HB 4829 Summary

• Amends the Public Health Code to establish licensure requirements for music therapists in Michigan, creating a new Board of Music Therapy with 6 licensed music therapists and 3 public members.

• Defines "music therapy" as clinical, evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals through strategies including treatment planning, music techniques, assessments, and collaboration with treatment teams.

• Requires music therapists to obtain a bachelor's degree or higher in music therapy from an accredited program approved by the American Music Therapy Association, complete 1,200 hours of clinical training (including 180 preinternship and 900 internship hours), and obtain certification from the Certification Board for Music Therapists.

• Sets licensing fees at $75 for application processing and $148 per year for the license, with licenses valid for 4 years; waives examination requirements until January 1, 2021 for those holding registered, certified, or advanced certified designations from the National Music Therapy Registry.

• Exempts individuals licensed in other professions who use music incidentally in their practice from music therapy licensing requirements, provided they do not represent themselves as music therapists; effective 90 days after enactment.