Music Therapist job description.
A Music Therapist uses music-based interventions to support clients' emotional, cognitive, physical, and social wellbeing. They assess individual needs, design treatment plans, and deliver sessions in settings such as hospitals, schools, and rehabilitation centers, working alongside other clinical staff.
The Music Therapist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Music Therapist Reports to: Clinical Director or Rehabilitation Manager
A Music Therapist uses music-based interventions to support clients' emotional, cognitive, physical, and social wellbeing. They assess individual needs, design treatment plans, and deliver sessions in settings such as hospitals, schools, and rehabilitation centers, working alongside other clinical staff.
- Assess client needs and develop individualized music therapy treatment plans
- Lead individual and group therapy sessions using music-based interventions
- Document client progress and adjust treatment goals accordingly
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinical Director or Rehabilitation Manager
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Assess client needs and develop individualized music therapy treatment plans
- Lead individual and group therapy sessions using music-based interventions
- Document client progress and adjust treatment goals accordingly
- Collaborate with physicians, therapists, and care teams on treatment planning
- Select and adapt instruments, songs, or exercises to client goals
- Educate clients and families on therapeutic techniques and progress
- Maintain compliance with clinical documentation and privacy standards
- Participate in interdisciplinary case reviews and treatment meetings
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Board certification as a Music Therapist (MT-BC) or current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer
- Bachelor's or master's degree in music therapy
- Completed clinical internship in a music therapy setting
- Strong assessment and documentation skills
- Experience with a specific population (pediatric, geriatric, mental health)
- Proficiency on multiple instruments
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Music Therapist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Music Therapist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Clinical Director or Rehabilitation Manager) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Is board certification required for this role?
- Most employers require current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer, typically the MT-BC credential.
- What settings employ Music Therapists?
- Common settings include hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, and long-term care or rehabilitation centers.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
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A Mental Health Counselor provides individual, group, or family counseling to help clients manage emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns.
This Music Therapist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.