About Credentialing Bodies and Accreditation
Safeguarding the Integrity of Art Therapy
Understanding Credentialing and Accreditation in Art Therapy
Within the field of art therapy, several national organizations work together to advance the profession and safeguard the public. Each fulfills a distinct role — from education and advocacy to certification and credentialing. ATCB’s role is to protect the public by ensuring credentialed art therapists meet established standards of competence and ethics. This differs from membership associations, which exist to support and promote their professional communities through advocacy, education, and networking. Accreditation further strengthens this trust. ATCB’s Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC®) credential is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), verifying that our certification programs meet rigorous national standards for validity, fairness, and impartial governance.
Why the Distinction Matters
Public Protection vs. Professional Promotion
Certification and credentialing bodies, like ATCB, exist to protect the public and uphold the integrity of the profession by ensuring competence through defined standards, examination, and ethics enforcement.
Membership associations, on the other hand, exist to serve and promote their community of practitioners — offering advocacy, education, and professional development.
Mixing these missions can create both real and perceived conflicts of interest.
Language and Optics
Words matter.
Referring to credential holders as “members” or offering “member discounts” within a certification context can undermine neutrality and confuse audiences about the organization’s purpose.
Credentialing bodies use precise, governance-appropriate terms such as “credential holder,” “candidate,” “fee,” and “policy.”
Governance and Due Process
Credentialing bodies must follow robust, transparent, and documented procedures for eligibility, examination, appeals, ethics, and audits.
These due-process standards ensure fairness and protect both the public and the professionals being certified.
Membership associations can operate more flexibly, emphasizing community programs and professional growth.
Accreditation Implications
Accreditation reinforces the public protection mission.
Credentialing and certification programs that pursue recognition from bodies such as the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or ISO/IEC 17024 must meet strict requirements related to psychometrics, exam security, impartiality, and governance.
Accreditation ensures that credentialing bodies remain independent from advocacy or educational initiatives that could create unfair advantages for specific individuals or groups.
Key Differences at a Glance
While membership associations and credentialing bodies often collaborate to strengthen a profession, their core purposes, structures, and accountabilities differ in critical ways. The comparison below highlights how each organization type operates and where their priorities diverge.
Membership Association vs Credentialing/Certification Body
| Dimension | Membership Association | Credentialing/Certification Body |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Serve and advance a profession/community; represent members’ interests | Protect the public by validating individual competence against defined standards |
| Primary “customers” | Members (individuals or organizations who join) | Candidates and credential holders (individuals who earn/maintain a credential) |
| Value proposition | Community, advocacy, education, networking, career resources, publications | An objective, portable credential that signals competence; ongoing compliance/CE |
| How people belong | Voluntary membership; meet eligibility and pay dues | Meet eligibility, pass exam/assessment (as applicable), agree to policies; pay application/renewal fees |
| Standards & exams | May offer education and voluntary certificates; not typically gatekeeping | Defines practice/job tasks; sets eligibility; develops/administers psychometrically sound exams or assessments |
| Quality oversight | Quality of programs is self-determined; may follow best practices | Often pursues accreditation of the certification (e.g., NCCA/ISO 17024) and follows strict psychometric and governance standards |
| Ethics & discipline | May have member codes; enforcement usually limited to membership status | Enforces a binding Code and disciplinary procedures tied to the credential; due-process heavy |
| Terminology | “Members,” “chapters,” “member benefits,” “dues” | “Candidates,” “credential holders,” “certification/recertification,” “fees” (not dues) |
| Governance focus | Strategy for profession: advocacy, member programs, conferences | Standard-setting: eligibility, exam/spec updates, security, appeals, disciplinary actions |
| Revenue model | Dues + events + sponsorships + education | Application/exam fees + annual/periodic renewal + recertification/CE audits; limited or no sponsorship tied to credentialing decisions |
| Conflicts of interest | Can advocate for members’ interests | Must avoid appearance of serving credential holders over public protection; firewalls from advocacy and commercial influence |
| Communications | Marketing membership value, community news | Precise, compliance-oriented communications about requirements, deadlines, and policies |
Collaboration Across the Profession
While credentialing bodies and membership associations must remain independent in their missions, they also share a responsibility to support the integrity and growth of the profession.
Collaboration can be valuable — when done carefully and within clear boundaries.
Common Points of Collaboration
Both types of organizations play important, complementary roles in advancing the field of art therapy:
Membership associations can provide continuing education, communities of practice, and advocacy on behalf of the profession.
Credentialing bodies define continuing education criteria, audit compliance, and ensure that credential holders meet ethical and competency standards.
Joint efforts such as shared conference sessions or public statements are appropriate when each organization retains its independence — particularly regarding standards, eligibility, examinations, appeals, and disciplinary decisions.
These collaborations strengthen the field by promoting education and ethical practice, while maintaining public protection as the guiding principle.
Quick Litmus Tests
The following questions can serve as a simple guide when evaluating collaboration or communication efforts between credentialing bodies and membership associations:
Are we prioritizing public protection and fair, consistent standards?
→ If yes, that falls within the credentialing body’s role.Are we prioritizing member voice, community, or advocacy?
→ That aligns with the membership association’s mission.Are we referring to people as members (dues) or credential holders (fees)?
→ Check that language aligns with each organization’s purpose.Would a reasonable outsider see any financial or political pressure on certification or disciplinary decisions?
→ Strengthen firewalls and reinforce independence.
Accreditation and Why It Matters
What Accreditation Means
Accreditation is an external review process that verifies a certification program’s quality, fairness, and integrity.
For credentialing bodies, accreditation confirms that their programs meet recognized standards for psychometrics, governance, and ethics — ensuring that credentials are both credible and defensible.
ATCB’s Accreditation
The Art Therapy Credentials Board’s Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC®) credential is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) — the leading accreditor of professional certification programs in the United States.
NCCA accreditation confirms that ATCB’s certification program:
Is grounded in a current national job analysis,
Uses defensible psychometric methods for exam development and scoring, and
Operates with independent governance, ethics, and fairness.
As one of a select group of behavioral-health certifications meeting NCCA’s high standards, the ATR-BC® offers employers, regulators, and the public a trusted indicator of advanced, validated competence — and gives credentialed art therapists recognition and portability across settings.
Why NCCA Accreditation Matters
NCCA accreditation is more than a quality mark; it is a commitment to public protection and continuous improvement.
Independent Quality Seal
An external accreditor verifies that the certification program’s governance, fairness, psychometrics, and operations meet rigorous, industry-agnostic standards based on the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.
This independent review affirms that the credentialing process is objective and trustworthy.
Validity & Fairness of the Exam
NCCA standards require a defensible exam blueprint derived from a comprehensive job analysis.
All test items must be psychometrically sound and accessible, ensuring that the ATR-BC® measures real-world competence and does so equitably across candidates.
Strong Governance & Ethics
Accredited programs must demonstrate impartial decision-making, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and transparent procedures for eligibility, appeals, complaints, and discipline.
These controls build confidence among credential holders, employers, and the public.
Recertification that Maintains Competence
Accreditation requires ongoing competence requirements such as continuing education and ethical attestation.
This ensures that credential holders remain current and accountable to evolving professional standards.
Recognition & Portability
Because accreditation meets recognized national benchmarks, regulators, employers, and insurers can readily recognize and trust the credential — supporting professional mobility across states and practice settings.
Continuous Improvement
Accredited certification bodies are required to monitor outcomes, review item performance, analyze pass-rate data, and continually update exam blueprints and security measures.
This ongoing cycle of improvement helps the program stay current, equitable, and defensible.
Examples Within the Art Therapy Field
ATCB – Credentialing Body
The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) is the independent credentialing and certification authority for art therapy.
ATCB’s mission is to protect the public by credentialing art therapists who meet established education, experience, and examination standards and who uphold a binding Code of Ethics.
ATCB is not a membership organization; its role is to validate professional competence and uphold impartial standards of practice.
AATA – Membership Association
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) serves as the professional membership and advocacy organization for art therapists.
AATA’s mission is to advance the art therapy profession through advocacy, education, research, and a supportive community of members.
AATA does not award or regulate ATCB credentials but plays a vital role in promoting the profession, supporting practitioners, and fostering awareness of art therapy’s value.
Together, ATCB and AATA — along with educational and accrediting partners such as CAAHEP and ACATE — create a complementary framework that sustains both the profession’s growth and the public’s trust.
Credentialing, accreditation, education, and membership each serve distinct yet interconnected purposes in the art therapy ecosystem. By maintaining clear boundaries, transparent governance, and NCCA-accredited standards, ATCB ensures that its credentialing programs remain independent, fair, and evidence-based.
This independence is not separation — it is the foundation of public protection, ethical integrity, and professional credibility. Through continued collaboration with partners who share these values, ATCB advances its vision to be the authority for the safe, ethical, and inclusive practice of art therapy.