In 1993, the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) was created by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) to be the national credentialing body for art therapy. Since then, many art therapists have come to both the AATA and the ATCB with questions and confusion about the similarities and differences between the two organizations.

Both AATA and ATCB are non-profit organizations as well as separate legal entities with independent purposes. Each corporation operates according to its own articles of incorporation and bylaws. According to the bylaws of the ATCB, the AATA is the sole member of the ATCB and as such, has approval rights over certain specified changes to the ATCB bylaws. Each company maintains its own board of directors and separate management offices. Additionally, each organization has its own respective mission. Despite all of the differences between the AATA and the ATCB, the corporate entities are closely aligned and share a common goal of promoting the profession and the ethical practice of art therapy.

The AATA is a membership organization. The ATCB is a credentialing body. As a credentialing body, the ATCB creates and maintains standards associated with earning art therapy credentials. The mission of the ATCB is to protect the public by promoting the competent and ethical practice of art therapy. In response to its mission, the ATCB offers two credentials; Registered Art Therapist (ATR), and Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC). Both of these credentials are solely owned and granted by the ATCB. Credential holders must adhere to the ATCB’s Code of Professional Practice, thus ensuring that the public is protected. The ATCB further protects the public by reviewing and adjudicating ethical complaints made against ATRs and ATR-BCs as warranted and outlined by the Code of Professional Practice. ATCB receives calls from the public and from art therapists wanting us to investigate or take complaints against individuals not credentialed with the ATCB. The ATCB can investigate only those complaints made against credential holders. It is not authorized to investigate complaints made against students, non-credentialed professional members of the AATA, or individuals who allegedly use art therapeutically, but do not have formal art therapy training. The ATCB can, however, investigate the use of credentials that are deceptively similar to the ATR or ATR-BC designation.

The most frequent question posed to both organizations refers to membership dues and annual maintenance fees charged by each entity. AATA charges annual membership dues. ATCB charges an annual maintenance fee for the retention of credentials. If you are a member of the AATA and hold credentials with the ATCB, you will receive a yearly bill from each of these two corporations. These fees are used by each organization to maintain and support their respective missions.

The membership cycle for the AATA follows a calendar year from January to December, while the cycle for credentials from the ATCB follows a fiscal year of July to June. This structure was determined by AATA and the ATCB so that individuals associated with both organizations would not be billed by both at the same time. Credential holders with the ATCB pay an annual maintenance fee that is based on membership status within the AATA: members of the AATA receive a discount on the ATCB’s fees in that they are charged half of what non-members are charged to maintain their registration and/or certification with the ATCB.

Art Therapy Credentials Board
(877) 213-2822

Members of the American Art Therapy Association receive a 30% discount on your 2012 ATCB maintenance fees.