Some historical musings
What is the relationship of AMTA, American Music Therapy Organization to the CBMT, Certification Board for Music Therapy ?
AMTA is an educational and advocacy organization for music therapy. CBMT is a test taking enterprise which results in granting initial board certification and monitoring continuing education to maintain that credential. Prior to 1998, to my knowledge there was no formal link between AMTA and CBMT . However, as the years have gone by, the professional membership in AMTA has declined and the number of MT-BCs has increased. It would appear that music therapists find AMTA membership non-obligatory and feel that CBMT membership is obligatory. What do you think?
What is the history of the Board Certification credential?
Prior to 1998, when NAMT, National Association of Music Therapy and AAMT, American Association of Music Therapy merged and became the AMTA, both individual certifications, granted upon completion of the music therapy training, and identified with each association were still operative. Those affiliated with NAMT held the RMT, Registered Music Therapist. Those affiliated with AAMT held the CMT, Certified Music Therapist. Upon merger in 1998, AMTA allowed RMTs and CMTs to be recognized until 2020 but AMTA decided to offer only one credential, Board Certification, a credential that had been available through the CBMT, Certification Board for Music Therapy (founded 1983) , as early as 1985, when the first online test (as of August 2026, 50% pass rate*) was administered for applicants. Interestingly, graduates from music therapy training programs prior to 1998 were automatically granted a music therapy certification and now they are not. There may be further confusion in standards amongst music therapists when CBMT states Board certification is voluntary, although it is required in some states for licensure, state certification or state registries.(https://www.cbmt.org/state-requirements/). Music therapists who have elected to become certified demonstrate a special commitment to their profession and to the provision of quality services.” and AMTA states, “Upon completing a bachelor's degree, music therapists become eligible to take the national board certification exam to earn the MT-BC (Music Therapist - Board Certified) credential. This credential is necessary for professional practice as a Board Certified Music Therapist and may be required for licensing in your state. “.
There is no formal relationship between the completion of the university training program and the preparation for the board certification exam.
At this time, the MT-BC is noted in 17 states (see website, https://www.cbmt.org/state-requirements/),, either with respect to a license for practicing music therapy (Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, ), a registry identifying one’s self as a board certified music therapist (Rhode Island, Wisconsin) or a title protection, i.e. identifying as a board certified music therapist without the credential (California, Iowa) . Although AMTA requires that faculty after 2020 hold the MT-BC, the AMTA archives state: “For music therapists who received NAMT Faculty Authorization with the RMT prior to January 1, 1998, Board Certification is not required.”
In conclusion, board certification as a music therapist is voluntary in order to practice as a music therapist except in 13 states of the United States (two other states offer title protection and two other states offer a registry) , requires completion of the MT-BC online test (unless the MT-BC was grandfathered in the 80s) , annual dues and a five year cycle of continuing education. Both the United States and Canada offer the MT-BC exam. The only other country offering testing to receive a credential as a music therapist is Switzerland (federal professional exam).
Here are a few questions to consider:
1- Could the university itself be more involved in the creation of the MT-BC exam in order to assure a more positive outcome?
2- What is the relationship , if any, between music therapy training programs and the CBMT exam?
3- If an organization like ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association) can provide an umbrella for credentialing through its Council for Clinical Certification, why can’t AMTA consider the same process? If such an umbrella was created, what advantages might it hold?
4- If the American Art Therapy Association, for example, recognizes professionals by virtue of their graduation from an accredited program (ATR, Registered Art Therapist) as well as their passage of an exam (ATR-BC), should the music therapy profession consider this? This would consolidate both past and current history.
Respectfully considered,
Karen D Goodman PhD.
Professor Emerita, Music
Montclair State University
For an information reading on the board certification read the wonderful work of Professor/Dr Dawn Iwamasa at Florida State "Music therapy education in the United States: from competencies to board certification" in Goodman (2023) Developing Issues in World Music Therapy Education and Training. Charles C Thomas Publisher.