Apr 14, 2025 | Credential Updates
We’ve received a number of questions recently about the updated recertification standards (announced in June of 2024), and we want to take a moment to clarify a few important points to avoid any further confusion.
First, it’s important to distinguish between recertification standards and registration standards—these are two separate processes that serve different purposes.
The updated recertification standards apply only to individuals who hold the Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) certification and are completing their 5-year recertification cycle.
The updated registration standards apply to those obtaining their Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) and Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credentials. To learn more about the updated registration standards and when they go into effect, visit the ATCB website.
Effective Date
The new recertification requirements, including updated continuing education (CE) categories, will apply to those whose current certification period ends on or after June 30, 2026.
Example:
- If your certification period ends June 30, 2025, you’ll recertify under the current standards.
- If your certification period ends June 30, 2026 or later, you’ll follow the updated standards.
Updated CE requirements for certification periods ending June 30, 2026, and later:
- 50 CE credits in art therapy-specific content
- 6 CE credits in ethics
- 6 CE credits in supervision
Why Are 50 CE Credits Required to Be Art Therapy-Specific?
The Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) is a professional certification in art therapy. It is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which requires that all continuing education used for recertification directly support ongoing competence in the specific field of certification. For ATR-BCs, that field is art therapy.
To meet this requirement, continuing education activities must align with the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCB Exam) content outline, developed through a national job analysis completed by practicing art therapists. This outline defines the essential knowledge and skill areas in art therapy and informs both the exam and recertification requirements.
Requiring at least 50 CE credits in art therapy-specific content helps to:
- Ensure that certified professionals remain current in core art therapy practices
- Support the integrity of the ATR-BC credential as a specialized certification
- Reflect the art therapy-specific nature of the board exam
- Meet the standards required for continued NCCA accreditation
- Provide assurance to the public and employers that board-certified art therapists are maintaining competence in their professional discipline
At the same time, we recognize the value of a broader foundation. That’s why the remaining 50 CE credits may be earned through ATCB Eligible Content Areas, including counseling, clinical theory, and other related topics that support holistic practice.
This approach balances the need for specialization with the flexibility to support diverse professional development pathways.
You can review the 2025 ATCB Exam content outline for more details.
Quick Comparison
| Category | Current Standards | Updated Standards |
|---|
| Applies to | ATR-BCs whose certification ends June 30, 2025 | ATR-BCs whose certification ends June 30, 2026 or after |
| Recertification requirements | Total CEs: 100 - 6 hours in Ethics
- 6 hours in Supervision
Art methods/techniques (non-therapeutic) capped at 10 CECs/cycle
Juried art exhibition: 1 show or 10 CECs/cycle | Total CEs: 100 - 50 CE credits in art therapy-specific content
- 6 CE credits in Ethics
- 6 CE credits in Supervision
Art methods/techniques (non-therapeutic) capped at 10 CECs/cycle
Juried art exhibition: 1 show or 10 CECs/cycle |
| Approved Areas for Continuing Education Content | - Theoretical Approaches
- Facilitate Treatment
- Administer and Evaluate Art Therapy and Art-Based Assessments
- Professional Practice and Ethical Responsibilities
- Professional Development and Research
- Administrative Functions and Program Management
| - Theoretical Approaches
- Facilitate Treatment
- Administer and Evaluate Art Therapy and Art-Based Assessments
- Professional Practice and Ethical Responsibilities
- Professional Development and Research
- Administrative Functions and Program Management
|
| Accepted Courses and Events | Continuing Education Credits (CECs) will be accepted for all courses or events that fall within the ATCB Eligible Content Areas and are presented or approved by any of the following entities for continuing education credit in art therapy, mental health, or behavioral sciences: - State Licensing Authorities
- National Professional Organizations
- National Credentialing Bodies
| Continuing Education Credits (CECs) will be accepted for all courses or events that fall within the ATCB Eligible Content Areas and are presented or approved by any of the following entities for continuing education credit in art therapy, mental health, or behavioral sciences: - State Licensing Authorities
- National Professional Organizations
- National Credentialing Bodies
|
If you have questions about your specific recertification period or continuing education options, please contact us.
Mar 31, 2025 | Credential Updates, Latest News, News
Important Update: We’ve corrected a requirement listed on this page as of April 9, 2025. Please review the updated criteria carefully if you viewed this page before that date.
Registration Standards Updates
After completing the job analysis in 2022 and commencing independent operations in 2023, the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) began reviewing the registration standards for both our provisional and full registration credentials and the recertification standards for board certification. In 2024, we announced changes to the recertification standards that will take effect in 2026. Today, we are also announcing updates to our registration standards, which will take effect in 2026.
Starting at 12:00am EST on January 1, 2026, the following registration standards will go into effect.
The Application Process
Effective July 1, 2025, applicants can upload official (with official watermark) transcripts into the Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) application.
Applications with unofficial transcripts will not undergo an official review until an official transcript is provided.
Effective January 1, 2026, all applications expire within one year of submission. However, additional time is granted for any candidate who needs extra time to meet education requirements and will be given a further 90 days.
Safeguarding applicant and credential holder data is crucial for the ATCB. Application materials often include personally identifiable information; storing these materials for extended periods in portals can result in data security breaches and privacy violations.
Education Requirements
Effective January 1, 2026, the ATCB will align the education standards for the ATR-P credential with the ACATE Curriculum Competency Requirements for educational programs in art therapy. Beginning on this date, all qualifying education for the credential must be completed within 10 years of the application date.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is the leader in health sciences and health professions education accreditation. CAAHEP works with 25 Committees on Accreditation (CoAs) to review and accredit programs. The CoAs review programs’ self-studies, coordinate site visits, and formulate accreditation recommendations. The CoA for art therapy is the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE), which sets standards for art therapy education programs. ACATE recently conducted a comprehensive review of education standards for art therapy, with the contributions of art therapy educators. The ATCB has determined that beginning January 1, 2026, the education standards for the ATR-P credential will align with the ACATE Curriculum Competency Requirements for Educational Programs as the ATCB standards for art therapy education. The ACATE standards are located here.
The ATCB will continue the education review process for applicants from programs not accredited by CAAHEP. The 60n credited hour is not a requirement for these programs, we review core content of the coursework for alignment to CAAHEP requirements. Studio/art verification will be part of the education review process.
Practicum and Internship must be completed within a structured art therapy practicum/internship course for graduate credit. The instructor of record for the internship/practicum course must be a current Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) or Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS).
- A minimum of 700 hours of supervised art therapy practicum/internship, including a minimum of 350 hours of direct client provision of art therapy services to individuals, groups, or families. The remaining hours may include supervision, case review, record-keeping, preparation, staff meetings, and other administrative tasks.
- Supervision hours must be overseen and documented as such: individual (1:1) supervision hours must be accrued at a ratio of one hour of supervision for every ten hours of practicum/internship or group (two or more supervisees per supervisor) supervision must be accrued at a ratio of one and one-half hours of supervision for every ten hours of practicum/internship. A minimum of 70 individual or 105 group supervision hours is required.
Supervision Requirements
The ATCB will not accept supervision in increments of less than 10 hours. Group supervision will be accepted at 1:1, with no more than six supervises per group.
- Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited programs must complete 1,000 hours of direct client contact, including 50 hours of supervision by a Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC). The remaining hours must be completed by an Registered Art Therapist (ATR) or a fully licensed or credentialed practitioner with a master’s degree or higher in art therapy or a related mental health field and whose license/credential is for independent practice. Automatically acceptable related fields are counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, psychology, addictions counseling, psychiatric nursing, and psychiatry. Graduates of post-master certificate programs from accredited institutions must also adhere to these standards.
- For applicants coming from non-accredited master’s programs, including international programs, the requirement remains at 1,000 hours of direct client contact. However, these candidates must have 150 hours of supervision, with 75 hours provided by an ATR-BC. The remaining hours must be completed by an ATR or a fully licensed or credentialed practitioner with a master’s degree or higher in art therapy or a related mental health field and whose license/credential is for independent practice. Automatically acceptable related fields are counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, psychology, addictions counseling, psychiatric nursing, and psychiatry.
References
The ATR-BC supervisor must submit one of the required three references for the application.
ATCB will accept professional references from non-mental health practitioners.
Aug 3, 2024 | Credential Updates
Notice: Reinstatement of Inactive Credentials
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: The reinstatement fee is $250, effective July 1, 2024.
Permanent Inactivation: If a credential is not reinstated within one year of becoming inactive, the credential (and assigned credential number) will be permanently inactive.
The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) will not hold onto personal data in inactive portals greater than one year to meet data security and privacy regulations.
Annual Renewal & Board Recertification
The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) credential year runs from July 1 – June 30. The windows for completing annual renewal and five-year board recertification are from April 1 – June 30.
Grace Period: A complimentary 30-day grace period (July 1 – July 30) is provided for those who did not complete renewal or recertification by June 30. Any credential not renewed by this time will become inactive. Any board certification not recertified will no longer be valid.
Inactive Credentials
Reinstatement
If a credential has become inactive, it can be reinstated. The following credentials are eligible for reinstatement:
- Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P)
- Registered Art Therapist (ATR)
- Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS)
Click HERE to review the reinstatement process
Loss of Board Certification
Board certification is a certification, not a credential. The only way to maintain certification is through the recertification process at the end of a five-year certification cycle or by retaking the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCB Exam) every five years.
If the five-year certification cycle has ended and a recertification application was not submitted, the BC distinction will no longer be valid. If recertification was not completed, you have the following options:
- Appeal to the Board of Appeals to reopen the recertification application. Appeal information is outlined here.
- Retake the ATCB Exam. The application for this is located in MyATCB portals. If the exam fee creates a financial hardship, contact the ATCB Headquarters for consideration by the Board of Directors.
Jul 25, 2024 | Credential Updates, Exam News, News
Updated: July 2024
Board Examination Updates
Starting at 12:00am EST on January 1, 2025, an updated content outline for the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCB Exam) will take effect. This new outline derives from the latest job analysis performed in 2022. The survey saw participation from over 1,000 licensed art therapists, offering a perspective on the present landscape of art therapy practice. It encompasses essential work behaviors, tasks, client demographics, utilized media/materials, diagnostic categories, ethical considerations, and work settings.
The examination will consist of 175 questions, completed in 3 hours and 30 minutes.
To preserve NCCA accreditation and guarantee a psychometrically sound examination, the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) will undertake a standard-setting process in February 2025. Consequently, examinations cannot be scheduled from the third week of February 2025 until the second week of March when this process is completed.
Invitation!
The ATCB invites 100 individuals to take the ATCB Exam at no cost in January 2025. If interested in this opportunity, please complete this form.
The Art Therapy Credentials Board seeks Subject Matter Experts to standardize the new examination content outline and contribute to its development. If interested in this opportunity, please complete this form.
Read more and access the new content outline.
Board Certification Updates
The recertification Standards are updated to align with the ATCB Exam content outline implemented on January 1, 2025. These updates include the following continuing education requirements:
- Fifty (50) continuing education credits, which are art therapy-specific
- Six (6) continuing education credits in ethics
- Six (6) continuing education credits in supervision
The ATCB will provide a one-year transition period for implementing the updated recertification guidelines. The new continuing education requirements will become mandatory for all Board Certified Registered Art Therapists (ATR-BC) with board certification periods ending on June 30, 2026, and after. The 2025 recertification standards will be released in the coming weeks.
Authorized Art Therapy Continuing Education (AATCE) Provider Program
The ATCB will officially sanction AATCE providers to offer Learning CE events to Registered Art Therapists with board certification (ATR-BC).
The AATCE program is pivotal in the ATCB’s dedication to excellence, as demonstrated by the mandate of 50 art therapy continuing education credits out of the 100 required for board certification renewal. Providers authorized by the ATCB to offer AATCE courses can issue Continuing Art Therapy Education (CATE) credits to ATR-BC holders for recertification. Ongoing education in art therapy is crucial to ensure that practices remain aligned with the latest evidence and best practices. Over the coming weeks, the ATCB will share additional information about the AATCE program. Stay tuned!
Application Submissions
The ATCB has transitioned to digital applications in 2021. Emailed application materials are no longer accepted. Transcripts must be dispatched using the digital platforms adopted by higher education institutions.*
* The ATCB will allow mailed transcripts for a few institutions due to institutional changes in these art therapy programs.
Application materials often contain personally identifiable information; emailing them can lead to data security breaches and privacy violations. Protecting applicant and credential holder data is of the utmost importance to the ATCB. Consult the ATCB website to understand the application submission procedure. Thoroughly examining and following the requirements will avoid application review delays!
Meet our Staff
In 2023, the ATCB shifted from employing a management company for its operations and affairs to self-management. The Board of Directors and various special committees are diligently constructing new headquarters and refining operations. We have hired new staff and revamped workflows. Please take a moment to review these workflow changes and meet our staff.
Mar 29, 2024 | Credential Updates
***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.
Feb 20, 2024 | Credential Updates, Exam News, Latest News, News
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:
- Official Academic Transcript
- Verification of Post-Education Experience
- 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.
