This page is for music therapy students and graduates preparing for the Certification Board for Music Therapists examination, which leads to the MT-BC credential. It gives you the verified exam format, fee and retake rules, a map of official content areas to our practice sets, worked explanations, a study plan and answers to common questions.
The CMT has 150 questions, takes about 3 hours and costs $325[1][2] (Certification Board for Music Therapists, verified Oct 27, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 150 multiple-choice questions (130 scored + 20 pretest)[1] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit | 3 hours[1] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score | 97 of 130 scored questions[2] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $325 first attempt ($275 examination fee + $50 processing fee)[2] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake fee | $275 per retake[2] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake policy | 30-day waiting period between attempts[2] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Validity | 5 years[3] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Renewal | 100 recertification credits (including 3 ethics credits) per 5-year cycle, annual maintenance fees, and application[1] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery | Computer-based at approximately 300 PSI Test Centers[1] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Completion of AMTA-approved academic and clinical training[4] | musictherapy.org · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Score release | Printed score report at the test center immediately after testing[1] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | No application deadlines (open year-round)[1] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Testing window | 90-day eligibility period[2] | Certification Board for Music Therapists · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to Certification Board for Music Therapists, “You will be given an examination composed of 150 multiple-choice questions (130 scored and 20 non-scored pretest questions distributed throughout the examination).”[1]
The Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) administers the examination that leads to the MT-BC (Music Therapist - Board Certified) credential. Candidates become eligible after completing AMTA-approved academic and clinical training. There are no application deadlines, so eligible candidates may apply at any time. After you are notified that you can schedule, your Exam Authorization page shows a 90-day eligibility period in which to test.
The exam is computer-based at approximately 300 PSI Test Centers. It has 150 multiple-choice questions: 130 are scored and 20 are non-scored pretest questions mixed throughout. You have 3 hours to answer them all. The current passing point is 97 correct out of the 130 scored questions. You receive a printed score report at the test center immediately after testing.
The fee for a first attempt is $325, made up of a $275 examination fee and a $50 processing fee. A retake costs $275. There is a 30-day waiting period between attempts, with no exceptions. The credential is valid for 5 years. Fees, passing points and policies can change, so confirm every detail in the current CBMT candidate handbook and on the CBMT website before you apply.
The content areas below are copied from the official CMT content outline published by Certification Board for Music Therapists. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Domain II: Referral, Assessment, Interpretation of Assessment, and Treatment Planning[5] | CMT Patient-Centered Care & Treatment Plan... Practise moving from a referral and assessment findings to measurable goals and a treatment plan that fits the client's needs. |
| Domain IV: Evaluation and Termination of Treatment[5] | CMT Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Do... Practise judging progress from observed responses, recording it clearly, and deciding when to adjust or end treatment. |
| Domain V: Professional Development and Responsibilities[5] | CMT Music Therapy Ethics & Professional Pr... Practise confidentiality, scope of practice, professional boundaries and recertification responsibilities. |
Prepare for the CMT - Certified Music Therapist exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is an important ethical consideration in group music therapy sessions?
Answer: A. Ensuring that all participants respect each other's privacy
Explanation:
The correct answer is that participants should respect each other's privacy. In a group, several people hear each other's stories, so the therapist has to build an agreement that what is shared stays in the room. That keeps the space safe enough for honest participation.
Sharing patient information within the group to encourage understanding is wrong because the therapist does not decide to disclose one person's details to others. Promoting personal discussions during sessions is wrong because it pushes disclosure that may not serve the treatment goals and can expose members. Focusing only on one patient's needs is wrong because it ignores the group as a whole and the purpose of choosing a group format.
Rule to remember: in group work, protect each member's confidentiality and keep the whole group in view.
Question: How can a music therapist assess a patient’s progress?
Answer: B. By observing the patient’s responses to music therapy and adjusting interventions accordingly.
Explanation:
The correct answer is observing the patient's responses to music therapy and adjusting interventions accordingly. Progress shows up in emotional, physical, cognitive and social responses, and watching them over time tells the therapist what is working and what needs to change.
Ignoring emotional responses and focusing solely on clinical data is wrong because it discards some of the most useful evidence about how the client is responding. Limiting feedback to family members and caregivers is wrong because they add context but do not replace direct observation of the client. Focusing only on verbal feedback is wrong because many clients cannot or do not express themselves in words, and music-based work often draws out non-verbal responses.
Rule to remember: evaluation is ongoing, uses several sources of information, and feeds back into the treatment plan.
Question: What continuing education requirements must MT-BC holders maintain?
Answer: A. 100 credits over 5 years (CBMT recertification cycle) or retaking the board examination
Explanation:
The correct answer is 100 credits over 5 years, which is the CBMT recertification cycle, or retaking the board examination. Certification is not permanent, and the credential is maintained by showing continued learning in each cycle.
The option saying no continuing education is required is wrong because recertification does require ongoing credits or a retake. The option of 5 credits per year is wrong because it does not match the 100-credit requirement for the cycle. The option of one workshop every 10 years is wrong on both counts: a single workshop is far below the requirement, and the cycle is 5 years, not 10.
Rule to remember: the credential runs in 5-year cycles, so plan credits steadily instead of leaving them to the end. Check the current CBMT handbook for details such as the ethics credits.
Start by reading the current CBMT candidate handbook and the official content outline, so you know what the exam covers and how it is run. Then take a practice set in each topic once, without notes, and write down which areas feel weakest. Do not worry about the score at this stage; you are building a map.
Close to test day, sit a long mixed session in a quiet place, with a timer matching the real 3-hour limit, to practise pacing across 150 questions. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to test your reasoning, not to predict what you will see. Once you have your Exam Authorization, schedule your appointment within your eligibility period.
The CBMT examination has 150 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 130 are scored and 20 are non-scored pretest questions spread through the exam. You have 3 hours to answer all of them. The exam is taken on a computer at a PSI Test Center.
The current passing point is 97 correct answers out of the 130 scored questions. The 20 pretest questions do not count toward your result. Passing points can change, so check the CBMT website for the current figure before you test.
A first attempt costs $325, which is a $275 examination fee plus a $50 processing fee. A retake costs $275. There is a 30-day waiting period between attempts, and CBMT states that there are no exceptions to this policy.
Candidates become eligible after completing AMTA-approved academic and clinical training. There are no application deadlines, so eligible candidates may apply at any time. Once you are authorized, you have a 90-day eligibility period in which to test. Confirm the details of your own situation with CBMT.
You receive a printed score report from the test center administrator immediately after you finish the exam. CBMT reports scores in printed form only, either in person or by U.S. mail.
The MT-BC credential is valid for 5 years. To maintain it, you earn 100 recertification credits, including 3 in ethics, pay annual maintenance fees and submit the Application for Recertification. Read the CBMT handbook for the full requirements, including audit participation.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.