Post-Education Experience Requirements
This is an excerpt from the 2025 Registration Standards that an individual must meet to become a Registered Art Therapist.
Post-Education Supervised Art Therapy Experience Requirements
The ATCB allows telehealth and teleconferencing for client contact hours. Although we do not publish specific information on what platforms to use for telecommunication, below is a list of platforms that are HIPAA compliant. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and that you will want to ensure the platforms continue to be compliant:
- Luxci Secure Chat
- Secure Video
- Zoom
As of July 1, 2024, one must carry the ATR-P credential to become an ATR. ATR-P applicants can begin collecting supervision once the ATR-P application is submitted.
- If the Practicum/Internship instructor of record for the internship/practicum course is a current ATR-BC or ATCS: A minimum of 1,000 post-education, direct client contact hours using art therapy. Hours used to complete administrative tasks cannot be included to obtain the ATR. Post-education experience must start after the master’s or higher degree is conferred and all educational requirements, prerequisites, and application requirements are met.
- Supervision Requirement: A minimum of 100 hours of supervision. A current ATR-BC or ATCS must provide at least 50 hours. Additional hours may be supervised by an ATR or a master’s or higher fully licensed or credentialed practitioner with a master’s degree or higher in art therapy or a related mental health field 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. Other related mental health fields are considered on a case-by-case basis.** For a supervisor’s license or credential to be accepted, a master’s or higher degree in a mental health field must be required to obtain that license/credential. Licenses/credentials that do not require a master’s degree are not accepted.
- If the Practicum/Internship instructor of record for the internship/practicum course is an ATR- not a current ATR-BC or ATCS: A minimum of 1,500 hours of direct client contact using art therapy. Hours used to complete administrative tasks cannot be included to obtain the ATR. Post-education experience must start after the master’s or higher degree is conferred and all educational requirements, prerequisites, and application requirements are met. If a course is lacking in any area—i.e., studio art, prerequisites, or AT core curriculum—no credit is granted for any post-education experience. If additional coursework is completed to meet these requirements, post-education experience may then begin to accrue.
- Supervision Requirement: A minimum of 150 hours of supervision, of which a current ATR-BC or ATCS must provide 75 hours. An ATR may supervise additional hours 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. Other related mental health fields are considered on a case-by-case basis.** For a supervisor’s license/credential to be accepted, a master’s or higher degree in a mental health field must be required to obtain that license/credential. Licenses/credentials that do not require a master’s degree are not accepted.
** It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine that each supervisor’s license or credential is current and in good standing throughout the length of supervision and acceptable per the ATCB’s requirements.
The special committee reviewing credentialing standards is reviewing supervision requirements, and group supervision best practice is among this work. The current allowable practice for group supervision is for group supervision to count as 1:1, meaning supervisees can count a full hour if the group is an hour long.
Private Practice Hours
Any applicants planning to use post-education art therapy experience in their private practice must be licensed/certified practitioners in another psychotherapeutic discipline. A current ATR-BC/ATCS MUST supervise ALL post-education art therapy experience hours completed in an applicant’s private practice. Please note that certain states will not allow one to maintain a private practice without the proper credential; the applicant is responsible for being informed about and adhering to the requirements of relevant state licensure boards.
Volunteer Experience
ATCB accepts supervised direct client contact experience providing art therapy services as a volunteer, in lieu of paid employment. Please be aware that in order to qualify, volunteer art therapy experience hours must be accrued through an organization or agency that provides supervised mental health services.
Reference Requirements
Three positive references from professionals who are familiar with the applicant’s work performance and art therapy skills.
At least one Reference Form must be completed by a current ATCB credential holder (ATR, ATR-BC or ATCS) who can support the applicant’s competency for registration as an art therapist. Supervisors who complete the Verification of Post-education Experience Form may also submit a Reference Form on behalf of the applicant.
- Two additional Reference Forms may be completed by any of the following professionals who are familiar with the applicant’s work performance and art therapy skills:
- A current ATCB credential holder (ATR, ATR-BC or ATCS) who did not supervise the applicant
- A supervisor who possesses a license or credential in a related mental health field
- A mental health professional or educator who is not ATCB credentialed and who did not supervise the applicant to qualify, a reference must have completed their graduate degree in a related mental health or human services profession.
Spouses or other close relatives may not complete references or verification forms on an applicant’s behalf.