resource. The exam itself consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, 130 of which are scored, and 20 questions are being pre-tested to obtain validity and reliability statistics before being approved for use on the scored portion of the exam. Once you are ready to take it, simply find a PSI testing center and make an appointment to lock in your exam date. Visit our website to learn more about state licensure and the steps you can take after completing the exam.

For a helpful recap on the CBMT Board Certification exam, check out the video below created to demystify the examination process. We wish you the best of luck in securing your credential and joining our incredible community of MT-BCs everywhere!

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As the only certifying board in music therapy, the CBMT focuses on measuring professional competence, awarding the Music Therapist Board Certified (MT-BC) credential to those who meet stringent certification requirements. The CBMT establishes and maintains these requirements to protect the public by ensuring safe, effective music therapy services. Through its accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the CBMT strives for the highest possible standards in its national examination and recertification programs, designed to reflect the most updated knowledge and competence in the field.

AMTA serves as the primary organization for educating the public, establishing education and training standards for music therapists, publishing and disseminating music therapy research, providing resources for ongoing continuing education of music therapists, and working to ensure those who need music therapy get quality services. It focuses on the advancement of clinical practice, research and ethical standards in the music therapy profession. Through its mission of promoting awareness of the benefits of music therapy, AMTA aims to improve the quality of services and increase access to those services in a rapidly changing world.

Together, the CBMT and AMTA have created The Scope of Music Therapy Practice, which defines the practice of music therapy; lists requirements for education and certification; and details the separate (but often complementary) roles of the two groups in developing and maintaining professional music therapists and evidence-based practices. In addition, the CBMT and AMTA work collaboratively on regulatory affairs, legislative issues and research, including a core team that strategizes for state recognition of music therapy and the MT-BC credential.

Sometimes questions may come up as to why it’s necessary to support both organizations. With a distinction of missions between certifying the competent practitioner (CBMT) and promoting the benefits of music therapy to increase awareness and access (AMTA), these groups clearly have different primary focuses – but they do have the same end goals to benefit music therapists, advance the profession, and ensure high-quality services for the public. Maintaining your certification (CBMT) and active membership in the professional organization (AMTA) strengthens the overall health of the music therapy profession. We will all benefit from keeping both CBMT and AMTA strong, and it’s important for you to help by maintaining your MT-BC credential with CBMT and consistently renewing your membership in AMTA each year.

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These benefits include improved access to educational programs, as well as greater opportunities for the area and delivery of professional practice. The evolution of the field also has led to official recognition by more states, the first step toward inclusion within health and education regulations. This allows for improved employment opportunities and increased access to reimbursement and state funding streams, such as private insurance, Medicaid waivers and special education.

In 2020, many testing centers closed and students struggled to complete internships because of COVID-19. Supported by the widespread shift to telepractice for training and the delivery of services, however, the profession stayed strong, and music therapists continued to seek certification to practice professionally. Through 2020, recertification rates were the highest ever for MT-BCs. Of the therapists eligible to recertify, 82 percent renewed their certification.

The pandemic also served to drive the prioritization of mental and behavioral health, and our increasingly older population has led to a higher demand for managing age-related diseases and pain. For addressing all such issues and conditions, music therapy has proved effective, and the field is getting some well-deserved notice.

In fact, music therapy can attribute its growth to many factors:

• Greater visibility of the profession
• Formal state recognition, which requires certification, now offered by 15 states
• More research reaching a greater platform in the profession
• Increased enrollment in university programs
• Approval of new AMTA educational training programs
• Practice areas continuing to evolve, from NICU and infant neonatal care through hospice care and bereavement support
• Wider acceptance of virtual training and virtual practice

As 2020 ended, the numbers of board-certified music therapists had reached 9,074 – even through the challenges of COVID-19. Assuming the continuation of the current growth trends, that points us toward achieving a key milestone of 10,000 certificants in 2022, which certainly would be a worthy celebration point for the industry as a whole.

The increase in numbers of MT-BCs means more employers and consumers are realizing the unique benefits of music therapy and seeing a positive future for the role it plays in physical and emotional health. As the profession continues to evolve, CBMT remains committed to our full support of facilitating certification through:

• Maintaining the highest possible standards for our national certification and recertification programs
• Maintaining the current standard for eligibility to sit for the national MT-BC examination
• Maintaining certification and recertification requirements that reflect current practice in the profession of music therapy
• Regularly assessing the current state of music therapy to establish an objective global standard of excellence
• Encouraging active involvement of board-certified music therapists in all phases of development for the CBMT examination and continuing education programs

The progress we are making in the music therapy field is truly exciting, and we look forward to watching – and facilitating – its continued growth!

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