SF 5148 Summary

• Creates state licensure for music therapists under new Minnesota Statutes chapter 148G, effective July 1, 2024, with unlicensed practice prohibited effective January 1, 2025.

• Establishes Music Therapy Advisory Council with 6 members (3 licensed music therapists and 3 public members) to advise the commissioner on licensure standards, enforcement, and disciplinary matters.

• Requires applicants to be 18+ years old, hold a bachelor's degree or higher in music therapy from an accredited program, and pass the Certification Board for Music Therapists examination.

• Provides three licensure pathways: general licensure (with board certification), temporary licensure (for recent graduates or exam retakers), and reciprocity (for out-of-state licensed therapists).

• Mandates 100 hours of continuing education every 5 years (including 3 hours on ethics) for license renewal every 2 years, and establishes grounds for disciplinary action including incompetence, fraud, and violations of practice standards.