Music Therapist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Music Therapist jobs in the U.S. are sponsored primarily through the H-1B visa, which classifies the role as a specialty occupation requiring a board-certified MT-BC credential and a relevant bachelor's degree or higher. Healthcare systems, school districts, and hospice networks are the most active sponsors.
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Expressive Therapist - Music Therapist - Children's Hospital
Department:
Child Life Program
Job Description:
Under the direction of Child Life, Integrative and Creative Care this role provides foundational clinical expressive therapy services for patients and families by using expressive modalities as tools to help them attain and maintain their maximum levels of functioning and coping in the area of physical, cognitive, communication and social/emotional health during hospitalization or residential programs. Program planning will be designed to reduce stress, increase adaptive coping, provide normalization, promote social interaction and support developmental integrity through expressive experiences and interventions in a safe environment.
Essential Responsibilities
Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position. Inability to perform these responsibilities with or without an accommodation may result in disqualification from the position.
- Will assess and prioritize patient needs through referrals and patient review process.
- Identify interventions based on patient assessment, match techniques to developmental, emotional, physical and social needs of patients and families.
- Provide expressive therapy, through a multitude of modalities, interventions designed to meet patients' physical or psychological needs.
- Inform and educate patients and families on the use of expressive therapy techniques to support health coping and normal growth and development.
- Involve family members in expressive therapy services per assessment including teaching skills and resources for transition to home.
- Implement and document patient care plans; communicate plans and outcomes to others.
- Provide expressive therapy programming to complement work in meeting the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients and families.
- Provide individual and group sessions to fulfill therapeutic objectives, including but not limited to: anxiety reduction, pain management, developmental stimulation, alternative means of expression/communication, positive coping techniques, procedural support, quality of life and family/patient support.
- Identify and educate appropriate expressive therapy resources for each patient and family.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team planning and co-treating.
- Monitor patient progress and remain adaptive in plan of care.
- Incorporate expressive therapy in development of patient's self-awareness and expression, coping skills, sense of well-being and social behavior.
- Provide educational in-services for patients and families as well as staff members.
- Supports the training and supervision of students and volunteers related to expressive therapy.
General Responsibilities
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy or its equivalent from an AMTA-Approved Program
Experience Requirements
Completed a supervised internship & meets the AMTA Professional Competencies with preferred experience in healthcare settings.
License/Certification/Registration Requirements
- Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required within 30 days of start date.
- Music Therapist Board Certified (MT-BC) and Licensed Professional Music Therapist (LPMT) required within 90 days of hire
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Requirements
- Working knowledge of expressive therapies and impact to patients and families.
- Must have knowledge of the theories of expressive therapy, best practices, family systems, cultural awareness and human growth and development.
- Must have effective oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work with an interdisciplinary team.
- Skill in the supervision of students and volunteers.
- Must have good interpersonal skills to develop effective working relationships and to deal with difficult family/individual dynamics.
- Knowledge of performance improvement tools and how to monitor an ongoing process.
- Skill in planning programs and analyzing the problems that arise.
- Good presentation skills for representing the department to internal and external audiences.
- Computer skills and a general knowledge of office procedures.
- Must be self-motivated and able to problem solve both independently and in a team setting.
This is a Safety Sensitive position under 63 O.S. 427.8 and is subject to a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol standard in compliance with Oklahoma law.
OU Health is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including PTO, 401(k), medical and dental plans, and many more. We know that a total benefits and compensation package, designed to meet your specific needs both inside and outside of the work environment, create peace of mind for you and your family.
Position Title:
Expressive Therapist - Music Therapist - Children's Hospital
Department:
Child Life Program
Job Description:
Under the direction of Child Life, Integrative and Creative Care this role provides foundational clinical expressive therapy services for patients and families by using expressive modalities as tools to help them attain and maintain their maximum levels of functioning and coping in the area of physical, cognitive, communication and social/emotional health during hospitalization or residential programs. Program planning will be designed to reduce stress, increase adaptive coping, provide normalization, promote social interaction and support developmental integrity through expressive experiences and interventions in a safe environment.
Essential Responsibilities
Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position. Inability to perform these responsibilities with or without an accommodation may result in disqualification from the position.
- Will assess and prioritize patient needs through referrals and patient review process.
- Identify interventions based on patient assessment, match techniques to developmental, emotional, physical and social needs of patients and families.
- Provide expressive therapy, through a multitude of modalities, interventions designed to meet patients' physical or psychological needs.
- Inform and educate patients and families on the use of expressive therapy techniques to support health coping and normal growth and development.
- Involve family members in expressive therapy services per assessment including teaching skills and resources for transition to home.
- Implement and document patient care plans; communicate plans and outcomes to others.
- Provide expressive therapy programming to complement work in meeting the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients and families.
- Provide individual and group sessions to fulfill therapeutic objectives, including but not limited to: anxiety reduction, pain management, developmental stimulation, alternative means of expression/communication, positive coping techniques, procedural support, quality of life and family/patient support.
- Identify and educate appropriate expressive therapy resources for each patient and family.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team planning and co-treating.
- Monitor patient progress and remain adaptive in plan of care.
- Incorporate expressive therapy in development of patient's self-awareness and expression, coping skills, sense of well-being and social behavior.
- Provide educational in-services for patients and families as well as staff members.
- Supports the training and supervision of students and volunteers related to expressive therapy.
General Responsibilities
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy or its equivalent from an AMTA-Approved Program
Experience Requirements
Completed a supervised internship & meets the AMTA Professional Competencies with preferred experience in healthcare settings.
License/Certification/Registration Requirements
- Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required within 30 days of start date.
- Music Therapist Board Certified (MT-BC) and Licensed Professional Music Therapist (LPMT) required within 90 days of hire
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Requirements
- Working knowledge of expressive therapies and impact to patients and families.
- Must have knowledge of the theories of expressive therapy, best practices, family systems, cultural awareness and human growth and development.
- Must have effective oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work with an interdisciplinary team.
- Skill in the supervision of students and volunteers.
- Must have good interpersonal skills to develop effective working relationships and to deal with difficult family/individual dynamics.
- Knowledge of performance improvement tools and how to monitor an ongoing process.
- Skill in planning programs and analyzing the problems that arise.
- Good presentation skills for representing the department to internal and external audiences.
- Computer skills and a general knowledge of office procedures.
- Must be self-motivated and able to problem solve both independently and in a team setting.
This is a Safety Sensitive position under 63 O.S. 427.8 and is subject to a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol standard in compliance with Oklahoma law.
OU Health is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including PTO, 401(k), medical and dental plans, and many more. We know that a total benefits and compensation package, designed to meet your specific needs both inside and outside of the work environment, create peace of mind for you and your family.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Music Therapist Jobs
Verify your MT-BC credential transfers
USCIS requires proof that your music therapy degree meets U.S. specialty occupation standards. Have the Certification Board for Music Therapists confirm your foreign credential is equivalent to a U.S. MT-BC before any employer files your petition.
Target healthcare systems over private practices
Hospitals, hospice networks, and large rehabilitation centers have dedicated HR teams that handle H-1B filings regularly. Solo or small private practices rarely have the infrastructure to file a Labor Condition Application and I-129 petition on your behalf.
Search Migrate Mate for verified LCA sponsors
Music Therapist roles with active H-1B sponsorship history aren't easy to find through general job searches. Migrate Mate shows employers with verified DOL Labor Condition Application filing history for this occupation, so you can target your outreach where sponsorship has actually happened.
Check prevailing wage before salary negotiations
Your employer's LCA must certify they'll pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your location and experience level. Look up the wage tier for music therapists in your target metro using the OFLC Wage Search before you receive an offer.
Get your PERM timeline right for green card paths
If your employer plans to sponsor permanent residence, PERM labor certification requires advertising the role to U.S. workers first. This process typically takes one to two years, so raise it early in negotiations rather than after your H-1B is already filed.
Disclose NPI registration status to your employer
Many hospital employers require a National Provider Identifier number before they'll complete credentialing paperwork, which is separate from your visa filing. Confirm whether you need to apply for an NPI independently or if the employer sponsors that process alongside your H-1B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Music Therapist role qualify as a specialty occupation for the H-1B?
Yes, music therapy qualifies as a specialty occupation because it requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in music therapy or a closely related field, plus MT-BC board certification. USCIS looks at both the degree requirement and the certification standard when evaluating the petition. Roles in clinical settings like hospitals or hospices tend to have the clearest documentation trail for specialty occupation status.
Which types of employers sponsor Music Therapists for visas?
Find Music Therapist jobs with verified sponsorship history on Migrate Mate, which shows employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for this role. In practice, the most active sponsors are hospital systems, children's rehabilitation centers, hospice and palliative care organizations, and VA medical facilities. School districts occasionally sponsor too, though their processes vary significantly by state and district size.
Is a foreign music therapy degree accepted by USCIS for H-1B purposes?
USCIS accepts foreign degrees if they're evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in music therapy or a related discipline. You'll need a credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization, and the Certification Board for Music Therapists may require additional coursework verification before granting MT-BC eligibility. Gaps in clinical hours or specific coursework are the most common barrier for internationally trained therapists.
Can a Music Therapist change employers while on H-1B status?
Yes. Under H-1B visa portability rules, you can start working for a new employer as soon as they file a new I-129 petition on your behalf, without waiting for USCIS approval. The new employer must file before your current status expires. Because music therapy is a niche field, the new employer also needs to file a fresh Labor Condition Application with DOL and confirm the prevailing wage for your new location.
Does the TN visa cover Music Therapist roles for Canadian or Mexican nationals?
No. Music Therapist is not on the USMCA profession list that defines TN visa eligibility, so Canadian and Mexican nationals cannot use the TN visa for this role. The H-1B is the most practical nonimmigrant work visa option, though some employers in nonprofit or academic settings may also explore J-1 visa exchange visitor programs depending on the organization's designated sponsor status.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Music Therapist jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.