If you are interested in becoming a music therapist, you should make sure that you obtain the proper education and training in order to help out those who are in need of your expertise. Education is an essential element of becoming a professional music therapist, since most states require that you have a certain amount of schooling in order to work in this field. However, there are other options available to you if you would like to be trained as a music therapist without having to attend a school. Some people choose to pay someone else to go through the certification process, although it is important that you find someone with the appropriate background and credentials. This can mean having to pay for the education that you are receiving, or having to take a less-than-ideal job at a less than ideal location because you were unable to pay for your education.

To become a music therapist, you must be licensed by your state in order to perform the therapy that you will provide. Many states also require that you have a master’s degree in music therapy before you are even considered for a job. The requirements usually only require that you complete a course of study that includes one year of anatomy, chemistry, English, math, physics, and zoology. Other courses, including psychology, may be required as well. It should be noted that some states do not require these additional courses, but almost all require a bachelor’s degree in music therapy, so be aware of this when you are applying for positions.

There are a number of different schools that offer programs that will prepare you to enter into a career as a music therapist. One of the most common bachelor’s degrees offered is a Ph.D. in music therapy. A Ph.D. program can take four years, but it generally takes about two years to complete.

After completing your Master’s degree, you will be eligible to sit for the board exam that helps to assure you are competent in this field. This exam will be administered by the North American Board of Psychology Examiners, and although it may be taken online, you may want to make an appointment to take the exam in person at a testing center near you. You will need to pass the board exam in order to become certified, so it is very important to spend the time studying for it and taking practice tests. There is no substitute for hard work when it comes to passing this exam.

The next step after passing the board exam is to attend a training school in order to obtain your actual certification. You can choose to take classes online or in person at a school that offers these programs. Most programs will last between nine and twelve months, depending on your preferred method of learning. Some schools will also give their students the option to take a national board certification exam to fulfill their state requirement. Once you receive your certificate, you will need to take a test in order to prove that you have indeed met all the requirements. Once you have successfully completed these steps, you will be ready to work as a music therapist.

Depending on what type of advanced clinical practice you plan to do as a music therapist, you will also need to get your Master’s degree before you apply for licensing. You will need to graduate from an accredited graduate school and complete either an internship or clinical internship in order to pass the certification examination. To qualify, you must demonstrate that you have both a Master’s degree and expertise in music therapy. Your Master’s degree should be in a relevant area such as communication, education or business administration. A Master’s degree is not necessary, but it is certainly helpful.

As music therapists, you will find that the pay is relatively low. The salary ranges from about forty dollars per hour to about seventy dollars per hour, with a bit of variation. The largest salaries usually occur when you are working in private practices, although some areas pay higher rates. Some areas pay less, but there are some private practices where the hourly rate is close to the national average.