What Credential or License to Look for in an Art Therapist

Art therapy is an increasingly sought out mental health service for a variety of purposes. Kids, teens, and adults struggling with relationships, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and so much more can find powerful change through art therapy. Since art therapy is a small field, it can be challenging to find an art therapist in your area. Additionally, art therapists have a variety of credentials, which may be confusing to someone who is not a part of the art therapy field. To support your understanding of art therapy and what to look for when searching for an art therapist, this is a list of the art therapy credentials currently available.

Registration vs. License?

First, I need to clarify the difference between a registration and a license. In regards to art therapy, a license is a state-by-state credential that allows art therapy to be seen as a health profession. This then allows the art therapist to accept insurance if they choose to do so. A registration, on the other hand, is a national credential that legitimizes the art therapist by confirming their education and experience. Some art therapists will have both a registration and license.

Art Therapy Registration

The art therapy registrations are established by the Art Therapy Credentials Board, or ATCB. You can see in the chart below that the Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P), Registered Art Therapist (ATR), Registered Art Therapist - Board Certified (ATR-BC), and Art Therapy Certified Supervisor (ATCS) all have varying requirements related to education and training, supervision, exams. If you see an art therapist who has any of these credentials, you can be sure that they’ve completed the masters-level education for art therapy, which is a requirement of the profession. You can also find a directory of art therapists with any of these registrations through ATCB. Let’s dive into the types of registration:

Image Description: Chart comparing art therapy registrations according to the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).
Chart created by Kelly Holley.

Art Therapy Licensure

In the United States, only some states have an established license for art therapy, and some of them are not yet fully active. In the states that do have an art therapy license, the art therapist is required to pursue licensure in order to practice art therapy. However, in the states that do not have licensure for art therapy, art therapists are legally able to practice art therapy with only a registration.

The art therapy licenses and associated states listed below are according to the American Art Therapy Association as of July 2024. If you live in a state NOT listed below, your art therapist just needs to have one of the registrations listed above (ATR, ATR-P, ATR-BC, ATCS). If you live in a state listed below, your art therapist needs to either have or be working toward the following license. Each license listed requires varying education, post-grad supervision experience, etc., but they may follow similar requirements as the ATR registration requirements. If you have questions, you may contact your state’s art therapy licensure board or a local art therapist. 

Image from American Art Therapy Association, www.arttherapy.org/credentials-and-licensure

Next Steps in Finding an Art Therapist

When seeking to work with an art therapist, there are many considerations to make including their credentials. My hope is that this post provides a bit more clarity about this technical aspect of finding an art therapist. Instead of getting stuck on the confusion around credentials, you can now focus on what you need from your art therapist, such as their location, approach, cost, and other details. You can read more about other considerations in your search for a therapist and where to look here: How to Find the Right Therapist. Best wishes in finding the art therapist for you!