Upon
completion of the bachelor's degree, music therapists are
eligible to sit for the national board certification exam
to obtain the credential MT-BC (Music Therapist - Board
Certified) which is necessary for professional practice.
The credential MT-BC is granted by a separate, accredited
organization, the Certification Board
for Music Therapists (CBMT), to identify
music therapists who have demonstrated the knowledge,
skills and abilities necessary to practice at the current
level of the profession. The purpose of board
certification in music therapy is to provide an objective
national standard that can be used as a measure of
professionalism by interested agencies, groups, and
individuals.
In
addition, music therapists who currently hold the
professional designations of ACMT, CMT or RMT are listed
on the National Music Therapy Registry (NMTR) and are
qualified to practice music therapy. For information on
current holders of the ACMT, CMT or RMT designations,
please contact the NMTR at (301) 562-9330.
Music
therapists adhere to specific standards for clinical
interventions and ethical conduct in professional
practice, which are defined in the following AMTA
documents:
Music
Therapists' Standards of
Clinical Practice
The
AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice for music therapy are
defined as rules for measuring the quality of services.
These Standards are designed to assist practicing music
therapists and their employers in providing quality
clinical interventions. The AMTA Standards of Clinical
Practice undergo periodic revision to remain current with
advances in the field.
Music
Therapists' Code of Ethics
The AMTA Code of
Ethics define tenets of professional conduct for
practicing music therapists. Because music therapists
believe in the dignity and worth of every person and
strive to establish and maintain high standards in public
service, we require of ourselves the utmost in ethical
behavior. The Code of Ethics is applicable to all those
professional members holding the MT-BC credential or a
professional designation of the National Music Therapy
Registry (ACMT, CMT or RMT), and Professional Members of
the American Music Therapy Association.
AMTA Professional
Competencies
The
AMTA Professional Competencies provide a definition of
the current entry level skills of a music therapist who
has completed either a bachelor's degree or its
equivalent in music therapy. All AMTA approved bachelor's
degree programs incorporate these competencies in their
music therapy curriculum. As the clinical and research
activities of music therapy expand, these competencies
will be revised to reflect the growth of the professional
knowledge base.
--American Music Therapy Association |