Maintaining Board Certification and Recertification

Maintaining Board Certification (ATR-BC)

Maintaining the Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) credential requires ongoing compliance with professional standards and continuing competence requirements.

The ATR-BC is a board certification distinction built upon the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credential. Because board certification rests on an active ATR, the ATR must remain current at all times. If the ATR becomes inactive, the Board Certification distinction is suspended until the ATR is reinstated.

Maintaining board certification includes:

• Adhering to the Code governing Standards of Practice, Eligibility for and Regulation of Credentials, and Disciplinary Procedures
• Renewing the ATR annually
• Completing 100 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) within each five-year certification cycle (an average of 20 per year)
• Recertifying the ATR-BC every five years

Distinction Between Renewal and Recertification: Annual ATR renewal and five-year board certification recertification are separate processes, with distinct requirements, fees and timelines. Both must be maintained to preserve the ATR-BC designation.

2026 and Beyond Continuing Education Clarification

The 2026 recertification standards apply to the Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) — a credential that represents advanced clinical competence and professional expertise in art therapy.

Board certification is not simply a renewal process. It is a professional reaffirmation of advanced knowledge, clinical skill, ethical responsibility, and leadership within the field.

Under the 2026 and onward standards, ATR-BC credential holders must complete:

• 100 total Continuing Education Credits (CECs) within the five-year certification cycle. Of that 100:
  • 50 CECs in art therapy–specific content (included within the 100, not in addition)
  • 6 CECs in ethics
  • 6 CECs in supervision

The requirement that 50 hours be art therapy–specific reflects established board certification practice across healthcare and mental health professions. Specialty certifications appropriately require that a substantial portion of continuing education align directly with the core discipline. This is not an elevated or unusual expectation — it is consistent with maintaining a specialty credential.

The ATR-BC is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). To maintain accreditation — and the national recognition of the Board Certification distinction — continuing competence standards must align with current professional practice. These standards are informed by the Job Task Analysis conducted with practicing art therapists, who determine the competencies required to qualify for and maintain board certification.

Credential holders are encouraged to review their CEC entries in the MyATCB portal. Where appropriate, previously entered CECs may be updated to reflect art therapy–specific designation. You can find more information about updating your CEs in the new system on the MyATCB Transition Hub.

Annual ATR Renewal

The Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credential must be renewed annually to maintain eligibility for Board Certification.

By June 30 each year, credential holders must:

• Complete the annual ethics attestation
• Pay the annual maintenance fee of $100

A 30-day grace period (July 1–31) allows for late renewal with a $30 late fee. After July 31, credentials not renewed become inactive.

Renewal must be completed through the MyATCB portal.

Because the ATR-BC is a distinction built upon an active ATR, Board Certification is suspended if the ATR becomes inactive. Board Certification cannot be maintained without an active ATR.

Credential holders who do not plan to renew may:

• Apply for Deferred Status ($25 fee), or
• Relinquish the ATR through the MyATCB portal

If both ATR renewal and Board Certification recertification lapse, the only way to regain Board Certification is by retaking and passing the ATCB Exam.

Reinstating an Inactive Credential If your ATR becomes inactive, additional steps must be taken to reinstate it. If the ATR is inactive during a board certification cycle, the BC distinction is suspended until reinstatement. If both ATR renewal and BC recertification lapse, the only way to regain board certification is by retaking and passing the ATCB Exam.

ATR-BC Recertification (Every Five Years)

Important: Annual ATR renewal must be completed before the recertification application.

Changes to the ATCB Exam

• In 2025, the ATCB Exam will reflect updates from the 2022 job analysis survey of 1,000+ credentialed art therapists.
• In 2026, recertification standards will be updated accordingly. New requirements for 2026 were released in 2024.

Recertification Process

Board Certification must be recertified every five years.

Recertification requires:

• Completion of 100 qualifying Continuing Education Credits (CECs) within the five-year certification cycle
• Compliance with required content areas (art therapy-specific, ethics and supervision)
• Submission of the recertification application through the MyATCB portal
• Payment of the $100 recertification fee

Alternatively, credential holders may retake and pass the ATCB Exam in place of earning CECs.

A 30-day grace period (July 1–31) allows for late recertification with a $30 late fee.

The recertification deadline is listed in the MyATCB system.

CE Management & Documentation

All CECs must be entered directly into the MyATCB recertification application. Handwritten CE tracker forms are not accepted.

At least 10% of recertifying ATR-BC credential holders are audited annually.

Acceptable documentation includes:

• Academic transcripts
• Certificates of attendance
• Other proof as outlined in the recertification standards

Credential holders are responsible for maintaining accurate records and ensuring CE entries are properly categorized.

If Required CECs Are Not Completed

If recertification requirements are not completed by the end of the five-year cycle, the following options may be available:

• Apply for a recertification extension (up to 3 months, $50 fee; maximum of two extensions per cycle)
• Retake and pass the ATCB Exam ($275 fee; a passing score results in automatic recertification)
• Apply for Deferred ($25 fee)
• Relinquish Board Certification by submitting a statement of relinquishment to ATCB via Contact Us Form. 

If the five-year certification cycle ends without recertification, the Board Certification distinction becomes inactive and cannot be reinstated except by retaking and passing the ATCB Exam.

Appeals & Reinstatement

• If a recertification application was not completed, credential holders may appeal to the Board of Appeals for reconsideration. Appeal policies and procedures are available on the Ethics and Appeal page.
• If an appeal is denied, the only way to regain Board Certification is by retaking and passing the ATCB Exam.
• If the ATCB Exam fee creates financial hardship, credential holders may contact ATCB Headquarters to request consideration by the Board of Directors.