How to Become a Music Therapist: Training and Career Path

Music has the power to heal, comfort, and change lives. For those drawn to it and helping others, a career in music therapy offers a way to bring those passions together. 

Understanding how to become a music therapist means recognizing the importance of formal education, clinical training, and certification required for the role.

Key Takeaways

• Becoming a board-certified music therapist requires a bachelor’s degree from an AMTA-approved program.
• Students complete a minimum of 1,200 supervised clinical training hours to develop practical skills and professional readiness.
• Certification through the CBMT exam is required to qualify for professional practice in the field.

What Does a Music Therapist Do?

Music therapists use musical experiences in order to promote healing and well-being. Their work combines elements of art and science with music, as an art form, becoming a clinical tool as well as a creative outlet.

Unlike teachers who focus on performance or counselors who rely solely on conversation, music therapists apply evidence-based techniques that connect rhythm, melody, and harmony to physical and psychological recovery.

As University of North Dakota (UND) Music Therapy program director Carly Flaagan explains, "music therapy considers the whole person." Physiologically, it can regulate heart rate and breathing, improve oxygen levels, and lower stress hormones. Psychologically, it supports communication, motor skills, and sensory regulation. Flaagan describes this process as "capturing the brain’s attention through music-making," which creates pathways for practicing skills in a way that feels natural and motivating.

Music therapists work across all stages of life. They can help children with developmental challenges as well as support seniors with dementia, veterans coping with trauma, or patients in recovery and hospice care. In each case, music provides a safe and structured space for connection, comfort, and progress.

When UND brought back its Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy in 2024, Flaagan returned to lead it, noting that her own undergraduate experience at UND has influenced her professional path. "I benefited so much from the education and clinical training I received here," she said. The revived program reflects that same philosophy: using both musical and clinical expertise to prepare students for a profession that heals through sound.

How to Become a Music Therapist

To become a music therapist, individuals must complete a structured path of formal education and supervised training. This process helps guarantee professional qualification and, most importantly, develops the knowledge and skills required to apply music scientifically and therapeutically to support clients and patients.

Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy

The foundation of a successful career in music therapy starts with earning a bachelor's degree from an American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)-approved program. This credential is mandatory as you can't sit for the board certification exam without it.

UND offers a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree approved by AMTA, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the Higher Learning Commission. It is the only bachelor’s-level Music Therapy program offered in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Idaho and Wyoming.

This step typically takes four years of full-time study, though some students with prior college credits may complete it faster.

Complete Clinical Training and an Internship

Academic knowledge provides the foundation, but successful music therapy practice depends on extensive hands-on experience. That's why AMTA-approved programs require at least 1,200 hours of clinical training, which includes a supervised internship.

These clinical hours happen in real-world healthcare settings: hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and community programs. You'll work directly with clients under the supervision of board-certified music therapists, applying the techniques and theories you learned in the classroom to actual therapeutic situations.

The internship typically occurs after you complete your coursework and represents the culmination of your training. It's an immersive experience where you carry a caseload of clients, conduct assessments, design and implement treatment plans, document progress, and participate in interdisciplinary team meetings.

Pass the Board Certification Exam

After completing your degree and clinical training, you're eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). Passing this exam earns you the credential MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified), which is required for professional practice in most settings.

The CBMT exam is quite thorough, covering clinical foundations, music therapy principles, treatment planning, clinical practice skills, professional issues, and ethics. It tests both your theoretical knowledge and your ability to apply that knowledge in clinical scenarios.

The exam format includes multiple-choice questions based on real-world clinical situations. You'll need to demonstrate understanding of assessment procedures, intervention selection, documentation standards, ethical decision-making, and evidence-based practice principles.

Most candidates spend several months preparing for the exam, reviewing coursework materials, studying CBMT resources, and taking practice tests. Your educational program should prepare you well for the content areas covered, and UND graduates are eligible to sit for this exam immediately after completing the program.

Once you pass the exam and earn your MT-BC credential, you're qualified to practice as a professional music therapist. This certification demonstrates to employers, clients, and other healthcare professionals that you've met national standards for competency in music therapy practice.

Maintain Certification and Continue Professional Development

Your MT-BC certification requires renewal every five years to make sure that you stay current with evolving best practices and research in the field. Recertification involves completing continuing music therapy education credits through approved courses, workshops, conferences, and other professional development activities.

This ongoing learning requirement keeps the profession dynamic and evidence-based. As new research emerges about effective interventions, neurological music therapy techniques, trauma-informed care, and other advances, practicing therapists integrate these developments into their clinical work.

Essential Skills for Music Therapists

Music therapists must combine musical ability with interpersonal, analytical, and creative skills. Key competencies for this profession include:

• Musical proficiency
• Empathy and patience
• Communication
• Observation and assessment
• Adaptability and creativity
• Emotional resilience
• Professional ethics
• Collaboration

Career and Salary Outlook

Overall, the field offers meaningful, people-focused work with stable employment prospects. 

Employment opportunities for music therapists are expected to remain steady in the coming years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 3% job growth for recreational therapists—an occupational category that includes music therapists—through 2034. This indicates a consistent demand for professionals who use creative therapies in healthcare and educational settings.

According to the American Music Therapy Association, the median annual salary for music therapists is around $51,000, though actual earnings can vary based on factors such as education level, years of experience, location, and type of employer. Those working in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practice may earn higher incomes than those in community or educational programs.

The career paths of UND graduates illustrate the field's professional versatility and growth potential. Program Director Carly Flaagan, herself a UND alumna and recipient of the E. Thayer Gaston Research Writing Award, exemplifies how a strong educational foundation can lead to national recognition and leadership opportunities. Her career reflects the expanding reach of music therapy across disciplines such as neuroscience, psychology, and healthcare innovation.

Turn Your Passion Into a Profession

Music has always been part of what makes us human. It helps us communicate in ways words alone cannot.

Using music to help others heal and grow is both powerful and deeply meaningful, but doing so requires more than talent or good intentions. It takes professional training, clinical experience, and a thorough understanding of how music interacts with the mind and body.

The University of North Dakota's Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy program provides the needed blend of academic preparation, hands-on clinical experiences, and dedicated faculty mentorship that students need to achieve board certification and build a lasting, people-centered career.

Explore our Music Therapy program and find your own way to help others through the art and science of sound.

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