American Music Therapy Association
8455 Colesville Rd., Ste. 1000 • Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Tel. (301) 589-3300 • Fax (301) 589-5175 • www.musictherapy.org
State Recognition of Music Therapy in Special Education
ALASKA
Department of Education and Early Development
0306 - Music therapy
Programs that use music and music-related activities to help the student maintain mental
functioning, to facilitate social and emotional growth, to promote communication, to
develop constructive use of leisure time and to improve or maintain motor and perceptual
skills. Music can (be) used as (a) passive agent as in the case of listening to music to aid
in reminiscence, reality orientation or relaxation; or as an active creative process in which
the client participates in musical production.
COLORADO
Department of Education
Grants Fiscal Management Services Unit
Code 14 - Other Professional would be used for contract music therapy services
From “An Educator and Parent Primer on Special Education Acronyms, Abbreviations,
and Definitions”
Music Therapy: A therapeutic service to meet recreational or educational goals. Music
therapy includes playing instruments, moving to music, singing, and listening to music. It
is used in a variety of applications in schools, hospitals, and private settings through both
individual and group approaches, often in conjunction with other types of therapy. Both
music education and music therapy contribute to special education by promoting learning
and self-growth through enjoyable activities.
DELAWARE
TITLE 14
Education
Free Public Schools
CHAPTER 13. SALARIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES
(l) Music therapist--Board certified
FLORIDA
Department of Education
DOE Information Database Requirements
Appendix E
Job Code Assignments
52020 - Music Therapist
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ILLINOIS
Administrative Code
Title 23: Education and Cultural Resources
Subtitle A: Education
Chapter I: State Board of Education
Subchapter f: Instruction for Specific Student Populations
Part 226: Special Education
Subpart I: Personnel
Section 226.800: Personnel Required to be Qualified
j) Other Professional Personnel
3) a credential, regardless of title, issued by a professional association or organization in
the relevant field, when no educational credential in the same or related field is issued by
the State Board of Education and no license or permission to practice is required by the
State (e.g., for a music therapist or a daily living skills specialist).
Special Education
Funding and Child Tracking System
Approval Procedures
2007-08 School Year (September 2007)
Related and Other Services
Code 12: Music Therapy
The list of related services is not exhaustive and may include other developmental,
corrective, or supportive services (such as artistic and cultural programs, art, music, and
dance therapy) if they are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from
special education in order for the child to receive FAPE (CFR 34 §300.34).
Special Education
Personnel Employed Procedures
2007-08 School Year
Appendix A
Special Education Professional Personnel
Work Assignment: Music Therapist
Code: PMT
Certificate Type: Registration from the National Association of Music Therapy or
Master’s degree in music therapy
KANSAS
Education Regulations
Regulation # 91-40-1
Chapter 91: KSBE Regulations
Article 40: Special Education
Title: Definitions.
Related services shall include the following: (I) music therapy
MASSACHUSETTS
Education Laws and Regulations
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603 CMR 10.00
School Finance and Accountability
Section 10.07: Special Education Payments and Reimbursements
(6) Instructional Cost Groups.
(e) Other Specialized Services Provided by Professional Staff: Specialized services
provided in accordance with an eligible student's IEP in the areas of music therapy,
adaptive physical education, recreation therapy, vision training, home/school facilitation
and interpretation for the deaf or hard of hearing. Such services must be provided by
professionals trained through an accredited program or through meeting the requirements
of their professional organization. Specialized services may be provided individually or
in groups. The additional costs of such professional staff providing extended day or year
services as specified on the eligible student's IEP shall be included in the calculation of
individual student instructional cost.
MICHIGAN
Special Education Personnel Approval System
Personnel-Non-Approval
Personnel Requiring Certification
Music Therapist
Certified by: Certification Board for Music Therapists
MISSOURI
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Regulation VI. DESE Responsibilities
8. Personnel Standards (34 CFR 300.136)
Title: Music Therapist
Responsibilities: Participates in the development and implementation of IEPs
Educational Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree
Certificates or License: Certification Recognized by the American Music Therapy
Association
NEBRASKA
Department of Education
Special Population
In-State Providers
Music Therapy
Service Code: 4090
Description of Services
Music Therapy is the use of music to achieve therapeutic goals. Music Therapy protocol
includes assessment, development of goals, group or individual treatment sessions, and
regular evaluation of progress toward IEP goals.
General Information
Individuals are accepted for services on a case by case basis. Music therapy assessment
must indicate that music is necessary for the student to reach IEP goals to be
reimbursable as a related service. Services provided at school.
NEW MEXICO
Certification and Re-certification Requirements of
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Developmental Specialists (DS) Policy
DS Certification Policy
J. Approved Fields of Study for Developmental Specialists/ Certification
2. Art or Music Therapy
Student Teacher Accountability Reporting System
Appendix B - Staff Assignment Codes
F. Other Personnel
80-Music Therapist
NORTH CAROLINA
NC Public Schools
Psycho/social interventions
Intervention Definitions
Music therapy - Structured music activities specifically designed to help the student
understand and deal with emotions in a socially acceptable manner, as well as to develop
skills and self confidence in personal expression.
PENNSYLVANIA
Contingency Fund Guidelines for Extraordinary Special Education Program Expenses
Frequently Asked Questions:
14) Can contingency funds be requested for non-traditional educational therapies such as
music therapy or play therapy?
Each request is reviewed on an individual basis, therefore if therapy is documented on the
IEP and properly itemized it may be approved. Establishing a need, listing the service and
itemizing the service costs are key to receiving approval. In general, the reviewers of the
CF applications will defer to the expertise of the IEP team.
VIRGINIA
Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in
Virginia
The list of related services is not exhaustive and may include other developmental,
corrective, or supportive services (such as artistic and cultural programs, and art, music
and dance therapy), if they are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from
special education. COV § 22.1-213; 34 CFR § 300.24(a)
WISCONSIN
Department of Regulation and Licensing
"Music Therapy" means the specialized professional, therapeutic use of music in the
service to individuals with needs in mental health, physical health, habilitation,
rehabilitation, special education, self-care or personal growth.
The purpose of music therapy is to assist and empower individuals to attain or maintain
their maximum level of functioning and highest quality of life. "Music therapy" may
include the use of elements of other art forms.
Chapter RL 140
AUTHORITY, PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS
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(10) “Music therapy” means the specialized, professional, therapeutic use of music in the
service to individuals with needs in mental health, physical health, habilitation,
rehabilitation, special education, self–care or personal growth. The purpose of music
therapy is to assist and empower individuals to attain or maintain their maximum level of
functioning and highest quality of life. “Music therapy” may include the use of elements
of other art forms.
Chapter RL 142
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
RL 142.01 Music therapy. Music therapy practice shall be performed in accordance with
the generally accepted standards recognized by the profession including, but not limited
to, the following:
(1) OBJECTIVES. Music therapy is the specialized use of music and the materials of
music to restore, maintain, and improve the following areas of functioning:
(a) Cognitive.
(b) Psychological.
(c) Social or emotional.
(d) Affective.
(e) Physical.
(f) Sensory or sensorimotor.
(g) Motor.
(h) Communicative.
(i) Physiological functioning.
(2) TECHNIQUES. Techniques used in the practice of music therapy include, but are not
limited to, the following:
(a) The use of music to provide participatory individual and group experiences.
(b) Musical improvisation.
(c) Therapeutic development of verbal skills and nonverbal behavior.
(d) Receptive music learning.
(e) Lyric discussions.
(f) Memory recall.
(g) Music and imagery.
(h) Self–expression through composition and song writing.
(i) Socialization and enhancement of self–esteem through music performance.
(j) Relaxation to music, including stress and pain management.
(k) Learning through music.
(L) Cultural and spiritual expression.
(m) Development of fine and gross motor skills through responses to rhythm.
(n) Respiratory and speech improvements through sound production.
(o) Sensory integration and stimulation.
(p) Increased awareness of music for development of recreation and leisure interests.
(q) Interactive verbal techniques to help facilitate, elicit or summarize the above
techniques and build the therapeutic relationship.
(3) SCOPE OF PRACTICE. Any music therapist who has attained registration pursuant
to s. RL 141.01 and who limits his or her practice to the specific techniques in sub. (2)
shall be deemed not to be practicing psychotherapy.
History: Cr. Register, April, 1999, No. 520, eff. 5–1–99; CR 02–125: r. and recr.
Register July 2003 No. 571, eff. 8–1–03.
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