Feb 12, 2025 | News, Uncategorized
Dear Colleagues,
ATCB is dedicated to continual improvement and elevating the professionalism of the art therapy field in the eyes of the public and state licensures to the level of other medical and mental health professionals.
The ATCB is dedicated to publishing and revising the “Code” every five years to ensure it addresses the current challenges and ethical dilemmas that credential holders face as they provide quality care to diverse populations. In the past 10 years, rapid developments in art therapy have created an increasing array of professional standards for credential holders to navigate.
ATCB Board of Directors is seeking public comments on nine proposed changes to the Art Therapy Credential Board Code Governing Standards of Practice, Eligibility for and Regulation of Credentials, and Disciplinary Procedures. ATCB’s goal is to ensure that the Competency Standards remain modern, relevant, and practical for the evolving practice of art therapy.
The 2025 revisions were meticulously developed over several years by a diverse panel of experts to address evolving standards of practice and develop the proposed recommendations. The ethics committee and a select group of volunteers, including ATCB credential holders, educators, certification and credentialing professionals, members of the public, and legal counsel, painstakingly did this work.
The ATCB recognizes that changes to the Art Therapy Credential Board Code governing Standards of Practice, Eligibility for and Regulation of Credentials, and Disciplinary Procedures can significantly shape the profession’s future. As a broad range of voices, your input provides crucial context as the Board of Directors considers their next steps in this process. The ATCB requests your comments to ensure consideration of the insights of credentialed art therapists and the public they serve.
The deadline to submit comments is March 13, 2025, at 11:59pm EST.
The commentary is broken down into four sections:
Introduction:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ATCBSection1
Standards of Practice:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ATCBSection2
Eligibility and Regulation of ATCB Credentials and Board Certification:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ATCBSection3
Disciplinary Procedures:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ATCBSection4
These unique surveys present code sections and commentary so individuals can read the Code and respond confidentially and in real-time.
One notable change is the shift from the Code of Ethics to Standards of Practice. This change was made to align our terminology with industry standards and to provide a more comprehensive and practical guide for credential holders. While both ‘standards of conduct’ and ‘ethics’ relate to guiding behavior, ‘standards of conduct’ refer to a set of specific rules and expectations outlining acceptable actions within an organization, whereas ‘ethics’ represent broader moral principles that guide decision-making in complex situations, often with less concrete guidelines; essentially, standards of conduct are the practical application of ethical principles in a specific context. We defer to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) Ethical Principles For Art Therapists to provide aspirational values and principles that cover many situations art therapists encounter.
The Board of Directors has prepared preliminary FAQs on the code. Please note that these FAQs will be updated throughout the commentary period to address any new questions or concerns that may arise.
Yours Sincerely,
Cheryl Doby Copeland, PhD, ATR-BC, LPAT, LPC, LMFT
President
Art Therapy Credentials Board
Feb 12, 2025 | Uncategorized
FAQs
Q: Who are these standards of practice for?
A: The Code governing Standards of Practice, Eligibility for and Regulation of Credentials, and Disciplinary Procedures applies to ATCB applicants and credential holders only.
Q: Why does the code not apply to anyone practicing art therapy?
A: The ATCB cannot enforce its Code on non-credentialed art therapists. To report a complaint, check if the state where the “art therapist” practices requires licensure or has Title Protection. If so, contact the state licensure board. If not, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
Q: Why are there no standards of practice for AI use?
A: As AI evolves, it impacts mental health counseling. The ATCB is monitoring AI applications and will update the code with new standards as understanding improves
Jan 3, 2025 | Uncategorized
Item writing and reviewing are essential components of the exam development process that involves subject matter experts (SMEs) writing and reviewing test questions or items for future use on the ATCBE examination. These items are crafted to ensure they accurately assess the knowledge and competencies relevant to the appropriate certification exam. Guided by ATCB’s Psychometrician and assessments team at Prometric, item writers will be tasked with authoring and reviewing test questions. SMEs will undergo specialized web-based training to learn how to write and review items for certification exams, ensuring the items developed are high quality and meet the standards required for high-stakes examinations. Becoming an item writer provides a platform to contribute to the field directly and is a gateway to further volunteer opportunities within ATCB. Participation as an item writer is recognized with continuing education credits that can be used towards Maintenance of the BC Certification.
Jul 25, 2024 | Uncategorized
Q: Why should I become a subject matter Expert?
A: Becoming an SME allows you to give back to the profession, collaborate with peers, and contribute to the BACB’s vital mission of consumer protection, all while furthering your professional growth. An added benefit is earning Learning CEUs that count toward recertification. The ATCB will also cover all necessary travel expenses for on-site meetings.
Q: Is prior examination development experience necessary?
A: No prior experience is necessary! The ATCB will provide all required training.
Q: I do not consider myself an art therapy subject matter expert. Can I still apply?
A: Yes. We welcome all Registered Art Therapists with board certification (ATR-BC) at all experience levels. We need a wide range of perspectives to inform examinations that assess the knowledge required for entry-level professionals. A diverse panel also helps us ensure that examinations stay relevant and up to date by identifying any evolving skills needed in the profession.
Q: Is being an SME a volunteer role?
A: Yes. SME participation is entirely voluntary and unpaid. The ATCB does award continuing education credits for this work.
Jul 24, 2024 | Uncategorized
Being a Subject Matter Expert (SME) is a professional service opportunity. SME participation provides a unique experience to work with a diverse group of passionate professionals and contribute to continued excellence in art therapy. Engaging in developing art therapy assessments will immediately impact the standards required to be board-certified (BC). Because the ATCB examination is made for art therapists by art therapists, The ATCB needs SME to provide expertise. Serving as an SME qualifies as continuing art therapy professional development that can be used toward the continuing education requirement for board certification.
SME Requirements:
- Credential: Registered Art Therapist with board certification (ATR-BC)
- Examination: Passing score on the ATCBE
- Not involved in test prep or other educational and/or required training for the BC
- SMEs shall not serve simultaneously on the American Art Therapy Association board or the Education Accrediting Entities committees.
- Education Committee
- Education Accrediting Entities
- Ethics Committee
Additionally, SMEs cannot serve on the board of any art therapy-related credentialing agency, membership association, state licensing board, or similar entity.
SME responsibilities are specific to the assigned role. Overall, SMEs are responsible for attending meetings, actively participating during the meetings to provide expertise, and ensuring test security protocols are followed at all times, including, but not limited to, maintaining confidentiality and not participating in the development of test preparation content.
Opportunities to Serve
The ATCB enlists SMEs to provide their expertise in examination content development. SMEs can serve on several parts of the examination development process:
Job analysis
Standard Setting
Examination form review
Item Writing and Reviewing
Becoming a SME
Interested SME candidates should complete this form.
Feb 16, 2024 | Uncategorized
Q: Why is the ATCB making changes to reinstatement?
A: The reinstatement process remains unchanged; what is changing is how long a credential can be inactive and qualify for reinstatement. The reinstatement fee is changing from $400 USD to $250 USD.
1. The mission of the Art Therapy Credentials Board is to protect the public by promoting the competent and ethical practice of art therapy through the credentialing of art therapy professionals. When an ethics attestation is not completed and filed for a credential before the start of the credential year (July 1), it will become inactive and delisted from the public registry. This ensures that anyone practicing art therapy with an ATCB credential abides by the Code of Ethics and Conduct and assures ATCB meets its charter of public protection. Earning and maintaining a credential indicates that the individual meets the minimum professional experience and complies with the ATCB’s ethical Code and professional conduct standards set by ATCB.
2. The ATCB is a non-profit; all fees cover operations costs. The Board of Directors, in accordance with their fiduciary responsibility, assesses operational expenses for every facet of ATCB programming. With the continued advancement of technologies and automation, along with the change in reinstatement eligibility, the ATCB can operate the reinstatement process with less expense and lower the fee.
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Q: I am not practicing art therapy or using my credentials. Am I required to keep them active?
A: Credentials conferred by the ATCB are an independent assessment of competency and a greater attestation of an individual’s ethical compliance and current skills than education or work experience alone. ATCB credentials are voluntary; thus, you can relinquish them anytime. As state licensure for art therapy continues to grow exponentially, we recommend you check with your state regulations regarding the practice of art therapy; some states require an ATCB credential.
The ATCB offers Temporary Inactive Status. A good-standing credential holder may request Temporary Inactive Status at any time, requiring board approval. Temporary Inactive Status is valid for five years. If a registered art therapist who carries board certifications (ATR-BC) misses the recertification cycle while on Temporary Inactive Status, the five-year certification cycle will reset to that of the year the recertification is completed. For example, if an ATR-BC on temporary inactive status returns to active in 2025, and their certification cycle ended when they were inactive, they will need to complete the recertification process in 2025 for the BC to be active. Before they can complete the recertification, they will need to complete the renewal of the ATR.
There is a one-time $25 fee to apply for temporary inactive status, and the application is located in MyATCB portals. When temporary inactive status is in effect, the annual renewal requirement is paused.
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Q: What is required for reinstatement?
A: The ATCB credential year runs from July 1 to June 30. All renewals must be completed via MYATCB to ensure an attestation of compliance with the ATCB Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures. If a credential is not renewed by June 30, 11:59pm EST, the ATCB allows a 30-day grace period, July 1 through July 31, to complete renewal; a late fee of $30 will be applied.
If by July 30, you do not complete the annual renewal, your credential will become inactive. Effective July 1, 2024, all inactive credentials have a one-year period to be reinstated.
To reinstate:
Complete the reinstatement application located in your MYATCB portal. With this application, you must include a letter from a current ATCB credential holder (ATR or ATR-BC) endorsing your return to active status. The letter requesting reinstatement must include a statement of attestation that you have studied the current ATCB Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures and will continue to abide by this Code.
Reinstatement follows the same ethics review as that of all ATCB applications. The reinstatement fee covers the cost of the ethics review, the relisting on the national registry, all administrative costs, and the annual renewal fee.
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Q: I am on Temporary Inactive Status. Do the changes to reinstatement impact me?
A: So long as you return to active status via the renewal process before your Temporary Inactive Status expires, these changes DO NOT impact you. However, if your Temporary Inactive Status expires and renewal is not completed, the credential will be inactive and require reinstatement to return to active status.
The expiration of Temporary Inactive Status can be found in your MyATCB portal.
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Q: I have been inactive for some time; how long do I have to reinstate?
A: Effective 12:00am EST on July 1, 2024, all inactive credentials have one year (July 1 to June 30) to utilize the reinstatement process to restore the credential to active. If you are inactive, you have until 11:50pm EST on June 30, 2025, to return to active status. As of 12:00am EST on July 1, 2025, you must reapply for a new credential if your credential is inactive.
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Q: I am a supervisor and did not realize my credential was inactive. Will any of the hours I supervised while inactive count for ATR applicants?
A: As a supervisor, you are ethically bound to ensure your credentials are active. The supervision hours will not count; any hours provided after becoming active can be submitted for an ATR application.
