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Bill

HB 7

State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists - Authority to Issue Limited Licenses to Practice Music Therapy

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Pam Guzzone

Maryland bill expands state regulatory board authority to issue limited music therapy licenses, establishing formal licensing requirements for the profession.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 30
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Bill Summary · HB 7

Legislative bill overview

HB 7 would authorize Maryland's State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech-Language Pathologists to issue limited licenses for music therapy practice. This expands the board's regulatory scope to include music therapists, establishing a new licensing category within the existing professional regulatory framework.

Why is this important

Music therapy is an increasingly recognized clinical practice used to address physical, emotional, and cognitive health conditions, but currently lacks formal state licensing requirements in Maryland. Establishing limited licensing could protect consumers by setting minimum qualifications and competency standards while potentially expanding access to regulated music therapy services.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of practice clarity: The bill's term "limited licenses" is undefined—unclear whether this represents full licensure, provisional status, or restricted practice areas, creating ambiguity about actual regulatory authority
  • Board jurisdiction mismatch: Adding music therapy to a board primarily focused on audiology, hearing aids, and speech-language pathology may be administratively awkward and could dilute focus from existing regulated professions
  • Credentialing standards: No specification of educational requirements, certification standards, or competency measures needed to obtain limited licenses, leaving implementation details to future rulemaking

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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