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.
Apr 2, 2024 | Latest News, News
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.
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.
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
