You're right, Susan, that if you're volunteering the rules are even more flexible than if you are paid. But many facilities hire people, without the Music Therapist certification, to do room-to-room visits and lead group musical activities specifically designed to stimulate memory, other cognitive functioning and/or emotional reaction (tears, laughter, smiles).   They also use many unlicensed pet therapy providers (the pets are licensed but not their owners).

Nothing wrong with looking into getting certified, but you may be looking at years of courses (even if you already have degrees in related fields) and thousands to tens of thousands of dollars just to get that official credential.   Is it worth that just so you can play your dulcimer for people who are ill or dying?

People who do what I do but are licensed Music Therapists have told me they usually don't get paid any more than I do (which is not a lot, especially in these times of budget cuts for social and medical services).

Then again, if you're 20-something, going for certification makes more sense than if you're a geezer like me.

Genie