Education & Training

Dance/movement therapists are master’s prepared therapists.

There are 2 routes to dance/movement therapy graduate training:

1. Graduates from ADTA Approved Dance/Movement Programs meet all professional requirements for Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT). ADTA approves programs that meet the requirements stated in the ADTA Standards for Graduate Dance/Movement Therapy Programs.
2. The ADTA and Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board (DMTCB) recognize an Alternate Route to dance/movement therapy training. The Alternate Route requires a master's or doctoral degree in a human services-related field (i.e., counseling, psychology, social work, special education, dance education, a creative arts therapy, family therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric nursing, or medicine) from an accredited school in combination with specific dance/movement therapy coursework, and extensive dance/movement background. Once Alternate Route education is completed, one can apply for the R-DMT.
   

BROWSE CATEGORIES AT LEFT for educational offerings including Approved Graduate Programs, Alternate Route Opportunities, Undergraduate Courses, International Programs & Institutes.

Requirements for Working With Children

The Board of Directors of the American Dance Therapy Association set the following recommendations as minimal requirements in working with children. You must have a master's degree in dance/movement therapy or related field and knowledge and understanding and demonstrated competencies acquired through education, supervised internship, or work experience in the following areas:

1. Applications of dance/movement therapy with children;
2. Cognitive, social and psychological development;
3. Movement behavior and nonverbal communication;
4. Family systems theory;
5. Development through the lifespan; and 6) Multiculturalism and diversity