Subject Matter Experts

Updated February 2025

Being a Subject Matter Expert (SME) is a professional service opportunity. SME participation provides a unique experience to work with a diverse group of passionate professionals and contribute to continued excellence in art therapy. Engaging in developing art therapy standards,  assessments, and programs will immediately impact the standards required to be credentialed with the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). Because the ATCB programs (credential, certification, and examination) are made for art therapists by art therapists, The ATCB needs SMEs to provide expertise. Serving as an SME qualifies as continuing art therapy professional development that can be used toward the continuing education requirement for board certification.

SME Requirements:

  • Credential: Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC)
  • Examination: Passing score on the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCB Exam)
  • Not involved in test prep or other educational and/or required training for the BC
  • SMEs shall not serve simultaneously on the American Art Therapy Association board or the Education Accrediting Entities committees.
    1. Education Committee
    2. Education Accrediting Entities
    3. Ethics Committee

Additionally, SMEs cannot serve on the board of any art therapy-related credentialing agency, membership association, state licensing board, or similar entity.

SME responsibilities are specific to the assigned role. Overall, SMEs are responsible for attending meetings, actively participating during the meetings to provide expertise, and ensuring test security protocols are followed at all times, including, but not limited to, maintaining confidentiality and not participating in the development of test preparation content.

Becoming a SME

Interested SME candidates should complete this form. 

March 2024 Updates and Reminders

MyATCB Portal Updates

Updates for Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) Credential Holders

The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) has separated the ATR and BC into distinct management portals:

  • The annual renewal application is now in the ATR portal.
  • The recertification application and CE tracker are in the Board Certification portal.*

*Recertification applications are available only when the ATR-BC five-year certification cycle is ending.

Learn more


Annual Renewal of Credentials

Notice!

The annual renewal period for the credential year July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 begins on April 1, 2024.

The following credentials must be renewed to remain active:

  • Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P)
  • Registered Art Therapist (ATR)
  • Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS)

Notifications and reminders will be sent to the email listed in MyATCB portals. Please ensure your contact information is up to date.

Annual renewal applications open April 1, 2024 and close on June 30, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST. A 30-day grace period in July allows late renewals, but a $30 late fee applies in addition to the $100 annual maintenance fee.

Credentials not renewed by July 31, 2024, will become inactive and require reinstatement.

Learn more about credential maintenance.


Board Recertification

Notice!

ATR-BC credential holders with a board certification cycle of July 1, 2019 – July 1, 2024 must complete recertification by July 1, 2024 to extend their certification for another five years.

Recertification applications are available in the Board Certification portal within MyATCB, opening April 1, 2024 and closing on June 30, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST.

Important: CE trackers in the Board Certification portal are not recertification applications.

  • Annual ATR renewal must be completed first.
  • Once ATR renewal is completed, the recertification application becomes available.

A 30-day grace period in July allows late recertification, with a $30 late fee in addition to the $100 annual recertification fee.

Failure to recertify by the end of the certification cycle will invalidate the Board Certification (BC) distinction.

Learn more about board certification requirements.


Reminder: Changes to ATR, Retirement, and Reinstatement

Effective July 1, 2024, updates will apply to:

  • Registered Art Therapist Credential (ATR)
  • Retiring credentials
  • Reinstating inactive credentials

Review the full details of these changes on the ATCB website.


Occupational Information Network (O*NET®)

The O*NET Data Collection Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is seeking input from expert Art Therapists. As a free resource for job seekers, employers, educators, and students, O*NET provides vital occupational data.

O*NET Description of Art Therapists: Plan or conduct art therapy sessions or programs to improve clients’ physical, cognitive, or emotional well-being.

Who Qualifies as an O*NET Expert?

  • At least one year of professional experience as an Art Therapist.
  • A minimum of five years combined experience in practice, training, teaching, or supervising art therapists.
  • Active engagement in the field and U.S.-based.

How to Participate

If you meet these criteria, contact Jessica Fairley at RTI International, the O*NET data collection contractor:

Participation Incentive

A randomly selected group of experts will be invited to complete questionnaires. Those who participate will receive:

  • A $40 VISA gift code
  • An oak-framed Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Labor

We encourage credential holders to contribute to ensuring accurate, up-to-date information about the art therapy profession.


Updating Changes to the ATCB

As stated in the Code of Ethics, Standards, and Conduct (Section 3.2.2), credential holders must notify the ATCB within 60 days of any of the following:

  • Change in name, address, or phone number.
  • Filing of an indictment, charge, or complaint (excluding traffic offenses) with any legal or regulatory authority.
  • Any litigation involving allegations of professional negligence or misconduct, including final judgments, dismissals, deferred adjudications, convictions, guilty pleas, or disciplinary sanctions.

Important: Credential holders must update contact information in their MyATCB portal to ensure they receive important communications. The ATCB is not responsible for credential impacts due to incorrect contact information.

Ethics issues should be reported immediately to ethics@atcb.org rather than waiting for annual renewal.

View MyATCB portal FAQs on the ATCB website.

Changes in MyATCB portals

Changes in MyATCB portals

***The above photo is an EXAMPLE of how the changes will be reflected in MyATCB portals. All Registered Art Therapist (ATR) with Board Certified (BC) distinction should refer to the expiration dates reflected in their specific portals ***

The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) has split the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) and Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) into separate management portals.

  • All annual renewal applications are located in the ATR portal.
  • All recertification applications and CE trackers are located in the Board Certification portal.*

*Recertification applications are available only when the ATR with BC distinction five-year certification cycle is ending.

FAQs and directions on completing renewals, recertification, and other MyATCB processes are here. 

 

 

Credential changes, updates and reminders 

Changes to Registered Art Therapist (ATR) Requirements

Effective 12:00 AM EST on July 1, 2024, all new Registered Art Therapist (ATR) applicants must be ATR-P in good standing and meet the registration standards.

The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) will allow a grace period for all ATR applications submitted before July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST. These applications must be completed by June 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.

Application Requirements:

  1. Official Academic Transcript
  2. Verification of Post-Education Experience
  3. Three References

Incomplete ATR applications after this deadline will automatically convert to Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) applications.

 


 

Credential Retirement Ending

Effective July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST, the ATCB will no longer offer credential retirement.

Key Updates:

  • “Annual Retired” credentials must convert to “Lifetime Retired” or be reinstated by June 30, 2024.
  • “Lifetime Retired” credentials can be reinstated no later than June 30, 2025.
  • After July 1, 2025, permanently retired credentials will require a new application under current ATCB standards.

 


 

Changes to Reinstatement of Inactive Credentials

Effective July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST, inactive credentials will have one year (July 1 – June 30) to be reinstated.

Reinstatement Policy:

  • Reinstatement fee: $250
  • Failure to reinstate within one year results in permanent inactive status.
  • Each credential can be reinstated up to three times.
  • All reinstatement applications remain valid for six months.

 


 

Appeals Policy

Appeals must be submitted within 30 days of receiving notice of inactive status, credential denial, or certification changes.

Following the expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023, the final opportunity to appeal pandemic-related credential impacts is March 16, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST.

Appeals will be reviewed at the first quarterly meeting of 2024.

 


 

Verifications

The ATCB provides official verification of:

  • Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCB Exam) Scores
  • Credential Standing
  • Supervision Hours

A $25 fee applies to verification requests. Requests must include the original name used on the application or examination and must be submitted via the MyATCB portal.

 


 

ATCB Examination

The Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCB Exam) Administration Policy provides candidates with:

  • A six-month testing window.
  • Testing at an approved center or via remote proctoring.
  • Up to three testing attempts per calendar year*.

*A 90-day waiting period applies between exam attempts.

Candidates applying for state licensure should use the State Licensure application in the MyATCB portal and provide an authorization-to-test letter from the state board.

The ATCB Exam is required for licensure in Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York.

All exam applications are non-refundable and non-transferable.

 


 

Updating Changes to the ATCB

As per the Code of Ethics, Standards, and Conduct (Section 3.2.2), credential holders must notify the ATCB within 60 days of:

  • Changes to name, address, or phone number.
  • Filing of an indictment, charge, or complaint (excluding traffic offenses).
  • Litigation involving allegations of professional negligence or misconduct.

Important: Contact details must be updated in the MyATCB portal. The ATCB is not responsible for credential impacts due to outdated information.

Ethics issues should be reported immediately by completing the Statement of Conduct Compliance Form.

 

Reinstatement of Inactive Credentials Update

Effective July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST, all inactive credentials will have one year (July 1 – June 30) to complete the reinstatement process and restore the credential to active status.

Reinstatement Fee:
Effective July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST, the reinstatement fee is $250.

If a credential is not reinstated within one year of becoming inactive, the credential (and assigned credential number) will be permanently inactive. To comply with data privacy and protection regulations, the ATCB will not hold personally identifiable information in MyATCB portals for inactive credentials for longer than one year. Anyone wishing to practice art therapy with an ATCB credential that is permanently inactive must reapply under the credential standards in effect at the time of application.

Reinstatement Policy

  • All reinstatement applications are valid for six months from the date of submission.
  • A credential may be reinstated a maximum of three times.