Jan 30, 2024 | Uncategorized
Effective July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST, the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) will discontinue the retirement of credentials. Credential holders who wish to use an ATCB credential to practice art therapy must maintain an active credential. This change aligns with NCCA accreditation requirements and supports ATCB’s mission to protect the public by ensuring competent and ethical practice in art therapy.
Impact on Current Credential Holders
Current “Annual Retired” and “Lifetime Retired” credential holders will be affected by this change.
- Annual Retired credentials must be converted to Lifetime Retired or reinstated by June 30, 2024, at 11:59 AM EST. Requests must be made to the ATCB Executive Director, LeeAnn Mandrillo.
- Lifetime Retired credentials can be reinstated no later than June 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.
Credential holders who wish to reinstate must notify ATCB Executive Director, LeeAnn Mandrillo.
Renewal and Recertification
Once removed from retirement, the credential must be renewed under the standard renewal process. If the credential carries the Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) distinction, recertification must also be completed according to standard procedures.
Final Deadline for Retired Credentials
- Annual Retired credentials not reinstated by July 1, 2025, will become inactive.
- Any credential retired after July 1, 2025, will remain permanently retired. Individuals wishing to practice art therapy with a retired credential will need to apply for a new credential under current ATCB standards.
Jan 30, 2024 | Credential Updates, News
Effective July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST, the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) will discontinue the current Registered Art Therapist (ATR) application process.
As of July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST, individuals must first obtain Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) status to become an ATR. This change applies only to new Registered Art Therapist (ATR) applicants and does not impact current ATR credential holders.
The ATCB will allow a grandfathering period for all Registered Art Therapist (ATR) applications submitted before July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST:
- If an applicant is collecting supervision hours and does not hold an Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) credential, they must submit an ATR application before July 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST for those hours to be accepted.
- Alternatively, individuals may apply for Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) status instead.
- The ATCB will accept supervision hours from the date of application submission.
Application Requirements
A completed application must meet the Registration Standards and include:
- Official Academic Transcript
- Verification of Post-Education Experience
- Three Professional References
Any Registered Art Therapist (ATR) application not completed by June 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST, will automatically convert to an Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) application.
Annual Credential Assessment
The ATCB reviews credential and certification programs annually. Any further changes resulting from this assessment will be communicated promptly.
Need Assistance?
Please review the FAQs for more details. For further clarification about Registered Art Therapist (ATR) requirements, contact the ATCB.
Jun 28, 2023 | Latest News
Have your work seen by our 10,000+ readers and art therapists from around the world!
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work and connect with a new audience to elevate your incredible talent!
All artwork submitted must be original and created by the contributing art therapist who either holds an ATCB credential or is an art therapy graduate student. No client artwork should be submitted.
For formatting purposes: Photographic reproduction of the artwork must be square in format.
Submission Guidelines:
- Medium: Artist’s choice
- Dimensions: Square, any size (e.g., 4″x4″, 6″x6″)
- File Format: JPG or PNG, minimum resolution of 650×650 pixels
*Note: Images may be modified for display purposes.
Artists must submit their artwork via email following the requirements above. Multiple submissions are allowed.
Submission Details:
- Include your name and ATCB credential or university program (if a student).
- Attach a photograph of the artwork.
- Provide the title, medium, and original dimensions of the piece.
By submitting your artwork, you grant ATCB permission to use your artwork in electronic and print media. Entry submission denotes acceptance of these terms. The ATCB will credit each artist for their work.
Please submit your images to the ATCB National Office.
Jun 28, 2023 | Latest News
Message from the President
Welcome, all credential holders, new and renewed! On behalf of the Board, I am proud to present the Summer 2023 Newsletter. This is an exciting newsletter to share, and I hope it helps inform of the changes underway at the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). Inside you will find an update on the new examination provider and procedure(s), information on ways to connect with the ATCB, and opportunities to volunteer with the ATCB. We are committed to improving accessibility for credential holders to manage and maintain their credentials and upholding our mission to protect the public through the rigorous credentialing process.
Reminder: the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) credential and certification year ends June 30, 2023[X1] . The new credential year will begin on July 1, 2023. To complete your annual credential renewal, log into your MyATCB portal before June 30, 2023. Remember, renewal and recertification are separate processes with separate applications. If you are Board Certified, complete your renewal application as well as your five-year recertification application (if your five-year cycle ends on July 1, 2023).
For the past three years, the ATCB has been working to modernize operations and implement upgrades to ensure our board certification program complies with the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA). As of April 1, 2023, the ATCB established a new national office under its own management. We have worked to minimize the impacts of this transition. We look forward to having dedicated ATCB staff, and we look forward to our partnership with Prometric, ATCB’s testing provider, which includes an expanded range of services and exam program enhancements. The content outline for the exam that will take effect in 2025 reflects 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 current art therapy practice, including work behaviors and tasks, client populations, media/materials, diagnostic categories, ethical issues, and work settings. Thank you to all who participated in the job analysis!
The Board of Directors continues identifying structural areas of the ATCB requiring review. One area we are working on are the registration standards for the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credential. These standards were to undergo an audit in 2022. Because of the disruptive nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board opted to pause the audit of the registration standards. This work will resume with the new credential year beginning July 1, 2023. The Board has created an Ad Hoc committee of art therapists to help review the current registration standards and identify gaps and/or areas needing revision. While this review is being conducted, the ATCB will continue to allow 1:1 group supervision hours.
Finally, volunteers are the fuel that powers the Art Therapy Credential Board. The ATCB offers a variety of ways to get involved, from short-term volunteer projects to committee, panel, and board service. With every new volunteer, The ATCB grows more energized, more diverse and inclusive, and better equipped to reach our common goal to ensure the highest caliber of our practice and the oversight of credential holders’ competent and ethical practice of art therapy. To meet the needs of our credential holders, applicants, and examinees, I hope you will consider volunteering with the ATCB! Please contact LeeAnn Mandrillo, leeann@atcb if interested!
Sincerely,
Ruth Xilomen Rios, LMFT, ATR-BC, ATCS
President
ATCB New Home:
Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc.
2941 Battleground Ave
PO Box 38726
Greensboro, NC 27438
Dec 22, 2021 | Latest News
Dear Credential Holders,
In preparation for the anticipated changes in the NCCA accreditation standards and the upcoming job analysis, the Art Therapy Credentials Board of Directors has updated policies and practices. Below are changes that will affect those applying for Registered Art Therapist (ATR), Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P), Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS), and all credential holders collecting continuing education credits to maintain their board certification (BC).
- The registration standards for the registered art therapist credential (ATR) will undergo assessment in 2022. Beginning July 1, 2022, all ATR-P and ATR applications will undergo an education review for six months as part of this review process.
- The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) will be conducting a job analysis. Part of the process of creating a professional exam requires that a “job analysis” be performed by surveying currently practicing professionals about the knowledge and skills they use in real-world practice. According to psychometric best practices, the ATCB conducts a job analysis every five years. This study provides a basis for the ongoing revision of the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATBC Exam) and ensures currency and relevance in the examination content. To learn more about the ATCB Exam, click here.
- All Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) must include six continuing education credits in supervision to recertify. In addition, six continuing education credits in ethics continue to be required. As a significant number of ATR-BC’s report supervising individuals who seek the ATR, the Art Therapy Credentials Board ruled it necessary that all ATR-BC’s have the knowledge and skills to supervise competently. This affects all credential holders who will need to recertify by June 30, 2023, and after. Anyone recertifying in 2022 should refer to the standards in their MyATCB portal.
*Please note that additional changes may be likely when the updated NCCA standards are released. The Art Therapy Credentials Board will communicate further changes.
Also important reminders:
- If you have called and left a voicemail, please respond to this email with the information or the inquiry you left in your voicemail. Unfortunately, the National Office cannot reply to voice messages that have no identifiable information or are inaudible.
- REMINDER: For any potential ATCS applicant wishing to utilize the previous application standards, the grandfathering period will end on December 31, 2021. To use these standards, all interested applicants must submit their applications by December 31, 2021. Beginning January 2022, all ATCS applicants must apply under the current standards. Additional information about the ATCS can be found here.
Please be sure you regularly visit the Art Therapy Credentials Board website, credential handbooks, recertification standards, and MyATCB portal- including the credential files and the communications tab. The Art Therapy Credentials Board has minimized “e-blasts” for your electronic protection and does not send paper notices.
Application inquires: applications@atcb.org
Board inquiries: president@atcb.org
Ethics inquiries: ethics@atcb.org
Examination inquiries: exams@atcb.org
*The NCCA’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs were the first standards developed by the credentialing industry for professional certification programs. The NCCA Standards were developed to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public. They highlight the essential elements of a high-quality program.
Retrieved from: https://www.credentialingexcellence.org/Accreditation/Earn-Accreditation/NCCA
