BOARD CERTIFICATION (ATR-BC)
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To maintain your status as a Registered Art Therapist with Board Certification (ATR-BC), you must:
- Adhere to the ATCB Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures.
- Complete the annual renewal of your credential- the ATR.
- Recertify every five years through accruing Continuing Education Credits or passing the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCBE).
- Please update your email address and other personal information in your MyATCB portal. Please note that the ATCB National Office cannot access your portal space to complete this. If you need assistance accessing your portal, please get in touch with the National Office atcbinfo@atcb.org\
Please note that recertification and renewal are separate processes with separate fees.
If recertification of board certification distinction is due, you must complete the recertification application and the annual renewal of your credential: Registered Art Therapist (ATR).
Renewing the ATR:
By June 30th of each year, all credential holders must complete the annual ethics attestation and pay an annual maintenance fee of $100 to maintain the ATR credential. The function of renewals is the submission of a completed ethics and credential attestation that you comply with the ATCB Code of Ethics Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.
The ATCB affords a 30-day grace period from July 1 to July 31 for anyone who missed the renewal window; a late fee of $30 applies during this time. After July 31st, any credential not renewed becomes inactive.
All renewals must be completed on the MyATCB portal.
Additional information about reinstating an inactive credential can be found here if a credential is inactive.
If the ATR is inactive during a board certification cycle, the BC distinction can resume once it is reinstated. If the annual renewal of the ATR was not completed AND the recertification of the board certification was not completed, the reinstatement process only returns the ATR to active status. The only way to regain board certification in this instance is to retake and pass the ATCBE exam.
If credential holders do not plan on renewing, they may:
- Apply for Temporary Inactive Status. The Temporary Inactive Status fee is $25. More information on Temporary Inactive Status can be found here:
- Choose to relinquish your Art Therapist Registration (ATR) by completing an Inactive request.
The above options are located on the MyATCB portals.
Recertifying Board Certification
Completing the annual renewal to maintain the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credential is required for board certification. This renewal must be completed before the recertification application becomes available in MyATCB portals.
*** In 2025, the ATCBE will have a new examination content outline reflecting the results of the most recent job analysis administered in 2022. The survey was completed by over 1,000 credentialed art therapists who provided data on the current practice of art therapy, including major work behaviors and tasks, client populations, media/materials, diagnostic categories, ethical issues, and work settings. The 2026 recertification standards will reflect the updated recertification requirements due to the new content outline. The ATCB will release these requirements in 2024. The 2025 content outline can be accessed here. ***
The recertification application must be completed to recertify board certification (BC). This application requires entering 100 qualifying continuing education credits, and this credit must have been acquired during the five-year certification cycle. Recertification can also be accomplished by taking and passing the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCBE), updated annually. Recertification must be completed before the recertification cycle ends. The recertification date can be found in credential holder MYATCB portals, ID cards, and board certification certificates.
Review the Recertification Standards*
*These standards are reviewed annually and will be updated to reflect the requirements of NCCA accreditation and any changes on the ATCBE exam.
The ATCB recognizes various CEC activities, clearly outlined in the recertification standards provided to all ATR-BCs. In each cycle, six CECs must be earned in ethics, and six CECs must be earned in supervision.
A random sample of 10% or more of all those due for recertification is audited yearly. Acceptable documentation may be academic transcripts, certificates of attendance from recognized providers, or other proof as outlined in the recertification standards.
The ATCB does not accept handwritten CE tracker forms. All CEs must be entered into the formal recertification application.
Click here for step-by-step instructions for recertifying your board certification.
If you have not completed the required CECs, you may:
- Apply for an extension of up to three (3) months. The extension fee is $50. The extension is for recertification only. Recertification Extension applications are found in MyATCB portals. Only two recertification extensions will be granted in a given recertification cycle.
NOTE: extensions for recertification only; the ATR must be renewed by the end of the credential year. - Apply to take the ATCB Examination (ATCBE). Upon receiving a passing score, you will be recertified automatically. The fee for the ATCBE is $275
- Apply for Temporary Inactive Status. The Temporary Inactive Status fee is $25
- Choose to relinquish your Board Certification by sending us your statement of relinquishment of your BC to atcbinfo@atcb.org.
If the five-year certification cycle ended and a recertification application was not submitted, the BC distinction will no longer be valid.
Board certification is not a credential and cannot be reinstated.
If the recertification application was not completed:
- An appeal can be submitted to the Board of Appeals to reopen the recertification application. The policy and procedure for appealing are outlined here.
- Apply to take the ATCBE; this application is located in the MyATCB portals. If the exam fee creates a financial hardship, contact the ATCB National Office. Staff can bring this hardship to the Board of Directors for consideration.