SUMMER 2009 issue
CURRENT CONTINUING EDUCATION NEEDS OF BOARD CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPISTS
Deborah L. Layman, MM, NMT, MT-BC &
A. Louise Steele, MMEd, MT-BC
At the beginning of each year, the Continuing Education Committee (CEC) of CBMT collects Needs Assessment results from Approved Providers (APs). These results are a summary of continuing education needs expressed by MT-BC’s during the previous calendar year. Most of these needs are collected by a written survey distributed by an AP following a CMTE course.
During its most recent analysis, the CEC found that certificants identified a wide variety of continuing education needs, with most responses falling within a common Scope of Practice heading (e.g., Assessment, Implementation, Documentation). In the previous Needs Assessment analysis, Autism was identified as the top client population in which certificants need more continuing education. However, in the most recent analysis, Medical, Hospice, Palliative Medicine, and Cancer populations all shared the top of the list. Autism became second in need, and Young Children and Gerontology populations were identified as third.
This year’s Needs Assessment analysis also revealed significant continuing education needs in the following four areas:
- Assessment
- Evaluation, Documentation, Data forms, Data collection and analysis, and Sharing information effectively
- Implementation and generalization
- Musical styles and forms, Modes, and Transposition
CBMT is encouraging clinicians with expertise in these identified areas to offer CMTE courses. By providing desired training in these areas, the knowledge base of music therapy continues to grow, and the diverse needs of board-certified music therapists are met.
There are two ways in which CMTE courses can be provided:
- Become a CBMT Approved Provider (AP). When you become an AP, you are also recognized as a National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Provider. This reciprocity provides opportunities for you to offer continuing education to professionals in other related fields. CBMT Approved Providers are able to offer CMTE courses in identified need areas as well as any general courses they may wish to offer. CMTE courses may also be designed as independent home study or online courses for distance learners. In addition, APs may apply to offer a specialty CMTE course or series of courses in their area of expertise to MT-BCs and to professionals in related fields seeking continuing education credits for NBCC. For additional information on this process, please refer to the Approved Provider Manual, Revised Fourth Edition at www.cbmt.org.You may also request the brochure “Becoming a CBMT Approved Provider” from the CBMT office.
- Offer CMTE courses as a co-sponsor with other CBMT Approved Providers. A listing of all CBMT Approved Providers is available on the CBMT website.
If you are currently an AP, the CEC is sincerely grateful for your hard work and contributions. If you are not currently an AP, please consider becoming an AP. Becoming an AP provides you with opportunities to contribute to the skill and knowledge development of MT-BCs and to foster collegiality and knowledge exchange among music therapists.
The CEC is available to answer questions or to provide special assistance during the Approved Provider application process. A free CEC mentorship program offers support and feedback throughout the approval process to potential APs. Please contact the CBMT office at 1-800-765-2268, ext. 23, for information, or download an Approved Provider Manual and Two-Year Probationary Application at www.cbmt.org.