North Carolina would license art and music therapists

The bill would establish a state board to oversee art and music therapy licenses. The board would include art therapists, music therapists, physicians with integrative therapy experience, and a public member. The board would pay its expenses from fees or other funds, not the State treasury. Initial board appointments would be due by December 1, 2026, and members' initial terms would begin January 1, 2027. The board and the rest of Section 1 would take effect when the act becomes law.

Only licensed art therapists could receive pay for art therapy services; businesses and advertisers would have to identify licensed providers. The rules cover people providing paid art therapy and people advertising or presenting themselves as licensed art therapists. Art therapy students working toward completion of a nationally recognized education program would be excepted from the stated penalties for unlicensed practice. Other violations could bring a warning, civil penalties, or a misdemeanor, depending on the number of violations. These rules would take effect on the first day of a month beginning 180 days after the board chair certifies that the board has begun accepting license applications. They would apply to acts on or after that date.

Only licensed music therapists could receive pay or use music therapist titles, and licensed therapists would have to coordinate with care or education teams in specified cases. Coordination duties apply when licensed music therapists serve clients for clinical or developmental needs, or students for educational needs in special education. Certain licensed professionals, certified practitioners, and students could use music in their work or studies if they do not present themselves as music therapists. A person with a pending board certification application could provide music therapy under a licensed therapist's supervision for up to 180 days if the person meets the other license requirements. Music therapists could not replace speech-language or audiology services, evaluate or treat communication disorders unless separately authorized, or claim authority to treat those disorders. They could say they work with clients who have communication disorders to address communication skills. The practice and title rules would take effect on the first day of a month beginning 180 days after the board chair certifies that the board has begun accepting license applications. They would apply to acts on or after that date.