online store Previous CMP Employment Surveys — Music For Healing & Transition Program

Previous Graduate employment surveys

Employment Survey responses are valuable in giving ideas and actions to CMPs for use in offering their services to healthcare facilities. The data that we collect also helps healthcare administrators understand the value in providing paid work opportunities for CMPs.

See the results from the most recent 2022 CMP employment survey.

2019 CMP Employment Survey

The National Program Council completed a survey of working CMPs in 2019, before the pandemic. The survey’s goal was to inform our community of the employment landscape of CMPs across the country.  

As we start to see a future that includes returning to our facilities, we should keep in mind the success that this survey conveys, and push forward with our goal of making music in healthcare the norm.

The survey netted 157 responses of roughly 1100 MHTP graduates. That is a little more than 10%, which is an excellent number. Thank you to all who responded.

Of the respondents, most CMPs in 2019 worked in the US, with a smaller number employed outside of the states. Nearly half worked in rural areas and half worked in more urban areas.

Overall, most CMPs worked for pay; a very small percentage worked as volunteers. The most common per hour rate was somewhere between $30-$40 with hours of 10 or less a week. Most CMPs are hired as Independent Contractors through Spiritual Care, Activities Director, or Volunteer departments. Nearly 20% of funding comes from operational budgets, but the majority comes from ongoing foundation support.

Healthcare facilities see our work as supporting these three goals: creating a healing environment, supporting emotional/ spiritual needs, and addressing whole person care.

Although some CMPs were actively marketing, many could do more to spread the word about what we do (self-promoting was rated overall low by respondents).

Read the full 2019 CMP employment survey results (PDF).

If you have thoughts about the survey results please contact Keith Barnhart, Chair of MHTP’s  National Program Council.

2016 CMP Employment Survey

In 2016, MHTP's Board of Directors requested that we conduct a survey concerning the current state of employment for Certified Music Practitioners.  

This survey looked at demographics, types of practice, reimbursement rates, sources of funding for our work, and how healthcare changes have affected our prospective opportunities.  

Recommendations were made to the Board on how MHTP can best support CMPs in the employment market, both within our Module training and after certification.  

We encourage you to review the report.  Please see the end of the report for the summary Discussion. Read the 2016 CMP employment survey results (PDF).

We welcome your insights! Contact MHTP with thoughts or questions.