Please download the document in its entirety directly from AMTA’s website here.

Frequently Asked Questions
AMTA Policy on the Use of Acronyms

1. What is the new AMTA policy regarding acronyms for professional designations?
The policy adopted unanimously by the Assembly of Delegates in 2010 states that AMTA and its regions will use acronyms only for academic degrees, MT-BC, other credentials (e.g., NCC, CCC-SLP), licenses (e.g., LCAT, LMHC), state registries (e.g., WMTR), National Music Therapy Registry designations until 2020, and music therapy professional designations from other countries. This policy will apply to all print and electronic materials and communications. In addition, AMTA will strongly encourage its members to limit their use of acronyms to credentials and designations in this list.

2. Why has AMTA adopted this policy?
AMTA and CBMT are actively working to increase recognition of the music therapy credential, MT-BC. At the same time, acronyms for completion of trainings have proliferated, creating confusion among consumers, employers, legislators, and other external constituents. Furthermore, acronyms for trainings are not standard in the health care industry and are even prohibited by the ethical guidelines of some healthcare professions. AMTA has concluded that potential damage to the profession from continued use of acronyms for specialized and advanced trainings far outweighs reasons for continued use.

3. What about my specialized or advanced training? Is it no longer recognized by AMTA?
AMTA values and encourages specialized and advanced training. While AMTA discourages the use of acronyms to indicate completion of these trainings, music therapists may continue to indicate completion of trainings that confer designations by delineating the designation(s) in narrative form in print or electronic materials.

4. Narrative form? What would this look like on my stationery, business card, or professional signature?
Examples include the following:

James Jones, MS, MT-BC, CCC-SLP
Neurologic Music Therapist
June Johnson, MA, ACMT
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapist
Jan Doe, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC
Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery
Hospice & Palliative Care Music Therapist
John Smith, MT-BC
NICU Music Therapist

5. When does this policy take effect?

AMTA is starting to implement the policy now in relation to various documents such as conference programs, etc., at the regional and national level. It is anticipated that the policy will be fully implemented no later than January 1, 2012.