Defining music therapy
Music therapist qualifications
Clinical process
Session structure

Music Therapist Qualifications

The music therapist: a qualified professional.

Academic and professional requirements to become a certified music therapist.

In order to become a certified music therapist (MTA, or Music Therapist Accredited), one must meet the certification requirements of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT), which implies the adherence to a Code of Ethics, ongoing professional development and continuing education.

Academic requirements

A certified music therapist (MTA) has completed: 

  • A Bachelor’s Degree, Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master’s Degree in music therapy
  • A supervised clinical internship of at least 1,000 hours
  • An exam administered by the Certification Board of Music Therapists

Currently, six Canadian universities offer music therapy undergraduate (Bachelor's degree) or graduate (Graduate certificate or Master’s) programs, including Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Music therapy training is also available in other countries. Check our Resources section for information about available programs.

Internship requirements

During their university studies, music therapy students complete internships of a minimum of 1,000 hours. These supervised training hours provide a valuable opportunity to acquire experience in a variety of settings with different clientele profiles.  These internships also help future music therapists shape and define their future career paths.
 

Professional requirements

After certification, an MTA must meet ongoing requirements set out by the CAMT:

  • Be a member in good standing with the CAMT, including an annual renewal
  • Complete continuing education within each 5-year cycle (minimum 45 credits)
  • Sign a statement of adherence to the CAMT Code of ethics

Scope of practice

Music therapists use a variety of interventions, methods and techniques to address a variety of goal areas in their therapeutic scope of practice. These goal areas can address communication or mental health issues, as well as cognitive, motor, emotional, social, sensory and other types of needs.

Music therapists work in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, healthcare centers and clinics, schools, long term care facilities, day programs, community settings, correctional centers, mental health centers, corporate environments and private practice. In their workplaces, they may work as part of an interdisciplinary team or independently. In addition to their clinical work, music therapists may take on roles as educators, supervisors, consultants or researchers.
 

Music therapists in action

The Concordia University documentary Children’s Right to Music shows  more than a dozen music therapists at work with school-aged children with varying needs and in different settings. 

In videos produced by the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT), you’ll meet other music therapists, including:

Please visit our Resources section to discover these and many more presentations by music therapists about their work.