Dear Colleagues,
As we progress in establishing independent operations, we are taking this opportunity to evaluate art therapy and credentialing. We are focusing on how the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) can set the standard for professional excellence in art therapy. We aim to assess how certification and credentialing programs maintain the highest industry standards, lift art therapists, and enhance the profession.
As a result of the comprehensive organizational analysis conducted in 2024, the ATCB engaged a non-profit consulting firm to support high-level decision-making and develop a strategic plan to enhance the long-term impact of art therapy credentialing. I am proud to share the updated mission and vision of the ATCB.
Mission: To protect the public by establishing and upholding the highest standards for the competent practice of art therapy through the credentialing and certification process.
Vision: To be the authority for the safe, ethical, and inclusive practice of art therapy.
Other Important Updates
Standards of Practice
After three years of dedicated work by many colleagues, the ATCB has released its
Code Governing Standards of Practice, Eligibility for and Regulation of Credentials, and Disciplinary Procedures. We extend our gratitude to the numerous art therapists who contributed to the code’s public commentary. Although no significant changes were made, the feedback received helped refine the language and organization of the document, and it generated questions and considerations for an FAQ currently being developed.
This code replaces the previous “Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures.”
Updated Registration Standards
After completing the job analysis in 2022 and commencing independent operations in 2023, the ATCB began reviewing the registration standards for both our provisional and full registration credentials, as well as the recertification standards for board certification. In 2024, we announced changes to the recertification standards that will take effect January 1, 2026.
Today, we are also announcing updates to our registration standards, which will also take effect January 1, 2026. One of the most notable changes is that the education standards for the Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) credential will now align with the ACATE (Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education) Curriculum Competency Requirements for Educational Programs, establishing consistency with the ATCB standards for art therapy education.
Please review these updates on our website. ATCB’s next comprehensive review will focus on supervision and the Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS) credential. We are seeking Subject Matter Experts to assist in this process. If you believe you would be a good fit or know someone who might be, please share this information with your network.
Important Reminder
The annual renewal and five-year recertification windows are open as of April 1, 2025 and close on June 30, 2025. The ATCB will continue to offer a 30-day grace period in July, during which a late fee will be applied.
If you are experiencing difficulties that impact your ability to complete your annual renewal or five-year board recertification, please contact our Executive Director,
LeeAnn Mandrillo.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the credential holder survey last June. We appreciate your valuable feedback. Please be on the lookout for our 2025 survey, which will also be sent out in June. One of the key insights from the survey was feedback on ATCB’s website. In response, we have reorganized the website’s content to improve clarity and enhance user experience. Stay tuned for future announcements about a comprehensive website redesign.
Join us in shaping the future of art therapy through proven excellence.
Sincerely yours,
Cheryl Doby Copeland, PhD, ATR-BC, LPAT, LPC, LMFT
President
Art Therapy Credentials Board