Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT)
COMPLETE EXAM LATEST VERSION 2026-2027
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A client during music therapy brings up that they feel "odd" around a coworker. They share distinct
examples of them feeling "odd" with lots of descriptive details. What type of thinking is this? A.
Concrete Thinking
B. Abstract Thinking
C. Logical Thinking
D. Magical Thinking - answer>>A. Concrete Thinking
Your objective reads: "A client will play the guitar for a total of 10 minutes during a music therapy
session." Which measuring tool are you utilizing?
A. Interval
B. Continuous
C. Frequency
D. Duration - answer>>D. Duration
In a music therapy session, the therapist focuses on improvisation. The therapist plays a chord and
allows the client to freely associate verbally and then musically. What type of psychological theory is
the therapist mostly likely pulling from?
A. Psychodynamic Theory
B. Behavioral Theory
C. Cognitive-Behavioral Theory
D. Holistic Theory - answer>>A. Psychodynamic Theory
A 6 year old client is incredibly social, afraid of the sound of a vacuum, and is small for their age. What
may be their diagnosis?
A. Rett Syndrome
,B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. Williams Syndrome
D. Disintegrative Disorder - answer>>C. Williams Syndrome
You brought a timer with you to the therapy session. The timer is set to go off every 5 minutes in order
to measure the amount of times your client plays the guitar. What kind of measurement are you
using?
A. Continuous
B. Interval
C. Frequency
D. Duration - answer>>B. Interval
If a client has difficulty swallowing, which disorder do they most likely have?
A. Aphasia
B. Dysphagia
C. Dysarthria
D. Ataxia - answer>>B. Dyphagia
A teenage client is referred to music therapy for anger management. During the assessment, the client
shares that he is angry about having to come to therapy, and states that he enjoys heavy metal music.
The therapist does not feel as though they are able to adequately play heavy metal music, and dislikes
the genre. The BEST action for the therapist is to
A. Explain to the client that heavy metal would make him angry, and is therefore counterproductive
B. Familiarize herself with heavy metal music, and bring in receptive or re-creative music sessions
C. Explain to the client that she is unable to play heavy metal, and encourage them to choose
something else
D. Expose the client to a new genre in hopes to improve their musical appreciation to new styles -
answer>>B. Familiarize herself with heavy metal music, and bring in receptive or re-creative music
sessions.
, Which of the following examples shows professional development as a therapist?
A. Conduct research, continue your education, and collaborate with colleagues
B. Document treatment plans, collaborate with others, and expand musical repertoire
C. Participate in continuing education, comply with safety protocols, and review current research
D. Participate in research set professional goals, and maintain confidentiality with clients - answer>>A.
Conduct research, continue your education, and collaborate with colleagues
At the conclusion of treatment, the music therapist should document all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Termination plan
B. Follow-up procedures
C. Client's current functioning level
D. Client's family history - answer>>D. Client's family history
During a music therapy session in a psychiatric facility, clients express their grief and mixed emotions
concerning a recent suicide in the facility. The music therapist should FIRST
A. Provide a relaxation experience to redirect the clients' attention
B. Compose a song to honor the lost life
C. Validate and normalize the group member's response through music
D. Engage the group in songwriting about suicide prevention - answer>>C. Validate and normalize the
group's responses through music
A client with a diagnosis of dementia is withdrawn and appearing unaware of what is going on around
them. The music therapist is attempting to assess her musical responses by playing popular music from
her twenties. Which of the following responses MOST actively indicates her familiarity with a certain
song?
A. She looks at the therapist when they sing
B. She straightens her posture
C. She sings the tune along with the therapist
D. Gently tapping her foot to the rhythm of the music - answer>>C. She sings the tune along with the
therapist
COMPLETE EXAM LATEST VERSION 2026-2027
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A client during music therapy brings up that they feel "odd" around a coworker. They share distinct
examples of them feeling "odd" with lots of descriptive details. What type of thinking is this? A.
Concrete Thinking
B. Abstract Thinking
C. Logical Thinking
D. Magical Thinking - answer>>A. Concrete Thinking
Your objective reads: "A client will play the guitar for a total of 10 minutes during a music therapy
session." Which measuring tool are you utilizing?
A. Interval
B. Continuous
C. Frequency
D. Duration - answer>>D. Duration
In a music therapy session, the therapist focuses on improvisation. The therapist plays a chord and
allows the client to freely associate verbally and then musically. What type of psychological theory is
the therapist mostly likely pulling from?
A. Psychodynamic Theory
B. Behavioral Theory
C. Cognitive-Behavioral Theory
D. Holistic Theory - answer>>A. Psychodynamic Theory
A 6 year old client is incredibly social, afraid of the sound of a vacuum, and is small for their age. What
may be their diagnosis?
A. Rett Syndrome
,B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. Williams Syndrome
D. Disintegrative Disorder - answer>>C. Williams Syndrome
You brought a timer with you to the therapy session. The timer is set to go off every 5 minutes in order
to measure the amount of times your client plays the guitar. What kind of measurement are you
using?
A. Continuous
B. Interval
C. Frequency
D. Duration - answer>>B. Interval
If a client has difficulty swallowing, which disorder do they most likely have?
A. Aphasia
B. Dysphagia
C. Dysarthria
D. Ataxia - answer>>B. Dyphagia
A teenage client is referred to music therapy for anger management. During the assessment, the client
shares that he is angry about having to come to therapy, and states that he enjoys heavy metal music.
The therapist does not feel as though they are able to adequately play heavy metal music, and dislikes
the genre. The BEST action for the therapist is to
A. Explain to the client that heavy metal would make him angry, and is therefore counterproductive
B. Familiarize herself with heavy metal music, and bring in receptive or re-creative music sessions
C. Explain to the client that she is unable to play heavy metal, and encourage them to choose
something else
D. Expose the client to a new genre in hopes to improve their musical appreciation to new styles -
answer>>B. Familiarize herself with heavy metal music, and bring in receptive or re-creative music
sessions.
, Which of the following examples shows professional development as a therapist?
A. Conduct research, continue your education, and collaborate with colleagues
B. Document treatment plans, collaborate with others, and expand musical repertoire
C. Participate in continuing education, comply with safety protocols, and review current research
D. Participate in research set professional goals, and maintain confidentiality with clients - answer>>A.
Conduct research, continue your education, and collaborate with colleagues
At the conclusion of treatment, the music therapist should document all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Termination plan
B. Follow-up procedures
C. Client's current functioning level
D. Client's family history - answer>>D. Client's family history
During a music therapy session in a psychiatric facility, clients express their grief and mixed emotions
concerning a recent suicide in the facility. The music therapist should FIRST
A. Provide a relaxation experience to redirect the clients' attention
B. Compose a song to honor the lost life
C. Validate and normalize the group member's response through music
D. Engage the group in songwriting about suicide prevention - answer>>C. Validate and normalize the
group's responses through music
A client with a diagnosis of dementia is withdrawn and appearing unaware of what is going on around
them. The music therapist is attempting to assess her musical responses by playing popular music from
her twenties. Which of the following responses MOST actively indicates her familiarity with a certain
song?
A. She looks at the therapist when they sing
B. She straightens her posture
C. She sings the tune along with the therapist
D. Gently tapping her foot to the rhythm of the music - answer>>C. She sings the tune along with the
therapist
