Facebook Instagram Linkedin
Donate
Find an NMT® Therapist

Affiliation Categories

The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy® maintains  Professional Affiliation Categories that define representation, responsibility, and the level of expertise and engagement in the advanced practice of NMT®. For additional information regarding affiliation and your status, please contact membership@nmtacademy.co. 

  1. The Neurologic Music Therapy® Music Therapist (NMT®) professional affiliate of the Academy must meet the following requirements:
    • Hold the MT-BC credential or in the case of those practicing outside the U.S., hold an appropriate music therapy certification or credential from their country
    • Have successfully completed an NMT® Institute Training in the last 5 years and/or has maintained 50 credits of professional development in the last 5 years and have signed the Neurologic Music Therapy® Professional Affiliation License Agreement
    • Properly represent the practice of the NMT® system of standardized techniques by operating within their scope of understanding and practice
    • Seek support through the Academy as needed in order to protect the NMT® system of standardized techniques.
  2. The NMT® is not a certification or credential: NMT® is a designation earned by the completion of the NMT® Institute Training and maintained by following the standards for Academy professional affiliation.
  3. The NMT® is encouraged to represent their NMT® designation after their name and on all paperwork.
    Short Ex: Johanna Doe, MT-BC, NMT® Music Therapist
    Long Ex: Music Therapist-Board Certified, Neurologic Music Therapy® Music Therapist
  4. The NMT® may represent themselves as an NMT® for five years with the expectation of completing the professional development requirements in order to maintain/renew their NMT® status. To renew their NMT® status, the NMT® must successfully complete and log the professional development requirements (i.e., 50 CPD credits including 3 Support Chapter Meetings/Focused Forums per year) or retake the initial NMT® training and the Clinical Practice Workshop.
  5. Should the NMT® not complete their professional development requirements, nor contact the Academy within four months after the year in which the professional affiliation expires, the NMT® will no longer be professionally affiliated with the Academy and will be removed from the Academy Professional Affiliate Registry. Exceptions may be granted through a written request detailing the reason for the request and the plan for follow-through inclusive of a specific timeline. Exceptions are granted at the discretion of the NMT® Board of Directors or persons designated by the Board and will be made in writing to the Academy Professional Affiliate with the detailed action to be taken and deadline for completion.

 

Professional Affiliation Category: Neurologic Music Therapy® Music Therapist

 

Professional Designation: NMT® Music Therapist

 

Professional Credential Requirement: MT-BC, MTA, or appropriate MT certification or credential from their country

 

How to Attain: Complete the NMT® Institute Training and professional affiliation license requirements.

 

Currency/Renewal: Successfully complete and log the professional development requirements (i.e., 50 CPD including 3 Support Chapter Meetings/Focused Forums per year) or retake the initial NMT™ training and complete the remaining 20 CPD credits (e.g., through the Clinical Practice Workshop).

 

# of years: 5

 

What are you allowed to do – Roles, Scope of Practice/who should be your audience:

  • Apply for a role on Advisory Council
  • Advocate for NMT® through in-services, grand rounds, etc.
  • Provide conference presentations about NMT® topics (recommend consultation with NMT® Fellow)
  • Apply for ad hoc committee work
  • Apply to be on the International Affiliate Task Force
  • Market your business as NMT®
  • Access to the “Affiliate only” resources on website
  • Access to Support Chapter Meetings, Focused Forums, and Global Meetings
  • Attend Clinical Practice Workshop

In addition to meeting the requirements to maintain the Academy Professional Affiliation, the NMT® Fellow will go through an Advanced Fellowship clinical peer review process following their initial NMT® training and every 5 years after that, in order to demonstrate their advanced knowledge and mastery of the Neurologic Music Therapy® system of standardized techniques. Evaluation or clinical work voted as pass or resubmit based on a 70% majority vote.

 

Requirements for the NMT® Fellowship include:

  • CLINICIANS
    Bring or send three (3) video examples of three (3) different NMT® techniques you used with your clients and/or patients. These techniques need to be from at least two (2) of the three domains (e.g., sensorimotor and cognition). The recordings should be no more than one (1) year old. The presentation should be 10-15 minutes in length. Be prepared to provide the diagnoses and background of the client, as well as the functional goal(s) you are working on. Remember: You are responsible for having the proper institutional and/or client releases.
  • EDUCATORS
    Bring or send three (3) video examples of three (3) different NMT® techniques you taught to your students (e.g. that includes explanations, demonstrations, and student facilitation with instructor feedback). Make sure you include how you use the TDM™ to guide your teaching. These techniques need to be from at least two (2) of the three domains (e.g., sensorimotor and cognition). The recordings should be no more than one (1) year old.
  • RESEARCHERS
    Presentations must include published data from at least one study of your own work that is either basic science or translational clinical research related to NMT® (from the last year). The presentations should be no more than 20 minutes in length, leaving additional time for discussion.

 

The NMT® Fellow is encouraged to represent their NMT® designation after their name and on all paperwork.
Short Ex: Johanna Doe, MT-BC, NMT-F™
Long Ex: Music Therapist-Board Certified, Neurologic Music Therapy® Fellow

 

Professional Affiliation Category: Neurologic Music Therapy® Fellow

 

Professional Designation: NMT-F™

 

Professional Credential Requirement: Fulfill credential requirements for NMT®

 

How to Attain: Maintain NMT® Affiliation requirements

Successfully complete the Advanced NMT® Fellowship Training.

 

Currency/Renewal: Maintain NMT® Affiliation requirement and successfully complete the NMT® Advance Fellowship Training in the last 5 years.

 

# of years: 5

 

What are you allowed to do – Roles, Scope of Practice/who should be your audience:

  • Provide professional and student supervision
  • Facilitate support chapters
  • Apply to present at Global Meetings
  • Apply to be assistant facilitator for Trainings
  • Apply to be Assistant Faculty
  • Apply to be assistant facilitator for Clinical Practice Workshops
  • Apply to be an NMT® internship or practicum supervisor
  • Everything that the NMT® Affiliate can do
  1. The NMTAP™ is available to those who meet the following requirements:
    • Allied health professional holding a certification or credential in a profession dedicated to treating a range of clinical populations
    • Have successfully completed an NMT™ Institute Training and have signed the Neurologic Music Therapy® Professional Affiliation License Agreement
    • Properly represent the practice of NMT™ by operating within their own profession’s Scope of Practice while promulgating the NMT™ system of standardized techniques. Seek support through the Academy as needed in order to protect the NMT™ system of standardized techniques.
  2. The NMTAP™
    • Cannot carry the professional designation of NMT™
    • Is not a professional music therapist after the NMT™ training
      Is encouraged to integrate the materials and of NMT™ system of standardized techniques into their practice
    • Can, and should, represent themself with the following designation: Short Ex: Johanna Doe, PT, NMTAP™Long Ex: Physical Therapist, Neurologic Music Therapy® Allied Professional
  3. The NMTAP™ is expected to practice within their scope of understanding and to seek support from an NMT™, and/or an NMT™ Fellow if available, to develop a deeper understanding of the NMT™ system of standardized techniques and its application within clinical practice and to minimize erroneous representation of the NMT™ system of standardized techniques.

 

Professional Affiliation Category: Neurologic Music Therapy® Allied Professional

 

Professional Designation: NMTAP™

 

Professional Credential Requirement: Achieve and maintain a professional degree and any required credentialing in your profession.

 

How to Attain: Complete the NMT™ Institute Training and professional affiliation license requirements.

 

Currency/Renewal: Successfully complete and log the professional development requirements (i.e., 50 CPD including 3 Support Chapter Meetings/Focused Forums per year) or retake the initial NMT™ training and complete the remaining 20 CPD credits (e.g., through the Clinical Practice Workshop).

 

# of years: 5

 

What are you allowed to do – Roles, Scope of Practice/who should be your audience:

  • Apply for a role on Advisory Council
  • Advocate for NMT™ through in-services, grand rounds, etc.
    Provide conference presentations about NMT™ topics (recommend consultation with NMT™ Fellow)
  • Apply for ad hoc committee work
  • Apply to be on the International Affiliate Task Force
  • Market your business related to specific use of NMT™ techniques within your scope of practice
  • Access to the “Affiliate only” resources on website
  • Access to Support Chapter Meetings, Focused Forums, and Global Meetings

In addition to meeting the requirements to maintain the Academy Professional Affiliation, the Neurologic Music Therapy® Allied Professional Fellow will go through an Advanced Fellowship clinical peer review process following the initial NMT™ training and every 5 years thereafter, in order to demonstrate their advanced knowledge and implementation of the Neurologic Music Therapy® (NMT™) techniques. Evaluation or clinical work voted as pass or resubmit based on a 70% majority vote.

 

Requirements for the NMTAP™ Fellowship include:

  • CLINICIANS
    Bring or send three (3) video examples of you implementing NMT™ techniques you have used with your clients and/or patients. If possible, these techniques should be three (3) different techniques from any of the three domains (e.g., speech/language, sensorimotor, cognition). The recordings should be no more than one (1) year old. The presentation should be 10-15 minutes in length. Be prepared to provide the diagnoses and background of the client, as well as the functional goal(s) you are working on. Remember: You are responsible for having the proper institutional and/or client releases.
  • EDUCATORS
    Bring or send three (3) video examples of three (3) different NMT™ techniques you taught to your students (e.g., that includes explanations, demonstrations, and student facilitation with instructor feedback). Make sure you include how you use the TDM™ to guide your teaching. If relevant, these techniques should be from at least two (2) of the three domains (e.g., sensorimotor and cognition). The recordings should be no more than one (1) year old.
  • RESEARCHERS
    Presentations must include published data from at least one study of your own work that is either basic science or translational clinical research related to NMT™ (from the last year). The presentations should be no more than 20 minutes in length leaving additional time for discussion.

 

The NMTAP™ Fellow is encouraged to represent their NMT™ designation after their name and on all paperwork.
Short Ex: Johanna Doe, PT, NMTAP-F™
Long Ex: Physical Therapist, Neurologic Music Therapy® Allied Professional-Fellow

 

Professional Affiliation Category: Neurologic Music Therapy® Allied Professional Fellow

 

Professional Designation: NMTAP-F™

 

Professional Credential Requirement: Allied health professional holding a certification or credential in a profession dedicated to treating a range of clinical populations

 

How to Attain: Fulfill affiliation requirements for NMTAP™. Successfully complete the Advanced NMT™ Fellowship Training

 

Currency/Renewal: Maintain NMTAP™ Affiliation requirement and successfully complete the NMT™ Advance Fellowship Training in the last 5 years.

 

# of years: 5

 

What are you allowed to do – Roles, Scope of Practice/who should be your audience:

  • Provide professional and student supervision
  • Facilitate support chapters for Allied Professionals
  • Apply to present at Global Meetings
  • Apply to be assistant facilitator for NMT™ Trainings
  • Apply to be Assistant Faculty
  • Everything that the NMTAP™ Affiliate can do

In addition to meeting the requirements to maintain the NMT-F™ or NMTAP-F™ Professional Affiliation, and completing the Advanced Fellowship peer review process meeting the educator requirements (see above), the NMT™ Educator will:

  • Actively incorporate student training of the NMT™ system of standardized techniques within their regular music therapy curriculum
  • Attend NMT™ Educators focused forums at least 3 times/year
  • Actively attend and contribute to NMT™ Global Meetings and Support Chapters (3 times/year)

 

Please Note:

While individual educators may be NMT™ Educator Professional Affiliates of the Academy, all Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT)® training is provided directly through the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy®. There are no university, training, or certification programs outside of the Academy that grant licensed permission to use the NMT™ designation or NMT™ System of Techniques. If you would like to market your program as having NMT™ Educators then each educator must meet the above requirements.

 

Professional Affiliation Category: Neurologic Music Therapy® Educator

 

Professional Designation: NMT™ Educator

 

Professional Credential Requirement:
MT-BC, MTA, or appropriate MT certification or credential from their country

 

How to Attain: Maintain the NMT™ Professional Affiliation, and complete the Advanced Fellowship peer review process meeting the educator requirements

 

Currency/Renewal: Maintain NMT™ or NMTAP™ Affiliation requirement

Actively incorporating student training of the NMT™ standardized system of techniques within their regular music therapy curriculum

Attend NMT™ Educators focused forums at least 3 times/year

Actively attend and contribute to NMT™ Global Meetings and Support Chapters (4 times/year)

 

# of years: 5

 

What are you allowed to do – Roles, Scope of Practice:

  • Actively incorporating student training of the NMT™ standardized system of techniques within their regular music therapy curriculum
  • Everything the NMT™ Fellow can do

 

In addition to meeting the requirements to maintain their NMT-F™ or NMTAP-F™
Professional Affiliation, the NMT™ Scholar will demonstrate significant scholarly
contributions to the field of Neurologic Music Therapy® through research
publications and conference presentations.


The NMT™ Scholar will:

  • Meet NMT™ or NMTAP™ Professional Affiliate requirements
  • Successfully complete the NMT™ or NMTAP™ Advanced Fellowship
  • Publish at least 3 scholarly peer reviewed research publications (at least 1
    first author) highlighting or supporting NMT™ every 5-year cycle.
  • Give at least 5 NMT-based professional presentations (oral/poster)/5 year
    cycle.

 

Professional Affiliation Category:
Neurologic Music Therapy® Scholar

 

Professional Designation: NMT™ Scholar

 

How to Attain:

  • Maintain NMT™ or NMTAP™ Fellow Affiliation requirements
  • Publish at least 3 scholarly peer reviewed research publications (at least 1 first author) highlighting or supporting NMT™ every 5-year cycle.
  • Give at least 5 NMT-based professional presentations (oral/poster)/5 year cycle.

 

Currency/Renewal:

  • Maintain NMT™ Affiliation requirement and successfully complete the NMT™ Advance Fellowship Training in the last 5 years.
  • Complete application process through the Academy every 5 years.

 

# of years: 5

 

What are you allowed to do – Roles, Scope of Practice:
Everything the NMT™ Fellow can do

  1. The NMT™ Student Affiliate status is available to those who meet the following requirements:
    • Currently enrolled in an academic program at a university (i.e., undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate)
    • Have successfully completed an NMT™ Institute Training and have signed the Neurologic Music Therapy® Professional Affiliation License Agreement
    • Properly represent the practice of NMT™
    • Seek support through the Academy as needed in order to protect the NMT™ system of standardized techniques
  2. Music therapy students cannot carry the NMT™ designation or practice NMT™ until they have attained MT-BC status or the appropriate certification or credential in music therapy in another country. Practice what you learned in the training within your scope of practice as a student.

 

Students will be listed in the Academy Professional Affiliate Registry as Student Affiliates until the Academy is notified that the Student Affiliate has achieved professional status. Upon graduation, provide proof of your successful completion of your professional credential and completion of an NMT™ Academy approved internship or the Academy Clinical Practice Workshop, you will then become an NMT™ Affiliate and begin your 5 years in the NMT™ Affiliation Category. Notification should be sent to membership@nmtacademy.co and should include the date of completion as well as proof of professional status (i.e., MT-BC number, NPI number, License number).

 

Student Affiliation Category: Neurologic Music Therapy® Student

(Before 2025 will be grandfathered in)

 

Professional Designation: NMT-S™

 

Professional Credential Requirement: Enrolment in an Academic Program

BA/BM-must be in 3rd or 4th year of program.

 

How to Attain: Complete the NMT™ Institute Training

 

Currency/Renewal: Upon graduation, provide proof of your successful completion of your professional credential and completion of an NMT™ Academy approved internship or the Academy Clinical Practice Workshop, you will then become an NMT™ Affiliate and begin your 5 years in the NMT™ Affiliation Category.

 

# of years: Until graduated (up to 2 years for bachelor’s and master’s students), Up to 4 years for PhD

 

What are you allowed to do – Roles, Scope of Practice: Practice what you learned in the training within your scope of practice as a student. Do not call yourself an NMT™ until you have completed the steps to achieve professional Affiliation.

  1. The NMTAP™ Student Affiliate status is available to those who meet the following requirements:
    • Are currently enrolled in an academic program at a university (i.e., undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate)
    • Have successfully completed an NMT™ Institute Training and have signed the Neurologic Music Therapy® Professional Affiliation License Agreement
    • Properly represent the practice of NMT™
    • Seek support through the Academy as needed in order to protect the NMT™ system of standardized techniques
  2. Students cannot carry the NMTAP™ designation or integrate the principles and materials from the NMT™ Training until they have been credentialed or certified within their respective professions. Practice what you learned in the training within your scope of practice as a student.

 

Students will be listed in the Academy Professional Affiliate Registry as Student Affiliates until the Academy is notified that the Student Affiliate has achieved professional status. Upon graduation, provide proof of your successful completion of your professional credential and completion of the Allied Professional Clinical Practice Workshop. You will become an NMTAP™ Professional Affiliate and begin your 5 years in the NMTAP™ Affiliation Category. Notification should be sent to membership@nmtacademy.co and should include the date of completion as well as proof of professional status (i.e., MT-BC number, NPI number, License number).

 

Student Affiliation Category: Neurologic Music Therapy® Allied Professional Student

 

Professional Designation: NMTAP-S™

 

Professional Credential Requirement: Enrolment in an Academic Program

BA-must be in 3rd or 4th year of program.

 

How to Attain: Complete the NMT™ Institute Training

 

Currency/Renewal: Upon graduation, provide proof of your successful completion of your professional credential and completion of the Allied Professional Clinical Practice Workshop, you will become an NMT™ Affiliate and begin your 5 years in the NMTAP™ Affiliation Category.

 

# of years: Until graduated (up to 2 years for bachelor’s and master’s students), Up to 4 years for PhD

 

What are you allowed to do – Roles, Scope of Practice: Practice what you learned in the training within your scope of practice as a student. Do not call yourself an NMTAP™ until you have completed the steps to achieve professional Affiliation.

Skip to content