Welcome to the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc.!

Thank you for visiting www.atcb.org the official Web presence of the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. (ATCB). The mission of the ATCB is "to protect the public by promoting the competent and ethical practice of art therapy." We accomplish this by offering credentialing programs that result in Registration (ATR), Board Certification (ATR-BC) and credentialing as an Art Therapy Certified Supervisor (ATCS).

Our first-tier credential is the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) that requires specific graduate-level education in art therapy and documentation of supervised post-graduate clinical experience. An ATR may then apply to become Board Certified (ATR-BC). Board Certification requires the successful completion of the national examination, demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of the theories and clinical skills used in art therapy. We also offer an advanced supervisory credential (ATCS). The ATCS is designed for professional art therapists who have acquired specific training and skills in supervision and to ensure that supervisees receive the best training available.

The ATCB requires all credential holders to adhere to the ATCB Code of Professional Practice that sets the parameters of ethical practice. More information about the profession, ATCB's credentials, and the Code of Professional Practice are found in the links in the left column of this home page. We welcome your feedback and comments.

The ATCB recently joined with the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) in a collaborative effort to complete the ATCB's independent governance. On February 1, 2010 the AATA Board of Directors unanimously voted that it would be in the best interest of the art therapy profession to strengthen the art therapy credentials through complete separation of the membership (AATA) and credentialing (ATCB) organizations. This action marks the completion of two decades of work. Among other things, this statement of independence clarifies the missions of both organizations and removes potential conflicts of interest that may exist between them. Both the AATA and the ATCB signed a contract that strengthens the Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two organizations and makes a commitment to support the art therapy profession through each organization's respective roles and duties. Please visit the link to the right entitled ATCB Independent Governance for more details.

We hope you will find our Web site useful, whether you are a student learning more about art therapy, an applicant who needs guidelines and forms, a credential holder learning about what's new at the ATCB, or a member of the public interested in learning more about the profession.

Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions that are not answered on these pages.
 

 

All the best,

Deborah Good, ATR-BC
President