Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC):
The Art Therapy Credentials Board is excited to announce the exam program will resume on June 15, 2023,
and our new partnership with Prometric!
ATCB has partnered with Prometric to facilitate Board Certification and State Licensure Exams. With this transition in testing providers, Art Therapy Board Credentials Board Exams will be:
Accessible– Worldwide testing centers, an option for at-home testing, and accommodations to ensure equal access, taking the ATCBE is now more accessible than ever.
Secure – Testing centers are equipped with the technology and infrastructure to deliver online exams smoothly and without interruptions. Security measures are employed to ensure the integrity of the testing process.
Flexible – Applicants can choose the testing date, time, and location that works best for them. Additionally, candidates who need to test again no longer need to wait until their original 6-month testing window is over and can take the exam up to three times a year. Scrap paper and water are allowed during exams.
Timely – Results within an hour of exam completion.
Complete your board certification; additional information about the next steps in the scheduling process will be sent to you upon application approval.
We appreciate your patience as we continue our upgrades to modernize and enhance operations to ensure the highest caliber of our practice and the oversight of credential holders’ competent and ethical practice of art therapy. And to meet better the needs of our credential holders, applicants, and examinees.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at certifications@atcb.org or exams@atcb.org.
Board certification is an additional assurance registered art therapists take to demonstrate knowledge and application of the latest advancements in Art Therapy. To receive board certification, candidates must demonstrate minimum knowledge in areas through the National Art Therapy Credentials Board examination passages. In addition, board-certified registered art therapists must renew the ATR credential annually and satisfy all educational and experiential requirements and an ongoing professional commitment to art therapy. This is accomplished through the board recertification process, which requires the completion of 100 continuing education credits every five years. The recertification process enables board-certified registered art therapists to keep pace with current scientific evidence regarding assessment, intervention, education, and important legal, statutory, or regulatory issues. Achieving and maintaining certification increases competencies to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.
For information regarding test dates, registration deadlines, and fees, please refer to the ATCB Examinations webpage.
Once a Registered Art Therapist (ATR), you may apply to carry the Board Certified (BC) distinction with your ATR credential.
Board Certification provides:
- The highest distinction you can earn as an art therapist.
- Assurance to employers, clients, and the public that you have met rigorous standards.
- A portable certification from state to state and accredited by the National Commission on Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
In addition, Board Certification is a widely recognized professional designation of the major health and educational professions in the United States. The Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCBE) is a reliable and valid tool used by the licensing boards of several states.
Becoming a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) is the first step toward earning the ATR-BC. Only ATRs are qualified to become board-certified. If you have a current ATR credential, applying for Board Certification requires no additional education. If you have not yet earned your ATR designation, take those steps first. Any current ATR may apply to take the ATCBE for board certification.
To earn the BC, you must pass the national examination, demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the theories and clinical skills used in art therapy, and provide services within the ethical guidelines of the ATCB Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures.
The Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCBE) is a national exam taken for Board Certification. If approved, applicants have a six-month testing window and can take the exam up to three times per calendar year. The ATCBE is offered throughout the year via Prometric and is available via remote proctoring (at-home testing) or at testing centers around the world.
The fee is $275. The application fee for the board certification exam is non-refundable and non-transferable. This fee covers the administrative costs of the examination and the application review. All exam candidates must work with the ATCB testing provider Prometric to schedule the exam, and any “no-show” for the exam must reapply to take the exam through this same application process. Sharing information obtained from taking the examination with others violates the ATCB Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures and could also result in legal action.
Prometric provides score reporting within hours of ATCBE completion. However, this is an unofficial exam report. The ATCB processes all exam results within 7-10 business days and uploads them to the examinee’s MYATCB accounts.
While ATCB does not provide or endorse study materials, we offer a preparation guide to assist prospective examinees.
If you apply for the ATCBE for board certification and wish to have examination scores sent to state licensure boards, a formal verification request is required for the ATCB to release scores. The verification request can be found in an applicant’s MYATCB portal.
If you are a Registered Art Therapist in good standing and have already passed the ATCB Board Certification Exam (ATCBE) as part of your state licensure in the past five years (60 months), you may apply for Board Certification using your passing ATCBE score. You must apply online and have taken and passed the ATCBE for state licensure within the preceding five years (60) months before submitting your application. The application fee is $75. Click here to apply online.
After you receive official notification that you have been approved for the ATR-BC credential, you are entitled to use the designation ATR-BC. Credential holders, employers, verification agencies, and consumers may obtain free online verification of all ATCB credentials and certifications using the national registry found here.
Official verifications of credential status can be obtained by completing a verification request in the MyATCB portals. Verifications are for credential status and examination scores only.
The ATCB credential year is July 1- June 30. Once approved, you may use the ATR-BC professional designation for the remainder of your approved credential year. Compliance with the ATCB Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures and the annual maintenance fee of $100 is required to maintain registration as an art therapist (ATR).To maintain the ATR credential, annual renewals are required, in which credential holders complete a formal attestation that they comply with the ATCB Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures.
Five-year recertification (BC) and annual credential renewal (ATR) 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).
Any credential that is not renewed will become inactive. Learn more about maintaining credentials.
If you have any questions about the application or credentialing process, please contact us at applications@atcb.org.