Fall 2009 issue
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Amanda Klinger
CMTE ACCUMULATION AND DOCUMENTATION
CBMT Continuing Education Committee
With the end of the year quickly approaching, documentation of continuing education credits is important. There are many ways to accumulate (and document!) CMTE credits. The submission of CMTE credits is quite simple when one annually records all continuing education completed on the Summary of Continuing Music Therapy Education Activities Form (which can be found on pages 49-50 in the Recertification Manual, Fourth Edition, or on the website at www.cbmt.org). Complete documentation is submitted to the CBMT office only when audited.
The Professional Activities category includes publications, dissertations and theses, published book reviews, and grant writing, as well as presentations and program development. Also included in this category are original music compositions, which at 5 credits per composition may by themselves add up to a total of 20 composition credits per cycle! One may earn up to 80 CMTE credits per cycle for all combined sub-categories under Professional Activities.
Documentation for each of these Professional Activities sub-categories varies, but is very simple. For each presentation, you will need to document the title, a program summary, the name of the sponsoring organization, the name/date/location of the conference/symposium, and a copy of the brochure or other proof of sponsorship. Professional program development requires similar documentation. An original music composition requires a musical score, an audio recording, and a completed musical composition evaluation of the therapeutic use (criteria and guidelines are available from the CBMT office). See pages 22-23 in the Recertification Manual for complete details on documentation required for all Professional Activities credits.
Many certificants earn the majority of their credits through Educational Activities. Educational Activities and Graduate Coursework are the only two categories for which a certificant may earn all 100 CMTE credits per cycle. Approved Provider education programs are the easiest to document, and simply require a copy of the CMTE certificate from the CBMT Approved Provider. Non-Approved Educational Programs (those not offered by a CBMT Approved Provider) and Umbrella Groupings you create require the activity title, the name of the activity sponsor, the name of the instructor, a copy of the brochure or syllabus, a copy of a certificate/proof of attendance, number of contact hours, and most importantly, a written summary (approximately 250 words) of the learning experience as it relates to item(s) in the CBMT Scope of Practice. Umbrella Groupings are valuable for claiming related shorter workshops or trainings that add up to 5 CMTE credits when combined. Many hour-long staff trainings meet the requirements outlined on page 24 of the Recertification Manual. Just remember that events claimed under each umbrella grouping of 5 or more credits must be completed within a 12-month period of each other and reported together on the same Summary CMTE Form.
Self-Study may also be used for credit accumulation, and can include standardized (up to 100 CMTE credits per cycle) and individualized (up to 60 CMTE credits per cycle) self study. If you study privately, take a sign language course for instance, or other undergraduate coursework, you can claim these studies under the individualized self-study category. Documentation requirements include a written rationale for taking the course, its application to music therapy practice, its relationship to the Scope of Practice, and other supporting information found in the Final Evaluation of Individualized Self-Study Course (page 20 in the manual). In addition, an official transcript is required for undergraduate courses. Names of Approved Providers who offer self-study courses can be found on the CBMT website at www.cbmt.org, or on the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) website at http://www.nbcc.org/directory/ListProviders.aspx. Any course you take from a CBMT Approved Provider is also accepted for continuing education credits by NBCC, and CBMT accepts NBCC-approved courses.
Short Events are learning activities valued at fewer than 5 CMTE credits which can be submitted up to a limit of 15 CMTE credits per cycle. These short events require a certificate or proof of attendance, verification of the length, and signature of the presenter. If you document related “short events” credits under Umbrella Groupings, you can optimize the use of the Short Events category for any remaining credits that do not meet the 5-credit minimum.
Music Therapy Conference Credit (up to 15 CMTE credits per cycle) may be claimed for attendance at approved national and regional music therapy conferences. Credits are in addition to all CMTE courses and concurrent sessions attended at national and regional conferences. Attendance at state and local music therapy association conferences and meetings do not qualify for credit in this category.
Evidenced by the list above, as well as the entire continuing education section of the Recertification Manual, credit accumulation can be easy, and documentation of those credits is simple! Please refer to pages 22-25 in the Recertification Manual Fourth Edition for a complete listing of documentation requirements. The manual can be downloaded from the CBMT website at www.cbmt.org.
- - -