This weekend I tackled a very important item on my to-do list: I submitted my very first Application for Recertification to the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Alas, it is not “once a music therapist, always a music therapist.” Rather, various obligations need to be fulfilled in order to maintain status as a board-certified music therapist.
There are three main steps to initially becoming a board-certified music therapist: 1) complete an approved music therapy training program; 2) complete a six-month music therapy internship; and 3) successfully pass the music therapy certification exam. An individual may then use the credential: MT-BC, meaning Music Therapist Board Certified.
The music therapy certification cycle is five years. At the end of each cycle, the music therapist must either take a recertification exam or provide documentation that he/she has completed at least 100 hours worth of continuing education credits within the five-year cycle. I opted for continuing education credits, including graduate coursework, attendance at national and regional music therapy conferences, and other Continuing Music Therapy Education (CMTE) credits from workshops.
It’s hard to believe I have been a certified music therapist for five years already. Next up: renewing my teaching certificate!
