E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

Wheeler, Barbara: WMFT Proceedings of the Education Symposium
Qualifications of Music Therapy Educators of the American Music
Therapy association
Marilyn Sandness, MM, MT-BC
University of Dayton (Professor Emerita, Retired), USA
Note: The following outline is based on standards for educators and
clinical supervisors of the former AAMT, NAMT, and recommended new
standards proposed by the AMTA Commission on Education and Clinical
Training. Qualifications vary depending on the area of responsibility in
directing and/or teaching in music therapy undergraduate and graduate
programs or for supervising pre-internship and internship programs.
Experience as a teacher/educator is not specified. There should be a fulltime
faculty position for each degree program offered.
Qualifications
A professional credential in music therapy (e.g., MT-BC, CMT, ACMT,
or RMT) is required for all educators and clinical supervisors. A Master's
degree in music therapy or a related field with a minimum of 12 graduate
credits in music therapy is required for directing and/or teaching full time
in undergraduate or graduate music therapy programs. For teaching in
graduate programs, a doctorate is preferred. A Baccalaureate degree in
music therapy or its equivalent is required for adjunct or part-time faculty
teaching specific courses or for clinical supervisors (pre-internship and
internship). All educators and clinical supervisors must pursue continuing
education relevant to his/her teaching and/or clinical and supervisory
responsibilities. All full-time faculty must demonstrate mastery of all entrylevel
and selected advanced competencies in music therapy; effectiveness
as a music therapy clinician in at least one area of practice; the ability to
teach and clinically supervise undergraduate and graduate students (if
applicable); and the ability to organize and administer an undergraduate or
graduate music therapy program (if applicable). In addition, graduate
faculty must demonstrate the ability to guide graduate research. Adjunct or
part-time faculty must demonstrate specific competencies appropriate to
the teaching assignment. Clinical supervisors (pre-internship and internship)
must demonstrate all entry-level competencies; effectiveness as a music
therapy clinician in at least one area of practice; general understanding of
the supervisory needs of pre-internship and/or internship students; and
skills in supervision.
Length of Experience as A Clinician
For directing and teaching in undergraduate programs, a minimum of
3 years full-time or its equivalent in part-time (estimate 5040 hours) clinical
experience in music therapy beyond the internship is required. For
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