S.589 creates a music therapy license and a Music Therapy Board, which will serve under the Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
This bill is simply an excuse to regulate the medical industry further and collect licensing fees. There are already music therapy courses, associations, and boards who provide the necessary education, training, and certification to practice music therapy. In fact, certification and examination by these associations and boards would be a necessary prerequisite to obtaining a music therapy license. That being the case, this plan is unnecessary and redundant.
Additionally, this bill specifies guidelines for education and work experience of music therapy license applicants. This means that as the medical landscape changes, the SC code will need to be adjusted to reflect those changes, creating a severe hindrance to industry flexibility and innovation.