Beginning on July 1, 2024, at 12:00am EST, an ATR-P is required to become an ATR. 

If an application for the ATR is submitted before July 1, 2024, the ATCB will not require the applicant to become an ATR-P. However, all the ATR application requirements must be fulfilled before July 1, 2025. 

Read more about changes to the ATR requirements. 

Please review the registration standards for the requirements to become a Registered Art Therapist. All applicants must meet the standards. 

NOTICE: The current application process for the ATR ended on July 1, 2024, at 12:00am EST. To become a Registered Art Therapist (ATR), an applicant must be an active ATR-P (provisional registered art therapist) in good standing.

Read more!

The Registered Art Therapist (ATR) upgrade application is in the MyATCB portal; the fee is $65, non-refundable and non-transferable. This fee covers the administrative costs of the application review. ATR-P upgrade application in MyATCB portals,

Becoming a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) requires completing qualifying master’s level education (including art therapy core curriculum, supervised practicum, and internship experiences), post-education supervised clinical experience, and references.

Do not use application handbooks from previous years; all applicants must submit applications according to the standards and procedures outlined here. 

The following materials are required for the application:
SAMPLE Verification of Post-Education Experience Form
SAMPLE Reference Form 

For any ATR application submitted BEFORE July 1, 2024 –Applicants will be notified during the application process if a graduate degree requires an education review.  If an education review is required, applicants are required to complete a Coursework Verification form and provide the name and email of the individual who will complete their Verification of Practicum/Internship. The National Office will contact these individuals on the applicant’s behalf.

Candidates submit their applications to the ATCB via MyATCB. All applicants must create their MyATCB portal; directions on how to complete this process can be found here.

Candidates must respond truthfully to all questions in the application’s Disciplinary and Litigation History section. If you have current or past disciplinary or legal events that require you to respond “yes” to any of the questions, copies of the charge documents and follow-up documents must be included, along with your written account of the event(s). This information should be uploaded with your application on MyATCB. All ATCB applicants and credential holders agree to abide by the ATCB Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures and report any issues to ATCB in writing.

All applicants should check their MyATCB portals regularly. The portal will note updates about application materials received, application needs, or deficiencies.

Once all supporting application documents are received, the application will move to “In Review”; review times can take eight to twelve weeks. If approved, official notification, a certificate, and an ID card will be provided via the MyATCB portal. The National Office will also send an email informing candidates of application approval. 

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 professional designation for the remainder of your approved credential year. 

All credentials require renewal annually before the start of each credential year. 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.

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 email us at registration@atcb.org