nc-stampHB 192 -Establish Music Therapy Act
Primary Sponsors: Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan), Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke), Rep. Kevin Corbin (R – Cherokee), Rep. Linda Hunt Williams (R-Wake)
This bill defines a music therapists, music therapy, and music therapy services.
The bill defines music therapy as the following:

  • The assessment of a client’s emotional, physical, and spiritual health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills.
  • The development and implementation of treatment plans based on a client’s assessed needs using music interventions.

The bill would also allow music therapists to evaluate and document the client’s response to treatment.
The bill would also create a North Carolina Board of Music Therapy as well as a license requirement.
The license requirements include the following:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Good moral character as determined by the Board
  • Completed a program accredited by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) with a bachelor’s degree majoring in music therapy from an accredited college/university.
  • Completed board certification by the Certification Board for Music Therapists
  • 1,200 hours of clinical training, with 180 hours in pre-internship experiences and at least 900 hours in internship experiences.

House:
This bill was referred to the House Health Committee on February 27, 2017.
A proposed committee substitute was heard in the House Health Committee on June 21, 2017.
Rep. Shepherd (R-Onslow) asked what qualifies an individual to be a music therapists.
Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan) stated that ECU and Queens College offer undergraduate programs in music therapy.
This proposed committee substitute was found favorable, and will now move to the House Finance Committee.
This bill has been placed on the calendar of the House Finance Committee on June 26, 2017.
This bill passed the House Finance Committee on June 26, 2017.
This bill passed second reading with a vote of 106-8  in the House on June 27, 2017. This bill passed third reading in the House, and will be sent to the Senate.