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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>368887</law_id><section_number>54.1-3709.1</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="118" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="18" identifier="37">Social Work</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Music Therapy</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Music therapist</span>&#x201D; means a person who has (i) completed a bachelor&#x2019;s degree or higher in <span class="dictionary">music therapy</span>, or its equivalent; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Music therapy; licensure" href="/54.1-3709.2/">54.1-3709.2</a>; and (iii) been issued a license for the independent practice of <span class="dictionary">music therapy</span> by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Music therapy</span>&#x201D; means the clinical and <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship through an individualized <span class="dictionary">music therapy</span> treatment plan for the client that identifies the goals, objectives, and potential strategies of the <span class="dictionary">music therapy</span> services appropriate for the client using <span class="dictionary">music therapy</span> interventions, which may include music improvisation, receptive music listening, songwriting, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, learning through music, and movement to music. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Music therapy</span>&#x201D; does not include the screening, diagnosis, or assessment of any physical, mental, or communication disorder.</p></section></text><history>2020, cc. 103, 233.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
