The ATCB℠ Registry represents an important step in advancing visibility, transparency, and public trust in the art therapy profession.

Designed as a centralized, publicly accessible database, the registry will allow individuals, employers, and organizations to identify and verify qualified, credentialed art therapists. As ATCB℠ continues to enhance this tool, its effectiveness depends on the accuracy and completeness of credential holder profiles.

New Registry Features

The ATCB Registry introduces several new features designed to improve visibility, usability, and connection across the profession:

• Profile photos to support professional representation and recognition
• Enhanced search functionality, including the ability to search by credential, certification, and Authorized Art Therapy Continuing Education Provider (AATCEP℠)
• Supervision visibility, allowing users to identify credential holders who are available to provide art therapy supervision

Your Role in the Registry

As a credential holder, your profile is how you are represented within the registry. Maintaining accurate and up-to-date information helps ensure that those seeking qualified art therapists can find and connect with you based on your preferred level of visibility.

We encourage all credential holders to log into their MyATCB℠ account to review and update their profile information, including:

• Contact details
• Office location for search visibility
• Registry display preferences
• Optional profile photo

Prepare for Public Launch

The Registry is currently in a beta phase as ATCB continues to refine and improve functionality over the next year. Taking time now to update your profile helps ensure the registry is accurate and effective when it becomes publicly accessible.

To support you in this process, a step-by-step tutorial is available to guide you through reviewing and updating your profile.

Strengthening the Profession Together

By maintaining accurate and complete information, you are contributing to a stronger, more visible, and more accessible art therapy profession—supporting public understanding and confidence in credentialed care.

To ensure timely, secure, and equitable responses, the Contact ATCB Form is the primary and only method for submitting inquiries to ATCB.

Over time—and especially during high-volume periods—we have seen a significant increase in duplicate submissions across multiple channels, including repeated submissions to both forms, multiple entries of the same request, and direct emails to staff. While we understand that many credential holders and applicants are seeking timely support, these patterns have led to increased delays in response times for the entire community.

To ensure fairness and consistency, all inquiries must be submitted through a single, centralized system where they can be reviewed and responded to in the order received.

Effective immediately, the MyATCB Support Request Form is no longer active. All inquiries—including credentialing, renewal, recertification, application, and system-related questions—must be submitted through the Contact ATCB Form.

If you have already submitted a request through the MyATCB Support System, your inquiry will still be addressed in the order it was received. There is no need to resubmit.

Why ATCB Uses a Single Contact Method

ATCB is supported by a dedicated three-person staff serving more than 12,000 credential holders, applicants, and examination candidates. ATCB intentionally maintains a small, efficient team and will continue to do so whenever possible in order to avoid increasing fees while upholding rigorous credentialing standards.

A centralized contact process ensures that:

• every inquiry is handled fairly and in order
• response times are not impacted by duplicate or fragmented requests
• staff can focus on resolving inquiries rather than reconciling multiple submissions

When the same question is submitted more than once—or through multiple channels—it slows the process not only for that individual, but for others awaiting a response.

Email and Data Security Notice

As part of ATCB’s ongoing commitment to data security and privacy, most general ATCB email addresses were deactivated more than a year ago.

However, some external websites and third-party resources may still display outdated or incorrect contact information. As a result:

• Emails sent to these addresses may not be received or monitored
• Direct emails to staff are not part of ATCB’s official inquiry process
• Messages sent outside the Contact ATCB Form cannot be tracked or securely managed

All inquiries sent by email will be redirected to the Contact ATCB Form before they can be reviewed.

What This Means for You

To receive a response as efficiently as possible:

• Submit your inquiry once, through the Contact ATCB Form
• Avoid submitting duplicate requests or using multiple contact methods
• Allow time for your inquiry to be addressed in the order received

Our Commitment

ATCB remains committed to a process that is fair, transparent, and secure for all credential holders and applicants. Using a single point of contact allows us to serve the entire community responsibly—while maintaining accessibility and keeping costs stable.

We appreciate your cooperation and your role in supporting an efficient process for all.

A New Credentialing Year Begins

As we begin a new credentialing year, I’m reminded of the ongoing evolution of our profession—and the important role ATCB℠ plays in maintaining the integrity and relevance of art therapy credentials. This year marks my final term as ATCB℠ President, and I’m proud to see several key initiatives advancing that will help shape the future of credentialing for the years ahead.

Our 2025 ATCB℠ Survey is now open. While ATCB℠ is not a membership organization, this annual effort helps us better understand how credentialing intersects with professional realities in the field. I encourage all credential holders to complete the survey.

We’re also making meaningful progress on the modernization of our systems. An updated version of MyATCB℠ is in development and scheduled for release in 2026. These system improvements will streamline CE tracking, supervision documentation, and the renewal and recertification processes—while reinforcing our long-standing commitment to clarity, efficiency, and security.

This credentialing year brings exciting developments—including the launch of ATCB’s Continuing Education Provider Program, enhanced exam preparation opportunities, and expanded leadership and SME service roles. I invite you to explore the updates outlined below and consider how you might engage in the work ahead.

Finally, the 30-day grace period for renewal, recertification, and reinstatement is coming to a close. If your credential was not renewed by the June 30 deadline, you have until July 30 to take action before your status becomes Inactive. Also, updated recertification and registration standards take effect this credential year—if you have not reviewed these changes already, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new requirements.

Wishing you a successful and fulfilling credential year,

Cheryl Doby Copeland, PhD, ATR-BC®, LPAT, LPC, LMFT
President
Art Therapy Credentials Board

Coming this Credential Year

Continuing Education Provider Program Launch

ATCB℠ will soon launch a new approval program for CE providers and activities, designed to ensure continuing education aligns with credentialing standards. The program includes a two-step approval process and a two-year cycle.

More on the CE Provider Program ›

ATCB℠ Official Exam Preparation Opportunities

The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB℠) is committed to supporting candidates in their journey toward board certification. We are excited to share that new exam preparation opportunities will be launching in 2026!

While we aren’t ready to share all the details just yet, as we are in the final development stages—you can expect resources designed to help you feel more confident and prepared for the ATCB Exam®.

Stay tuned! We will be sharing more information in the coming months, including timelines and how you can participate.

To make sure you don’t miss any updates, please ensure your contact information is current in your MyATCB℠ account.

System Updates: MyATCB℠ Improvements Are Underway

ATCB℠ is in the process of modernizing systems to better serve the needs of credential holders. Guided by stakeholder insights and an external assessment, enhancements are being made to MyATCB℠ to streamline CE tracking, supervision documentation, renewal, and more.

An updated MyATCB℠ system is expected to launch in early 2026, and we’ll be sharing updates, tutorials, and transition tools along the way.

The 2025 ATCB℠ Survey Is Now Open

As part of ATCB’s commitment to maintaining relevant and effective credentialing standards, the 2025 ATCB℠ Survey is now open. This survey gathers information on professional trends related to credential advancement, supervision, access, and the role of certification in the evolving field of art therapy.

The survey is open for a limited time. Credential holders at every stage of their professional journey are encouraged to complete it.

Take the Survey

Call for Leaders and Subject Matter Experts

ATCB℠ is currently seeking qualified credential holders to serve in key leadership and subject matter expert (SME) roles. These volunteer opportunities support critical areas of our regulatory work and uphold the integrity of ATCB℠ credentials.

Opportunities are available in the following areas:

• Board of Directors
• Advisory Board
• Board of Appeals
• Taskforce: Supervision and Credentialing
• Continuing Education Program Review Panel
• Subject Matter Experts for Exam Development

Some roles require Board Certified Registered Art Therapist℠ (ATR-BC®) status, while others are open to Registered Art Therapists (ATR℠) and Provisional Registered Art Therapists (ATR-P®). Service with any of these roles may count toward CE requirements for board certification.

To learn more about eligibility and submit your interest, visit the links below:

Volunteer with ATCB℠ ›
Submit Interest Form ›

Reminders

Final Days: Grace Period Ends July 30

The 30-day grace period for renewal, recertification, and reinstatement is coming to a close. If your credential was not renewed by the June 30 deadline, you have until July 30 to take action before your status becomes Inactive.

A late fee applies during the grace period. Once inactive, the use of designations such as ATR-P®, ATR℠, ATR-BC®, or ATCS℠ is not permitted. Board certification (ATR-BC®) will also be forfeited if the ATR℠ credential becomes inactive.

Log in to MyATCB to complete any outstanding requirements before the deadline.

Questions? Contact LeeAnn Mandrillo, Executive Director at leeann@atcb.org, or submit an inquiry through the ATCB℠ Contact Form ›

Inactive Status Reminders

Credential holders who did not complete renewal, recertification, or reinstatement by June 30 are currently within the 30-day grace period, which ends July 30. After this date, eligible credentials (ATR-P®, ATR℠, ATCS℠) will move to Inactive Status.

While in Inactive or Temporary Inactive Status, use of the ATR-P®, ATR℠, ATR-BC®, or Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor℠ (ATCS℠) designation is not permitted in any professional context. This includes email signatures, social media, directories, and business communications.

Importantly, ATR-BC® whose ATR℠ becomes inactive will lose their Board Certified distinction.

Learn more about credential status policies and options for returning to active standing:
Understanding Inactive Status ›

2026 Recertification and Registration Standards Now Available

The updated 2026 Recertification Standards are now available for ATR-BC® whose current certification period ends on or after June 30, 2026. These include a requirement of 50 CEs in art therapy-specific content, along with ethics and supervision requirements.

If you’re unsure which standards apply to your certification cycle or why the art therapy-specific requirement is in place, please review our
Clarification on Recertification Standards Update.

We’ve also published revised Registration Standards for both the
ATR-P® and
ATR credentials. These updates provide important guidance for new applicants and supervisors.