North Carolina Board of Integrative Therapies.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 122
Committee Substitute Favorable 5/13/26

Short Title: North Carolina Board of Integrative Therapies. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
February 17, 2025
*H122-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA B OARD OF INTEGRATIVE 2
THERAPIES AND TO CRE ATE LICENSURE PROCES SES FOR ART THERAPIS TS 3
AND MUSIC THERAPISTS. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article 6
to read: 7
"Article 44. 8
"Integrative Therapies. 9
"Part 1. North Carolina Board of Integrative Therapies. 10
"§ 90-750.1. Title and purpose. 11
(a) This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "North Carolina Integrative 12
Therapies Act." 13
(b) The North Carolina Integrative Therapies Act is established to safeguard the public 14
health, safety, and welfare ; to protect the public from being harmed by unqualified persons ; to 15
assure the highest degree of professional services and conduct on the part of practitioners of the 16
integrative therapies; to provide for the establishment of licensure requirements; and to ensure 17
the availability of integrative therapies services of high quality to persons in need of such 18
services. 19
"§ 90-750.2. Definitions. 20
The following definitions apply in this Article: 21
(1) Advisory committee. – A committee charged with supervising the day-to-day 22
regulation of an integrative therapy profession. Advisory committees shall 23
screen applicants for licensure and conduct all investigations necessary to give 24
recommendations to the Board. 25
(2) Board. – The North Carolina Board of Integrative Therapies, as established 26
pursuant to G.S. 90-750.3. 27
(3) Integrative therapies. – The use of allopathic, complementary, or integrative 28
approaches to the art and science of medicine for the prevention, 29
identification, and treatment of human physical or mental conditions, diseases, 30
ailments, illnesses, infirmities, pain, defects, or injuries and the promotion and 31
restoration of health and wellness. 32
(4) Integrative therapies profession. – Any of the professions listed in 33
G.S. 90-750.8. 34
(5) North Carolina Integrative Therapies License. – A license in an integrative 35
therapy profession issued pursuant to this Article. 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 122-Second Edition
"§ 90 -750.3. North Carolina Board of Integrative Therapies; composition; terms; 1
compensation. 2
(a) Establishment. – The North Carolina Board of Integrative Therapies is hereby created. 3
The Board shall consist of the following members appointed to three-year terms as follows: 4
(1) One art therapist appointed by the General Assembly upon the 5
recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. 6
(2) One music therapist appointed by the Speaker of the House of 7
Representatives. 8
(3) One art therapist appointed by the Governor. 9
(4) One music therapist appointed by the Governor. 10
(5) Two physicians licensed under Article 1 of this Chapter who have experience 11
with integrative therapies appointed by the Governor. 12
(6) One member of the public appointed by the Governor. 13
(b) Vacancies. – Any vacancies on the Board shall be filled by the app ointing authority 14
as provided in subsection (a) of this section , except that any vacancy in appointments by the 15
General Assembly shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122. Individuals appointed to fill 16
vacancies shall serve until the normal expiration of the term they were appointed to fill. 17
(c) Qualifications. – 18
(1) All members appointed to the Board shall be citizens of the United States and 19
residents of the State of North Carolina. 20
(2) All members appointed to the Board, except for the physicians appointed by 21
the Governor under subdivision ( 5) of subsection (a) of this section and the 22
public member appointed by the Governor under subdivision (6) of subsection 23
(a) of this section, shall be required to hold a North Carolina Integrative 24
Therapies License in their respective profession and remain in good standing 25
for the duration of their terms. 26
(3) Public members of the Board shall not be: 27
a. An agent or employee trained or experienced in the practice of 28
integrative therapies. 29
b. An agent or employee of a person engaged in the practice of 30
integrative therapies. 31
c. A spouse of an individual licensed pursuant to this Article. 32
d. Any person with significant financial interest in a health service or 33
profession. 34
(d) New Integrative Therapies Professions. – Any integrative therapies professions 35
created after J uly 1, 202 6, shall have two members on the Board, both of whom shall serve 36
three-year terms. One of these members shall be appointed by the Governor. The second member 37
shall be appointed by the General Assembly. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 38
make a recommendation to be approved by the General Assembly for the first term, and the 39
President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make a recommendation to be approved by the General 40
Assembly for the second term. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President 41
Pro Tempore of the Senate shall thereafter alternate recommendations for subsequent terms. 42
(e) Removal. – The Board may remove any of its members for ne glect of duty, 43
incompetence, or unprofessional conduct. A member subject to disciplinary proceedings as a 44
licensed integrative therapies professional shall be disqualified from participating in the official 45
business of the Board until the charges have been resolved. Any member of the Board may be 46
removed from office by the Governor for good cause shown. 47
(f) Compensation of Members; Meetings. – A Board member may not receive 48
compensation but may receive reimbursement as provided in G.S. 93B-5. The officers of the 49
Board shall include a chair, a secretary, and any other officers deemed necessary by the Board to 50
carry out the purposes of this Article. All officers shall be elected annually by the Board at its 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 122-Second Edition Page 3
first meeting held after appointment s to the Board are made. The Board shall hold a meeting 1
within 45 days after the appointment of new Board members. All officers shall serve one -year 2
terms and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified. No person shall chair the 3
Board for more than five consecutive years. The Board may adopt rules governing the calling, 4
holding, and conducting of regular and special meetings. A majority of Board members present 5
and voting constitutes a quorum, and no action may be taken without a quorum. 6
"§ 90-750.4. Powers of the Board. 7
The Board shall have the following powers and duties: 8
(1) Administer, coordinate, and enforce the provisions of this Article. 9
(2) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules necessary to conduc t its business, carry out its 10
duties, and administer this Article. 11
(3) Appoint and maintain advisory committ ees to fulfill the daily regulation of 12
integrative therapies professions. 13
(4) Issue, renew, deny, suspend, or revoke Integrative Therapies Licenses, order 14
probation, issue reprimands, and conduct any disciplinary actions authorized 15
by this Article. 16
(5) Authorize expenditures deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this 17
Article from fees paid to the Board pursuant to this Article. 18
(6) Remit to advisory committees funds sufficient for those advisory committees 19
to carry out their duties. 20
(7) Conduct investigations for the purpose of discovering violations of this Article 21
or grounds for disciplinary actions. 22
(8) Conduct any administrative hearings necessary for the administration of this 23
Article, including disciplinary hearings to enforce the provisions of this 24
Article. 25
(9) Establish fees as necessary for the administration of this Article. 26
"§ 90-750.5. Expenses and fees. 27
(a) All fees shall be payable to and deposited in the name of the Board in financial 28
institutions designated by the Board as official depositories. These fees shall be used to carry out 29
the purposes of this Article. 30
(b) All salaries, compensation, and expenses incurred or allowed to carry out the purposes 31
of this Article shall be paid by the Board exclusively out of the fees received by the Board as 32
authorized by this Article or funds received from other sources. In no ca se shall any salary, 33
expense, or other obligation authorized by this Article be charged against the State treasury. 34
(c) The Board shall establish fees for integrative therapies professions not exceeding the 35
following amounts: 36
(1) Issuance of a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License ............. $300.00 37
(2) License application and examination ................................................. $200.00 38
(3) North Carolina Integrative Therapies License renewal (annually) .... $350.00 39
(4) Late renewal ....................................................................................... $200.00. 40
"§ 90-750.6. Violations. 41
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a ny person violating any 42
provision of this Article shall be punished as follows: 43
(1) For the first violation, the individual shall receive a written warning. 44
(2) For the second violation, the individual shall b e subject to a civil penalty of 45
no more than two hundred dollars ($200.00). 46
(3) For the third and each subsequent violation, the individual shall be subject to 47
a civil penalty of no more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each 48
violation and shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. 49
(b) The clear proceeds of a civil penalty assessed under this section shall be remitted to 50
the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with G.S. 115C-457.2. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Bill 122-Second Edition
"§ 90-750.7. Injunction. 1
As an additional remedy, the Board may proceed in superior court to enjoin and restrain any 2
person from violating the prohibitions of this Article. The Board shall not be required to po st 3
bond when seeking an injunction pursuant to this section. 4
"§ 90-750.8. Integrative therapies professions. 5
The following are the integrative therapies professions subject to this Article: 6
(1) Art therapists. 7
(2) Music therapists. 8
"§ 90-750.9. Third-party reimbursement. 9
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to require direct third -party reimbursement to 10
persons licensed under this Article. 11
"Part 2. Art Therapy. 12
"§ 90-750.10. Art therapy as an integrative therapy profession. 13
It is the policy of this State that the practice of art therapy shall be considered an integrative 14
therapy profession. 15
"§ 90-750.11. Definitions. 16
The following definitions apply in this Part: 17
(1) Art therapy. – A therapeutic profession that enriches the lives of individuals, 18
families, and communities through active art -making, creative process, 19
applied psychological theory, and human experience within a therapeutic 20
relationship with the goal of restoring a client 's functioning or sense of 21
personal well-being. 22
(2) Certifying entity. – The Art Therapy Credentials Board or its successor. 23
(3) Committee. – The North Carolina Art Therapy Advisory Committee. 24
(4) National certification. – A determination by the certifying entity that an 25
individual has passed the certifying entity 's national exam and that the 26
individual has an active status with the certifying entity. 27
(5) North Carolina Licensed Art Therapist. – An individual that (i) is registered 28
by the certifying entity as a registered art therapist and (ii) has been issued a 29
North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy by the Board. 30
"§ 90-750.12. North Carolina Art Therapy Advisory Committee. 31
(a) Establishment. – The North Carolina Art Therapy Advisory Committee is created. 32
The Committee consists of three members serving staggered terms. The initial Committee 33
members shall be appointed on or before January 1, 2027, as follows: 34
(1) The Board shall appoint from a list of names submitted by the North Carolina 35
Art Therapy Association or its successor two art therapists eligible for 36
licensure under this Article. One member shall serve a n initial term of three 37
years, and one member shall serve an initial term of two years. 38
(2) The Board shall appoint one public member who shall serve an initial term of 39
one year. 40
Upon the expiration of the terms of the initial Committee members, each subsequent member 41
shall be appointed for a term of three years. The term of a member shall begin on January 1 of 42
each year. A member shall serve until the member's successor is appointed. No member shall 43
serve on the Committee for more than two consecutive full terms. 44
(b) Qualifications. – The initial art therapist appointees shall be citizens of the United 45
States and North Carolina residents for at least two years prior to appointment, certified by the 46
certifying entity as an art therapist, and eligible to obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies 47
License in art therapy under G.S. 90-750.14. Upon appointment, each initial art therapist 48
appointee shall immediately seek to obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art 49
therapy under this Article and shall remain in good standing with the Committee during the 50
appointee's term. Subsequent art therapy appointees shall be citizens of the United States, 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 122-Second Edition Page 5
residents of North Carolina, North Carolina Licensed Art Therapists, and appointed by the Board 1
from a list of names supplied by the North Carolina Art Therapy Association or its successor . 2
Public members of the Committee shall not be: 3
(1) An agent or employee trained or experienced in the practice of art therapy. 4
(2) An agent or employee of a person engaged in the practice of art therapy. 5
(3) A member of an integrative therapies profession or a person enrolled in a 6
program to become a member of an integrative therapies profession. 7
(4) A spouse of an individual licensed under this Article. 8
(5) Any person with significant financial interest in a health service or profession. 9
(c) Meetings. – The Committee shall elect annually a chair and other officers as it deems 10
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article. The Committee may hold additional meetings 11
upon the call of the chair or any two Committee members. A majority of the Committee shall 12
constitute a quorum. 13
(d) Compensation of Members; Expenses; Employees. – Members of the Committee 14
shall receive no compensation for their services but shall receive per diem and necessary travel 15
and subsistence expenses as provided in G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 138-6. In no event shall the State 16
of North Carolina be liable for expenses incurred by the Committee in excess of the income 17
derived from this Article. 18
"§ 90-750.13. Powers and duties of Committee. 19
The Committee shall have the following powers and duties: 20
(1) Administer and coordinate the provisions of this Part. 21
(2) Make recommendations to the Board to a dopt, amend, or repeal rules to 22
administer and enforce this Part. 23
(3) Establish and determine qualification and fitness of applicants fo r a North 24
Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy under this Part. 25
(4) Make recommendations to the Board to issue, renew, deny, suspend, revoke, 26
or refuse to issue or renew a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in 27
art therapy under this Article. 28
(5) Make recommendations to the Board to discipline North Carolina Licensed 29
Art Therapists. 30
(6) Advise the Board to seek civil and criminal penalties against unlicensed 31
individuals engaged in the practice of art therapy. 32
(7) Provide all North Carolina Licensed Art Therapists with a wallet-sized card 33
identifying the bearer as a North Carolina Licensed Art Therapist. 34
(8) Maintain a list of all individuals in the State who hold a North Carolina 35
Integrative Therapies License in art therapy. 36
"§ 90-750.14. Integrative therapy licensure in art therapy application and requirements. 37
Each individual desiring to obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art 38
therapy under this Article shall apply to the Committee in accordance with the procedures and 39
rules prescribed by the Board. The Committee shall recommend that the Board issue a North 40
Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy to any applicant who furnishes evidence 41
satisfactory to the Committee that the applicant meets all of the following criteria: 42
(1) The applicant is at least 18 years of age. 43
(2) The applicant is of good moral character as determined by the Committee. 44
(3) The applicant holds a national certification issued by the certifying entity. 45
(4) The app licant has paid all applicab le fees to the Board as specified in 46
G.S. 90-750.5. 47
"§ 90-750.15. License renewal. 48
Every North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy issued by the Board shall 49
be renewed annually on a date established by rule . The Committee shall recommend that the 50
Board renew the North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy of any individual 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 House Bill 122-Second Edition
who files a renewal a pplication with the Committee and who meets the criteria set forth in 1
G.S. 90-750.14. 2
"§ 90-750.16. Compensation for art therapy services; prohibited acts. 3
Compensation may be received for art therapy services only when those services are 4
performed by an individual holding a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy. 5
Nonlicensed individuals who provide art therapy services or who engage in the practice of art 6
therapy are subject to the penalties in G.S. 90-750.6 or an injunction under G.S. 90-750.7 unless 7
the individual is a n art therapy student working to obtain a certification of completion from a 8
nationally recognized art therapy education program. 9
"§ 90-750.17. License to be displayed; advertising. 10
(a) At all places of business in which compensated art therapy services are offered, a 11
valid and up-to-date license for all individuals offering compensated art therapy services shall be 12
displayed in a prominent place. 13
(b) All public advertising designed to attract clients for art therapy services shall identify 14
that the services will be performed by a n individual holding a North Carolina Integrative 15
Therapies License in art therapy. 16
(c) No individual shall use the title "North Carolina Licensed Art Therapist" unless that 17
individual holds a valid North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy issued by the 18
Board. Individuals holding themselves out as North Carolina Licensed Art Therapists shall carry 19
the identification card described in G.S. 90-750.13(7) at all times when providing art therapy 20
services. Individuals in violation of this subsection are subject to the penalties in G.S. 90-750.6 21
or an injunction under G.S. 90-750.7. 22
"§ 90-750.18. Reciprocity. 23
The Committee may recommend that the Board grant, upon application and payment of 24
proper fees, a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy to a person who has 25
been licensed or certified to practice art therapy in another state or territory of the United States 26
whose standards of competency are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure 27
provided in this Article. 28
"Part 3. Music Therapy. 29
"§ 90-750.20. Music therapy as an integrative therapies profession. 30
It is the policy of this State that the practice of music therapy shall be considered a n 31
integrative therapies profession. 32
"§ 90-750.21. Definitions. 33
The following definitions apply in this Part: 34
(1) Certifying entity. – The Certification Board for Music Therapists or its 35
successor. 36
(2) Committee. – The North Carolina Music Therapy Advisory Committee. 37
(3) Music therapy. – The clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions 38
to accomplish individualized goals for people of all ages and ability levels 39
within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has 40
completed an approved music therapy program, including (i) assessment of a 41
client's emotional, physical, and spiritual health ; social functio ning; 42
communication abilities; and cognitive skills through the client 's history and 43
observation and interaction of the client in music and nonmusic settings , (ii) 44
development and implementation of treatment plans, based on a client 's 45
assessed needs, using music interventions, including music improvisation, 46
receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, 47
singing, music performance, learning through music, music combined with 48
other arts, music -assisted relaxation, music -based patient education, 49
electronic music technology, adapted music intervention, and movement to 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 122-Second Edition Page 7
music, and (iii) evaluation and documentation of the client 's response to 1
treatment. 2
(4) Music therapy services. – The provision of services to accomplish mus ic 3
therapy goals, including (i) conducting an individualized assessment for the 4
purpose of collecting systematic, comprehensive, and accurate data necessary 5
to determine the course of action subsequent to the individualized treatment 6
plan, (ii) planning and developing the individualized music therapy treatment 7
plan that identifies an individual 's goals, objectives, and potential treatment 8
intervention strategies, (iii) implementing the individualized music therapy 9
treatment plan consistent with the individual's overall treatment program, (iv) 10
systematically evaluating and comparing the individual 's response to the 11
individualized music therapy treatment plan , documenting progress, and 12
suggesting modifications, as appropriate , (v) developing a discharge plan in 13
collaboration with the individual, the individual's family, treatment team, and 14
other identified support networks, when appropriate , (vi) minimizing the 15
impact of environmental constraints as a barrier to participation i n least 16
restrictive environments for individuals engaging in music therapy , (vii) 17
collaborating with and educating the individual, family, caregiver, and others 18
to foster an environment responsive to the developmental needs of the 19
individual as addressed i n music therapy , and (viii) consulting with groups, 20
programs, organizations, or communities to improve accessibility to music 21
therapy services. 22
(5) National certification. – A determination by the certifying entity that an 23
individual has satisfied the cert ifying entity 's requirements and that the 24
individual has an active status with the certifying entity. 25
(6) North Carolina Licensed Music Therapist . – An individual who has been 26
issued a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy by the 27
Board. 28
"§ 90-750.22. North Carolina Music Therapy Advisory Committee. 29
(a) Establishment. – The North Carolina Music Therapy Advisory Committee is created. 30
The Committee consists of three members serving staggered terms. The initial Committee 31
members shall be appointed on or before January 1, 2027, as follows: 32
(1) The Board shall appoint from a list of names submitted by the Music Therapy 33
Association of North Carolina or its successor two music therapists eligible to 34
obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy under 35
this Article. One member shall serve an initial term of three years, and one 36
member shall serve an initial term of two years. 37
(2) The Board shall appoint one public member who shall serve an initial term of 38
one year. 39
Upon the expiration of the terms of the initial Committee members, each subsequent member 40
shall be appointed for a term of three years. The term of a member shall begin on January 1 of 41
each year. A member shall serve until the member 's successor is appointed. No member shall 42
serve on the Committee for more than two consecutive full terms. 43
(b) Qualifications. – The initial music therapist appointees shall be citizens of the United 44
States and North Carolina residents for at least two yea rs prior to appointment, certified by the 45
certifying entity as a music therapist, and eligible to obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies 46
License in music therapy under G.S. 90-750.24. Upon appointment, each initial music therapist 47
appointee shall immediately seek to obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in 48
music therapy under this Article and shall remain in good standing with the Committee during 49
the appointee's term. Subsequent music therapist appointees shall be citizens of the United States, 50
residents of North Carolina, North Carolina Licensed Music Therapists, and appointed by the 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 8 House Bill 122-Second Edition
Board from a list of names supplied by the Music Therapy Association of North Carolina or its 1
successor. Public members of the Committee shall not be: 2
(1) An agent or employee trained or experienced in the practice of music therapy. 3
(2) An agent or employee of a person engaged in the practice of music therapy. 4
(3) A member of a n integrative therapies profession or a person enrolled in a 5
program to become a member of an integrative therapies profession. 6
(4) A spouse of an individual licensed under this Article. 7
(5) Any person with significant financial interest in a health service or profession. 8
(c) Meetings. – The Committee shall elect annually a chair and other officers as it deems 9
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article. The Committee may hold additional meetings 10
upon the call of the chair or any two Committee members. A majority of the Committee shall 11
constitute a quorum. 12
(d) Compensation of Members; Expenses; Employees. – Members of the Committee 13
shall receive no compensation for their services but shall receive per diem and necessary travel 14
and subsistence expenses as provided in G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 138-6. In no event shall the State 15
of North Carolina be liable for expenses incurred by the Committee in excess of the income 16
derived from this Article. 17
"§ 90-750.23. Powers and duties of Committee. 18
The Committee shall have the following powers and duties: 19
(1) Administer and coordinate the provisions of this Part. 20
(2) Make recommendations to the Board to a dopt, amend, or repeal rules to 21
administer and enforce this Part. 22
(3) Establish and determine qualification and fitness of applicants for a North 23
Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy under this Part. 24
(4) Make recommendations to the Board to issue, renew, deny, suspend, revoke, 25
or refuse to issue or renew a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in 26
music therapy under this Article. 27
(5) Make recommendations to the Board to discipline North Carolina Licensed 28
Music Therapists. 29
(6) Advise the Board to seek civil and criminal penalties against nonlicensed 30
individuals engaged in the practice of music therapy. 31
(7) Provide all North Carolina Licensed Music Therapists with a wallet-sized card 32
identifying the bearer as a North Carolina Licensed Music Therapist. 33
(8) Maintain a list of all individuals in the State who hold a North Carolina 34
Integrative Therapies License in music therapy. 35
"§ 90 -750.24. North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy 36
requirements. 37
Each individual desiring to obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music 38
therapy under this Article shall apply to the Committee in accordance with the procedures and 39
rules prescribed by the Board. The Committee shall recommend that the Board issue a North 40
Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy to any applicant who furnishes evidence 41
satisfactory to the Committee that the applicant meets all of the following criteria: 42
(1) Is 18 years of age or older. 43
(2) Is of good moral character as determined by the Committee. 44
(3) Provides proof of one of the following: 45
a. Passing the examination for board certification offered by the 46
Certification Board for Music Therapists or its successor 47
organizations. 48
b. Being transitioned into board certification by the Certification Board 49
for Music Therapists or its succ essor organizations and currently 50
holding the MT-BC credential as a board-certified music therapist. 51
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House Bill 122-Second Edition Page 9
(4) Has paid all applicable fees to the Board as specified under G.S. 90-750.5. 1
"§ 90-750.25. License renewal. 2
Every North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy issued by the Board 3
shall be renewed annually on a date established by rule . The Committee shall recommend that 4
the Board renew the license of any individual who files a renewal application with the Committee 5
and who meets the licensure criteria set forth in G.S. 90-750.24. 6
"§ 90-750.26. Compensation for music therapy services; prohibited acts. 7
Compensation may be received for music therapy services only when those services are 8
performed by an individual holding a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music 9
therapy. Nonlicensed individuals who provide music therapy services or who engage in the 10
practice of music therapy are subject to the penalties in G.S. 90-750.6 or an injunction under 11
G.S. 90-750.7. 12
"§ 90-750.27. North Carolina Licensed Music Therapist. 13
(a) No individual without a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music 14
therapy shall use the title "music therapist," "licensed professional music therapist ," or similar 15
title or practice music therapy. 16
(b) Nothing in this Chapter may be construed to prohibit or restrict the practice, services, 17
or activities of the following: 18
(1) Any individual licensed, certified, or regulated under the laws of this State in 19
another profession or occupation, including physicians, psychologists, 20
psychoanalysts, registered nurses, marriage and family therapists, social 21
workers, occupational therapists, professional or rehabilitation counselors, 22
speech-language pathologists or au diologists, or personnel supervised by a 23
licensed professional, performing work, including the use of music, incidental 24
to the practice of his or her licensed, certified, or regulated profession or 25
occupation, if that person does not represent himself or h erself as a music 26
therapist. 27
(2) Any individual whose training and national certification attests to the 28
individual's preparation and ability to practice his or her certified profession 29
or occupation, if that person does not represent himself or herself as a music 30
therapist. 31
(3) Any practice of music therapy as an integral part of a program of study for 32
students enrolled in an accredited music therapy program, if the student does 33
not represent himself or herself as a music therapist. 34
(c) An individual who is not a licensed professional music therapist may provide music 35
therapy under the supervision of a licensed professional music therapist for a period not to exceed 36
180 days from the start of practice if the individual's application to obtain board certific ation is 37
pending and the individual meets the remaining requirements for a North Carolina Integrative 38
Therapies License in music therapy listed in G.S. 90-750.24. 39
"§ 90-750.28. Reciprocity. 40
The Committee may recommend that the Board grant, upon application and payment of 41
proper fees, a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy to a person who has 42
been licensed or certified to practice music therapy in another state or territory of the United 43
States whose standards of competency are substantially equivalent to the requirements for 44
licensure provided in this Article. 45
"§ 90-750.29. Collaboration. 46
(a) Before an individual with a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music 47
therapy provides music therapy services to a client for an identified clinical or developmental 48
need, the individual shall review the client's diagnosis, treatment needs, and treatment plan with 49
the health care providers involved in the client's care. Before an individual with a North Carolina 50
Integrative Therapies License in music therapy provides music therapy services to a student for 51
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Page 10 House Bill 122-Second Edition
an identified educational need in a special education setting, the individual shall review with the 1
individualized family service plan or individualized education program team the student 's 2
diagnosis, treatment needs, and treatment plan. 3
(b) During the provision of music therapy services to a client, an individual with a North 4
Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy shall collaborate, as applicable, with the 5
client's treatment team, including the client 's physician, psychologist, licensed clinical social 6
worker, or other mental health professional. During the provision of music therapy services to a 7
client with a communication disorder, an individual with a North Carolina Integrative Therapies 8
License in music therapy shall collaborate and discuss the music therapy treatment plan with the 9
client's audiologist or speech-language pathologist so that the music therapist may work with the 10
client and address communication skills. 11
(c) When providing educational or health care services, an individual with a North 12
Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy may not replace the services provided 13
by an audiologist or a speech -language pathologist. Unless authorized to practice 14
speech-language pathology, music therapists may not evaluate, examine, instruct, or counsel on 15
speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders and conditions. An individual with 16
a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy may not represent to the public 17
that the individual is au thorized to treat a communication disorder. This does not prohibit an 18
individual with a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in music therapy from 19
representing to the public that the individual may work with clients who have a communication 20
disorder and address communication skills." 21
SECTION 2.(a) Notwithstanding G.S. 90-750.3, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, 22
the initial members of the North Carolina Board of Integrative Therapies shall be appointed as 23
follows: 24
(1) The General Assembly, upon t he recommendation of the President Pro 25
Tempore of the Senate, shall appoint one art therapist to serve an initial term 26
of three years. 27
(2) The General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House 28
of Representatives, shall appoint one music therapist to serve an initial term 29
of two years. 30
(3) The Governor shall appoint one art therapist to serve an initial term of two 31
years. 32
(4) The Governor shall appoint one music therapist to serve an initial term of three 33
years. 34
(5) The Governor shall appoint one physician to serve an initial term of two years 35
and one physician to serve an initial term of one year. 36
(6) The Governor shall appoint one member of the public who shall serve an 37
initial term of three years. 38
SECTION 2.(b) The art therapists appointed to the Board pursuant to subsection (a) 39
of this section shall have been North Carolina residents for at least two years prior to 40
appointment, certified by a national entity that certifies art therapists, and eligible for licensure 41
under G.S. 90-750.14, as enacted by Section 1 of this act. Upon appointment, the art therapist 42
appointees shall seek to obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in art therapy as 43
soon as the first application period begins and shall remain in good standing with the Board. 44
SECTION 2.(c) The music therapists appointed to the Board pursuant to subsection 45
(a) of this section shall have been North Carolina residents for at least two years prior to 46
appointment, certified by a national entity that certifies music therapists, and eligible for licensure 47
under G.S. 90-750.24, as enacted pursuant to Section 1 of this act. Upon appointment, the initial 48
music therapist appointees shall seek to obtain a North Carolina Integrative Therapies License in 49
music therapy as soon as the first application period begins and shall remain in good standing 50
with the Board. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 122-Second Edition Page 11
SECTION 2.(d) The appointments required by this section shall be made on or 1
before December 1, 2026, and the initial terms of the appointees shall begin on January 1, 2027. 2
Once these initial terms expire, all vacancies shall be filled according to the provisions of 3
G.S. 90-750.3, as enacted in Section 1 of this act. 4
SECTION 2.(e) G.S. 90-750.6, 90 -750.7, 90 -750.16, 90 -750.17, 90 -750.26, and 5
90-750.27, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, become effective on the date that is the first day 6
of a month that begins 180 days after the chair of the North Carolina Board of Integrative 7
Therapies certifies to the Revisor of Statutes that the Board has begun accepting applications for 8
Integrative Therapies Licenses and apply to acts committed on or after that date. This section and 9
the remainder of Section 1 of this act are effective when they become law. 10
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 11
law. 12