Requirements for an Art Therapist's Education
Educational Requirements of an Art Therapist
Art therapists are required to hold a minimum of a master's degree in art therapy to practice as an art therapist. In addition to a master's degree, art therapist's are required by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB- the national credentialing body for art therapist's) to receive post-graduate supervision. This supervision is a standard in therapeutic fields, and acts as a means for the newly graduated art therapist to ensure they are providing the best care for their clients through guidance of a credentialed and experienced supervisor. Post-graduate supervision is currently required to be 1000-1500 hours.
Board Certification- Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB)
After an art therapist has completed their post-graduate supervision, they are able to provide documentation to the ATCB and apply to take the national board exam. The exam is a means of testing the knowledge of the art therapist, ensuring they are practicing according to ethical standards, and acts as the highest credential that an art therapists can attain.
Code of Ethics
The Art Therapy Credentials Board reviews and makes changes to the ethical standards guiding art therapist's on a regular basis. Please click on the link below to see the most recent version of the Code of Ethics.
https://atcb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ATCB-Code-of-Ethics-Conduct-DisciplinaryProcedures.pdf
Continuing Education (CE)
All art therapist's are required to continue learning about new innovations, techniques, and research in the field, in order to practice art therapy with the most up-to-date information available. Each state with a license has their own requirements. Currently, Pennsylvania art therapist's do not have requirements outside of the five-year recertification requirements from the ATCB. The five-year recertification requirements are a minimum of 30 total continuing education credits. These credits fall into the following categories: Ethics, professional issues, art therapy assessments, populations and multicultural competence, psychological and psychotherapeutic theories and practices, art therapy and media, and art therapy theory and practice.
Art therapists are required to hold a minimum of a master's degree in art therapy to practice as an art therapist. In addition to a master's degree, art therapist's are required by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB- the national credentialing body for art therapist's) to receive post-graduate supervision. This supervision is a standard in therapeutic fields, and acts as a means for the newly graduated art therapist to ensure they are providing the best care for their clients through guidance of a credentialed and experienced supervisor. Post-graduate supervision is currently required to be 1000-1500 hours.
Board Certification- Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB)
After an art therapist has completed their post-graduate supervision, they are able to provide documentation to the ATCB and apply to take the national board exam. The exam is a means of testing the knowledge of the art therapist, ensuring they are practicing according to ethical standards, and acts as the highest credential that an art therapists can attain.
Code of Ethics
The Art Therapy Credentials Board reviews and makes changes to the ethical standards guiding art therapist's on a regular basis. Please click on the link below to see the most recent version of the Code of Ethics.
https://atcb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ATCB-Code-of-Ethics-Conduct-DisciplinaryProcedures.pdf
Continuing Education (CE)
All art therapist's are required to continue learning about new innovations, techniques, and research in the field, in order to practice art therapy with the most up-to-date information available. Each state with a license has their own requirements. Currently, Pennsylvania art therapist's do not have requirements outside of the five-year recertification requirements from the ATCB. The five-year recertification requirements are a minimum of 30 total continuing education credits. These credits fall into the following categories: Ethics, professional issues, art therapy assessments, populations and multicultural competence, psychological and psychotherapeutic theories and practices, art therapy and media, and art therapy theory and practice.
Schools Offering Art Therapy Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
Cedar Crest College
100 College Ave.,
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Website: https://www.cedarcrest.edu/sage/maat/index.shtm
Drexel University
1601 Cherry Street
3rd Floor, MS 7905
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Website: https://drexel.edu/cnhp/academics/graduate/MA-Art-Therapy-Counseling/
PennWest University
310 Scotland Rd
Butterfield Hall
Edinboro, PA 16444
Website: https://www.edinboro.edu/academics/majors-and-programs/graduate/counseling-art-therapy-ma
Holy Family University
1 Campus Drive
Newtown, PA 18940
Website: https://www.holyfamily.edu/academics/programs/counseling-psychology-art-therapy-ms
Jefferson University
East Falls Campus, 4201 Henry Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Website: https://www.jefferson.edu/academics/colleges-schools-institutes/health-professions/departments-programs/counseling-behavioral-health/programs/community-trauma-counseling/ms-art-therapy.html
Marywood University
2300 Adams Avenue
Scranton, PA 18509
Website: http://www.marywood.edu/art/graduate-programs/master-art-therapy.html
Seton Hill University
One Seton Hill Drive,
Greensburg, PA 15601
Website: https://www.setonhill.edu/academics/graduate-programs/art-therapy-ma/
100 College Ave.,
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Website: https://www.cedarcrest.edu/sage/maat/index.shtm
Drexel University
1601 Cherry Street
3rd Floor, MS 7905
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Website: https://drexel.edu/cnhp/academics/graduate/MA-Art-Therapy-Counseling/
PennWest University
310 Scotland Rd
Butterfield Hall
Edinboro, PA 16444
Website: https://www.edinboro.edu/academics/majors-and-programs/graduate/counseling-art-therapy-ma
Holy Family University
1 Campus Drive
Newtown, PA 18940
Website: https://www.holyfamily.edu/academics/programs/counseling-psychology-art-therapy-ms
Jefferson University
East Falls Campus, 4201 Henry Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Website: https://www.jefferson.edu/academics/colleges-schools-institutes/health-professions/departments-programs/counseling-behavioral-health/programs/community-trauma-counseling/ms-art-therapy.html
Marywood University
2300 Adams Avenue
Scranton, PA 18509
Website: http://www.marywood.edu/art/graduate-programs/master-art-therapy.html
Seton Hill University
One Seton Hill Drive,
Greensburg, PA 15601
Website: https://www.setonhill.edu/academics/graduate-programs/art-therapy-ma/