Virginia Code 54.1-3709.2: Music therapy; licensure
A. The Board shall adopt regulations governing the practice of music therapy, upon consultation with the Advisory Board on Music Therapy established in § 54.1-3709.3. The regulations shall (i) set forth the educational, clinical training, and examination requirements for licensure to practice music therapy; (ii) provide for appropriate application and renewal fees; and (iii) include requirements for licensure renewal and continuing education. In developing such regulations, the Board shall consider requirements for board certification offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists or any successor organization.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 54.1-3709.2
- Board: means the Board of Social Work. See Virginia Code 54.1-3700
- Music therapist: means a person who has (i) completed a bachelor's degree or higher in music therapy, or its equivalent; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board pursuant to § 54. See Virginia Code 54.1-3709.1
- Music therapy: means the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship through an individualized music therapy treatment plan for the client that identifies the goals, objectives, and potential strategies of the music therapy services appropriate for the client using music therapy interventions, which may include music improvisation, receptive music listening, songwriting, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, learning through music, and movement to music. See Virginia Code 54.1-3709.1
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
B. No person shall engage in the practice of music therapy or hold himself out or otherwise represent himself as a music therapist unless he is licensed by the Board.
C. Nothing in this section shall prohibit (i) the practice of music therapy by a student pursuing a course of study in music therapy if such practice constitutes part of the student’s course of study and is adequately supervised or (ii) a licensed health care provider, other professional registered, certified, or licensed in the Commonwealth, or any person whose training and national certification attests to his preparation and ability to practice his certified profession or occupation from engaging in the full scope of his practice, including the use of music incidental to his practice, provided that he does not represent himself as a music therapist.